How to solve how much work is done:

  • Thread starter Thread starter witteliz
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Work
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the work done by Lance Armstrong during an 80-km race in the Tour de France, where he generates an average power of 6.50 W/kg with a body mass of 75.0 kg. To determine the time taken for the race, the average speed of 12.0 m/s is used, resulting in a duration of approximately 6666.67 seconds. The work done is then calculated using the formula for power (p = w/t), leading to a total work output of 44,000 joules, which can be converted to nutritional Calories using the conversion factor of 1 joule = 2.389 x 10^-4 nutritional Calories, yielding approximately 10.52 Calories.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts such as work, power, and energy.
  • Familiarity with the equations of motion and kinetic energy (Ke = 1/2 mv^2).
  • Knowledge of unit conversions, specifically between joules and nutritional Calories.
  • Ability to perform calculations involving time, distance, and speed.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of work and energy in physics.
  • Learn about the conversion of joules to nutritional Calories in detail.
  • Explore advanced applications of power calculations in sports science.
  • Investigate the impact of body mass and speed on performance metrics in cycling.
USEFUL FOR

Sports scientists, exercise physiologists, cyclists, and anyone interested in the physics of athletic performance and energy expenditure during endurance events.

witteliz
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Bicyclists in the Tour de France do enormous amounts of work during a race. For example, the average power per kilogram generated by Lance Armstrong (m = 75.0 kg) is 6.50 W per kilogram of his body mass.
(a) How much work does he do during a 80-km race in which his average speed is 12.0 m/s?
(b) Often, the work done is expressed in nutritional Calories rather than in joules. Express the work done in part (a) in terms of nutritional Calories, noting that 1 joule = 2.389 10-4 nutritional Calories.

p=w/t
Ke=1/2 mv^2
w+Kef-Kei

I started with plugging the information I was given into the problems above, but got stuck after that.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
For part (a) how long did the race last (for him, anyway)?
 

Similar threads

Solving for work Power equations
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
10K
Solving for Work Done When Accelerating a Mass
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Why is the work done considered negative in this thermodynamics problem?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Why do I not get the same result when I use change in PE?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
How Is Work Calculated for a Gas and Balloon in Isothermal Expansion?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K
Work Done by Elevator Cable in Sample Problem 7-6
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
How much work is done when a satellite is launched into orbit?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
How Is Work Calculated with a Nonconstant Force?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Car Crash Work and Energy Problem
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
How Much Work is Done by Gravity?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K