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Peter G.
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I read in my book that when we are calculating the amount of work done by a man to go up a flight of stairs we use as force his weight and the distance, the vertical displacement.
Then, looking at this website http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/energy/au.cfm they illustrate a car going uphill through three different paths, each differing in steepness. The steepest one requires the most force but covers a shorter difference. The less steep one requires less force but covers a greater difference. I understand that they all end up doing the same work because they all end up at the same height. But, in this example, unlike in the staircase, they don't use the vertical displacement, instead they use the displacement through the path, why?
Thanks
Peter G.
Then, looking at this website http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/energy/au.cfm they illustrate a car going uphill through three different paths, each differing in steepness. The steepest one requires the most force but covers a shorter difference. The less steep one requires less force but covers a greater difference. I understand that they all end up doing the same work because they all end up at the same height. But, in this example, unlike in the staircase, they don't use the vertical displacement, instead they use the displacement through the path, why?
Thanks
Peter G.