A student who weighs 571 N climbs a stairway (vertical height of 3.1 m) in 30 s. (a) How much work is done? J (b) What is the power output of the student? W

Answer 1

Work is defined as force x displacement in the direction of the force. In this case the force is 571 N and the displacement is 3.1 m, so the work is 3.1 m x 571 N = 1770 J.

Power is work per unit of time. 1770 J /30 s = 59 W.