Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Phase One: Preparatory Phase
Shifting the body in part or in its entirety into a position relative to the object
and taking hold of the object takes into account the position and grip of each
member of the team.
Phase Two: Execution Phase
Taking the weight and adjusting the balance takes into account the
position of the team and the support each member offers. The entire
group must be seen as a whole at this stage when we're considering
the center of gravity and the load supports. The lift itself may be
synchronized or executed in a sequential manner, depending on the nature
of the object, the need for equilibrium during the lift, or the ease with
which the lift may be achieved. It is likely that the lift is a combination of
these.
Phase Three: Resulting Phase
The load may be taken across a wide area, with each of the lifting team
providing only one of the support points. The position and balance of each of
the individual team members is reflected by the center of gravity of the entire
grouping of figures and objects.
Carrying
The cost of carrying loads varies depending on the individual and the
variables of the object. Once again, the nature of the object, its shape, its
weight, its material, and its construction will determine the nature of the
carrying action. Objects that are designed to be carried and have handles,
straps, or other such things specifically for the purpose may be easier to
carry and therefore require less effort than lighter objects without handles.
In such examples the workload may actually be less than carrying lighter
objects.
Carrying objects in the arms may be the most obvious way of moving an
object, and our arms and hands have evolved to take on such tasks. Squirrels
may use their front legs rather like arms to reach items such as fruit, nuts, and
birds' eggs and use their hands and handle the objects, but they then resort,
from necessity, to carrying small items in their mouths because they use all
four legs in locomotion. Having developed the ability to walk upright, man,
along with some of his distant primate relatives, has liberated the arms to
undertake other tasks, carrying and manipulating objects being one of them.
Carrying objects either at the side or at the front of the body is often the most
efficient way of carrying a load. Carrying an object at the front of the body
enables both arms to be used to distribute the weight more evenly.
