Human Power
Purpose: To determine the power output of a person
Equipment: - two meter sticks - stopwatch
- Kilogram bathroom scale
Introduction: Power is defined to be the rate at which work is done or equivalently, the rate at which energy is converted from one form to another. In this experiment you will do some work by climbing from the first floor of the science building to the second floor. By measuring the vertical height climbed and knowing your mass, the change in your gravitational potential energy can be found:
Δ PE = mgh
Where m is the mass, g the acceleration of gravity, and h is the vertical height gained. Your power output can be determined by
Procedure:
1. We determine our mass by weighing ourselves bathroom scale in kilograms. Record your mass in kg.
2. Measure the vertical distance between the ground floor and the second floor for the science building.
3. We designate a record keeper and a timer for the class. At the command of the timing person, run or walk up the stairs from the ground floor to the second floor
4. We then repeat one more trial.
5. We calculate our personal power output in watts using the data collected from each of your climbing trip up the stairs. We obtain the average power output from the two trials.
6. We then calculated it in horse powers.
Questions: 1. Is it okay to use your hands and arms on the handrailing to assist you in your climb up the stairs? Explain why or why not. It is okay because we are measuring the whole power of the body.
2. Discuss some of the problems with the accuracy of this experiment : one factor might be the fact that maybe not everyone was walking/running the other and also human error in the stop watch and measurement of the floor.
Conclusion:
I learned how to calculate the power of a person. And also how to convert it into horse power. Are percent error compared to class is shown above:
This is due to the fact that everyone was not walking/running the same as the other in the groups.
Hi Jovany,
ReplyDeleteYou mention in question 1: It is okay because we are measuring the whole power of the body.
Can you explain a bit more? How are you calculating energy (the numerator of the equation) -- does it depend on whether you use your hands and arms or not?
Also in your conclusions, you say "This is due to the fact that everyone was not walking/running the same as the other in the groups." Can you explain what you mean exactly?
Also, please answer the questions at the end of the procedure and include the solutions in the lab for full credit.
Grade for now == s–
Please address the above comments and let me know when you want me to regrade for full credit.