27th November 2008

A man climbs a flight of stairs. (Remember that he is not only moving forward but upwards as well.) Assume that he travels H height and L length(in horzontal distance)
Man's mass=M.
he carries a briefcase of mass m

Explain (or)and find the work done by each of these.
1) Gravity = ?
2) Normal Reaction = ?
3) Friction is << μmgS (explain)
4) briefcase

Want full explanations. Not as easy as most of you would think

A couple of answers are zero.. every one of you know.. But I think many many of you do not know why!

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18 Answers

9
Celestine preetham ·

can
u explain the 3 question clearly

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

u can see the editing time

62
Lokesh Verma ·

okie.. rohan i got u

But i am not very sure if u should have done that at the first place..

still good work :)

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

and one thing u said that my explanation for the breifcase is wrong but i had written w.r.t briefcase

62
Lokesh Verma ·

Yes Rohan :)

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

i think it is because the legs dont slide over the surface the person lands his foot and then takes it up friction hence does negligible work

62
Lokesh Verma ·

no dear.. the answer would theoretically be zero... but practically i allowed compensation!!

9
Celestine preetham ·

3.
ok work by friction horizontally
=∫μmgcosθsinθdx vertically =∫μmgcos2θ
cos sin<1
resultant less than μmgl

62
Lokesh Verma ·

It is said that you need to prove that the work done by frictional force is not very large. ie. The work done by friction when a man moves the flight of stairs is negligible...

62
Lokesh Verma ·

No replies!

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

i said w.r.t the breifcase

62
Lokesh Verma ·

the normal reaction explanation is correct

the briefcase is not correct!
Is the finger not moving in the ground frame!

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

from the definition of work as long as normal reaction acts
the displacement of the point is 0

and the breifcase exerts the force on his fingers and w.r.t to the breifcase their is
no displacement of the finger (as it is moving along)

62
Lokesh Verma ·

ok.. atleast the explanations of part 2 and 4! (1 and 3 are relatively easy..)

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

yes ihv just given magn

62
Lokesh Verma ·

S = L (sorry)

Yeah and I want explanation for part 2, 3 part 4 (I think 1 u should have a different sign??)

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

gravity = (M+m)gH
normal reaction =0
for the third part what is actually S
briefcase work done =0

9
Celestine preetham ·


1) (M+m)gH
2) 0 force perpendicular to disp
3)can be clear with question
4)0 disp 0

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