Magnitudes of loads acting on the design depend on the design mass and how it is used in a given use case.
For some designs, you need to consult experts to estimate accurately the magnitudes.
For many designs, referring to real-life examples may be helpful.
| Real-life loads | Estimated magnitude (lb) | Estimated magnitude (N) |
|---|---|---|
| Pint of water | 1-lb force | 5-N force |
| Large watermelon | 10-lbs force | 50-N force |
| Standing human | 200-lbs force | 1000-N force |
| Grand piano | 1000-lbs force | 5000-N force |
| Small car | 2000-lbs force | 10000-N force |
| Real-life loads | Estimated magnitude (lb) | Estimated magnitude (N) |
|---|---|---|
| Human grip strength | 45-lbs to 100-lbs force | 225 N to 500-N force |
| One arm horizontal push/pull | 25-lbs to 50-lbs force | 125-N to 250-N force |
| Both arms horizontal push/pull | 50-lbs to 100-lbs force | 250-N to 500-N force |
| Pulling down | 100-lbs to 150-lbs force | 500-N to 750-N force |
| Pulling up (affected by height of object from foot level) | 10-lbs to 100-lbs force | 50-N to 500-N force |
| Pushing down | 150-lbs to 100-lbs force | 750-N to 500-N force |