In: Physics
QUESTIONS Lab Determine the work and the power developed when we walk up the stairs.
Gravitational potential energy is energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field. The change in the energy can be expressed for a mass m and height difference as
(a) If you increase the number of steps in the stairs, the work done by you will be the change in gravitational potential energy. It will increases as the value of h increases.
(b) if the student carries heavy boxes, the change in gravitational potential energy increases as the value of m increases.
(c) The energy the student after walking up the stairs is equal as before if you consider there is no loss of energy. Because the student did some work which will converted to the gravitational potential energy according to conservation of mechanical energy.
The minimum change in energy will be the change of potential energy = mgh.
(d) The work performed stay the same if the student runs instead of walking up the stairs. Now the kinetic energy will convert to the gravitational potential energy according to conservation of mechanical energy.
(e) The power (P) is expressed by the equation as
The student climb a fixed height by running or by walking. Therefore, the power is inversely proportional to time. The time required during running is less than walking. Therefore, the power increases if the student runs instead of walking up the stairs.