Question

A coolie X Carrying a load on his head climbs up a slope and another coolie Y carrying the identical load on his head move the same distance on a frictionless horizontal platform. Who does more work? Explain the reason.

Answer 1

Energy is the capacity to do work and work done is equal to energy spent. Coolie X carrying a load up a slope will do more work as this works involve a change in potential energy, kinetic energy and loss of energy due to friction. Work done in carrying the load in horizontal frictionless surface does not involve change in potential energy and work done by the friction is also zero.