Calculate Work Required for a 71 kg Skier on a 30° Slope with Constant Velocity

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the work required to pull a 71 kg skier up a 30° slope over a distance of 55 m at a constant velocity of 1.1 m/s. Two methods are proposed for solving the problem: (1) resolving forces to find the tension in the cable and multiplying by the distance, and (2) calculating the work done against gravity using the formula W = mgh. The correct approach emphasizes the importance of gravitational force in determining the work done.

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A skier of mass 71 kg is pulled up a slope by a motor-driven cable.
(a) How much work is required to pull him a distance of 55 m up a 30° slope at a constant speed of 1.1 m/s

I'm having trouble trying to figure out where velocity comes into play here. Originally I was using the equation W=Fcosø ∆r and I found F using F=mgsinø. But my homework says this is wrong so I'm begging someone to help me out here.
Thanks
 
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You can answer this question one of two ways;

(1)Reslove the forces and find the tension in the cable, then multiply by the distance traveled up the slope.

(2)Find the work done against gravity (W = mgh).
 

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