Work and Power Lab- Calculating work done and power when climbing a stair. We are
climbing a stair and recording certain variables to calculate the work done and power in
the process.
ProcedureIn this activity we will measure their work done, potential energy and power level as they
climb a flight of stairs. First, find a stairway that is at least one flight or higher and open
in such a way that you can measure its height with a string or long tape measure. We
will stand on a bathroom scale and record weight, then calculate mass using the
conversion on the student answerpage. Go to the stairway ando measure the height of
the stairs. To determine the stair height, tie a weight to the string, lower it to the bottom,
and measure the length of the string from the bottom of the stairs to the top. Then climb
the stairway and record the time using a stopwatch.
Data:
Activity
Mass, Kg
Height, m
Time, s
Walking
60
2.30
2.25
Running
60
2.30
4.50
Activity
Work, J
Power, watts
Running
1380
613.33
Walking
1380
306.67
Calculations
Questions/Conclusions:
What is your work done against gravity while walking up a flight of stairs and running up
a flight of stairs?
The work of running or walking up the stairs is equal. Since the mass of the student and
the height of the stairs is constant then the work is constant.So time walking or running
doesn't bring a change to it as time does not play a role in work done.
What is the power level at which you perform this work while walking up a flight of stairs
and running up a flight of stairs?
Power is inversely proportional to time. Given that work is constant, performing the
sameThe amount of work in less time produces a greater power output. In this case
time plays a role. So running or walking inflicts a change.
Relation between Power and Work
In this lab we can conclude that the correlation between work and power is that the
more work you do, the more power you have; the less work you do, the less power you
have.
Materials:
● Scale
● Stop watch
● Measuring Tape
Picture