Why does dead weight feel heavier than just weight? What causes this noticeable weight gain or perception?
When a person is awake, they do a few things that enhance their weight distribution in your arms. First, they tend to try to equalize their weight distribution so their center of gravity is adjusted for their personal comfort. This tends to distribute their weight, and therefore the force you feel on your arms, over a broader area. This makes them easier to carry, and you find that the weight does not feel the same. Second, if they are more than 7 or 8 months old, they will cling or hold on to you, supporting their own weight somewhat across the broader parts of your body. For instance, carrying a toddler, they will wrap their arms around your neck and shoulders for their own comfort and safety. This then distributes more weight across your upper body and shoulders, where it is easier to bear. “Dead Weight” is the entire center of mass being wherever you are supporting them, absent any effort on their part, and therefore concentrated in one spot, more or less. A similar perceptive effe
