- #1
Mr Davis 97
- 1,462
- 44
Homework Statement
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In climbing stairs that are 10.0 m high, how much work does a person weighing 60.0 kg do?
Homework Equations
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W = Fd
The Attempt at a Solution
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I know that when moving upwards, and when there is no change of kinetic energy from start to finish, the work done is W = mgh. In this case, the answer to the problem would be 5880 J. However, I am not sure this is correct, for it only takes into account the vertical direction. Doesn't the person exert a force through a distance (and thus do work) when he or she is moving in the horizontal direction between each step on the stairs?