- #1
mrlucky0
- 69
- 1
A girl riding her bicycle up a steep hill decides to save energy by zigzagging rather than riding straight up. Ignoring friction, her strategy will:
A. require the same amount of energy but less force on the pedals
B.
C.
D.
I missed this question and when I saw the correct answer, I couldn't entirely understand why the the energy remains the same. Since dE = F*D, and she has more distance to travel (to the top of the hill) shouldn't energy increase?
Edit: I understand the force is decreased by the same factor distance increases, making energy the same. But what about the increased distance to bike up the hill? Though I think I may be reading too deeply into the question making it more difficult, I'm not satisfied with the MCAT answer. Perhaps someone could correct my reasoning.
A. require the same amount of energy but less force on the pedals
B.
C.
D.
I missed this question and when I saw the correct answer, I couldn't entirely understand why the the energy remains the same. Since dE = F*D, and she has more distance to travel (to the top of the hill) shouldn't energy increase?
Edit: I understand the force is decreased by the same factor distance increases, making energy the same. But what about the increased distance to bike up the hill? Though I think I may be reading too deeply into the question making it more difficult, I'm not satisfied with the MCAT answer. Perhaps someone could correct my reasoning.
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