Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Review Guide

To understand how much easier it is to lift a 600 N load using a wheelbarrow compared to carrying it on shoulders, we need to analyze the mechanics of both scenarios.

When lifting a load with a wheelbarrow, you benefit from the mechanical advantage it provides. The wheelbarrow acts as a simple machine, allowing you to apply force at a distance from the load, which significantly reduces the effort needed to lift the load compared to carrying it directly. The key factor here is the lever principle at play, where the length of the wheelbarrow acts as the lever arm, making it possible to lift heavier loads more easily.

In this scenario, we must also account for the weight of the wheelbarrow itself. The weight of the wheelbarrow adds to the overall load, which equals approximately 196 N (considering gravitational acceleration as 9.8 m/s²), meaning that the total effective load while using the wheelbarrow is 796 N (600 N + 196 N). However, because the wheelbarrow allows for a distribution of the weight through its design, the actual force required to lift it is less.

When lifting the 600 N load on your shoulders without the mechanical advantage of a wheelbarrow