Due 4, 5, 6 4. Roads going up mountains are formed into switchbacks, with the ro

Question

Due 4, 5, 6 4. Roads going up mountains are formed into switchbacks, with the road weaving back and forth along the face of the slope such that there is only a gentle rise on any portion of the roadway. (a) Compare the work done by a car climbing the mountain using a road with switchbacks to the work done by a car on a roadway that goes straight up the slope. Which is greater? Choose one and justify your answer with the work-energy theorem. The work done on the road with switchbacks The work done on the straight road The car does the same work in ether case It cannot be determined in which case the car does more work (b) The answer to (a) might be confusing to the non-physicist. Explain, then, why switchbacks are used

Explanation / Answer

According to the given problem,

a) Ans: C the car dose the same worn in either case.

The work is the same, regardless of the distance travelled. They both end up at the same height.
b) A road straight up a mountain could be steep and dangerous to travel, or just impossible to use.
By making switchbacks, the distance travelled is longer, but the slope is much more manageable.
It can be likened to pushing a heavy load up a ramp, which can require much less effort, rather than the effort of lifting the load vertically, which may be impossible for you. You use a large effort over a short distance, or a small effort over a larger distance. Both are the same work (ignoring friction on a ramp).

I hope you understood the problem, If yes rate me! or else comment for a better solution.

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