Minimum Work Physics Problem | 65 kg Student Climbs 8.0 m Stairway in 12 s

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SUMMARY

The minimum work done by a 65 kg student climbing an 8.0 m stairway in 12 seconds is calculated using the formula for work, which is force multiplied by distance. The correct force is determined by the weight of the student, calculated as 65 kg multiplied by 9.8 m/s², resulting in a force of 5096 N. The total work done is then 5096 N multiplied by 8.0 m, yielding a minimum work of 40,768 J. The time taken does not affect the calculation of work in this scenario.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Second Law (f=ma)
  • Knowledge of the work-energy principle (w=fd)
  • Basic physics concepts of force and distance
  • Familiarity with unit conversions (e.g., converting kg to Newtons)
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brentwoodbc
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Homework Statement



What is the minimum work done when a 65 kg student climbs an 8.0 m-high stairway in 12 s?




The Attempt at a Solution


v=d/t
v=8/12
v=2/3

v = v2+v1 over 2
2/3 = v2+0 over 2
v2 = 2x[2/3]
v2=4/3

w=deltaEk
w=.5x65x[4/3]^2 - .5x65x0
w = 57 j ?

answer is 5100 j
 
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Hint :work is force times distance. So the time taken does not matter at all.
 


Edit I get it, trick question lol.
thank you.
 


brentwoodbc said:
I know
w=fd
f=ma
f=65x9.8
f=5096

but that doesn't have time or distance.

It seems you got the answer!
The minimum work needed would be done by a force acting upward, in the opposite direction of the weight. Its magnitude would have to be greater than the weight, so >65 kg*9.8m/s^2 as you did.
You wrote w=fd, where w is the work, f is the force and d is the distance. Then you said that the formula doesn't have a distance?
Well you've done it :)
 


fluidistic said:
It seems you got the answer!
The minimum work needed would be done by a force acting upward, in the opposite direction of the weight. Its magnitude would have to be greater than the weight, so >65 kg*9.8m/s^2 as you did.
You wrote w=fd, where w is the work, f is the force and d is the distance. Then you said that the formula doesn't have a distance?
Well you've done it :)

haha, i know what I typed wasnt actually what I did.
 

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