A 70.0 kg sailor climbs a 28.3 m rope ladder at an angle of 45.0° with the mast. How much work did he do?

1 Answer
Mark C. · Gaya3
Sep 30, 2017

A question designed to look more complex than it is.

Explanation:

Work is done against gravity only (we ignore friction/air resistance etc.) so the path, hence angle, don't matter. You do, however need to find the vertical distance climbed. This is the opposite, found from the sin of the angle x hypotenuse.

Work done, #W =# energy transfer #= m.g.s.sin theta#

#W = 70*9.81*28.3*sin45#

#W = 13,700 J# to #3# s.f. (data only given to that precision)

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