Why is it tiring to push hard against a solid wall even though you are doing no work?

Question

Why is it tiring to push hard against a solid wall even though you are doing no work?

Answer 1

In the terms of  Physics, you are generating an impulse, FT.

Or, you could argue that since the building (like anything else) is not perfectly rigid, it does move very slightly, so work is done after all.

Take your pick.

Answer 2

Michael B is right. Even if you don't move the wall, you are stretching muscles and tendons, consuming fuel, and stressing yourself attempting to move the wall.

Look at it this way. You are applying a force even if the object has so much resistance you fail.  In generating that force, you are expending energy.

Answer 3

In the classical sense of Physics you are doing no work (nothing is moving) but in the sense of biology you are doing a lot of biological work in attempting to move a wall. You are doing isometric exercise.

Answer 4

Because a wall is solid and stronger than the regular human body, it wont matter if you are relaxed or working because your entire body is stressing out becuase what you are acheving, isn't happening.

Answer 5

You are right in the no work department, but you are making heat. And that can be as tiring as actually moving that wall.

Answer 6

When you push hard against the wall, then you do not do any work on the wall. But one part of your body does work on another part of your body. In pushing against the wall, you move your muscles. Because of which one part of your body moves another part. This causes work, which in turn, causes tiring.

As an analogy, suppose that you move your hands up and down several times. Then you feer tired even though you did not do any work on any external object. But still you feel tired. This is because you use your muscles to move your hands. These muscles do work on your hands. This causes you to feel tired.

Answer 7

just because you see no progress, doesn't mean there is no work involved.

your muscles are still contracting and working on moving the wall