Applying Physics to my workout

[JasonL]

Ok,

First off this isn't a book problem so I'm not really sure if it can be solved. I just kinda dreamed this up one day while deciding to count the calories in my lunch + breakfast. It should work..if I thought everything through, and I can live with a few simplying assumptions. Anyhow, I totaled the calories I eat in 2 meals, and I want to find how many miles I would have to run to "burn" of these calories(Springbreak saw me gain 5lbs :yuck:).

Ok so,

If my total calories are 1,146c, so that's 4798j. (1calorie = 4.187j)
My distance is 1mi or 1609m
My weight is 217lb or 97.65kg

Now,
My question is, if I find the work done by moving a 97kg mass 1609meters in joules, and then dividing by my calorie intake (in joules)...does this give me what I want?

If so,

Can anyone give me some pointers as to setting up a free body diagram/ finding the work

If not,

Could some one point out the holes in this problem, or do I scrap it completely

Again,

All I want to do is find how many miles I would have to run to burn the calories aforementioned.

Thanks in advance

 

[binarybob0001]

Sorry, but there is a problem. Work is only down on an object when a mass is accelerated. If you run at a constant speed, there is no work being down. Well not really, your legs are moving up and down, your body is producing heat, and there is work done against friction (more than you would think). What you need to do is find studies that have tested the work output of runners. There are charts called basal metabalism charts (spelled something like that anyway) that will give work done versus hard excercise. This will give you a much more accurate calculation.

 

[thepatientmental]

It's great that you're applying physics to your workout routine! Yes, you can use physics principles to calculate the distance you would need to run to burn a certain number of calories. Here's how you can approach it:

1. First, let's start with the concept of work. Work is defined as force applied over a distance. In this case, the force is your body weight (which is actually a force due to gravity) and the distance is the distance you run.

2. To calculate work, you can use the formula W = Fd, where W is work, F is force, and d is distance. In this case, the force would be your body weight in Newtons (N) and the distance would be the distance you run in meters (m).

3. Now, let's convert your weight from pounds to Newtons. 1 pound = 4.45 Newtons. So your weight of 217 pounds would be equivalent to 966.65 Newtons.

4. Next, let's calculate the work done by your body weight during the run. Let's assume you run on a flat surface, so the force of gravity would be acting straight down (perpendicular to the ground). In this case, the work done by your body weight would be the product of your weight in Newtons and the distance you run in meters. So, W = 966.65 N x 1609 m = 1,554,508.85 Joules (J).

5. Now, let's convert this work into calories. 1 calorie = 4.187 Joules. So, the work done by your body weight during the run is equivalent to 371,456.5 calories.

6. Finally, let's divide this by your total calorie intake of 1,146 calories. This gives us a value of 324.3. This means that you would need to run approximately 324.3 miles to burn off the calories consumed in your two meals.

One important thing to note is that this calculation is based on ideal conditions and does not take into account factors such as metabolism, intensity of the workout, and other individual factors. So, it's always best to consult a professional for personalized workout and nutrition advice.

I hope this helps and good luck with your workout routine!