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AS Physics Question

This document discusses whether an escalator runs at constant power by providing facts about a typical escalator and having readers calculate the potential energy, kinetic energy, work done by friction, and efficiency. It also asks readers to explain why the escalator works better at constant speed than power and to compare the motor power for walking vs non-walking passengers.

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Stefan Novak
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154 views1 page

AS Physics Question

This document discusses whether an escalator runs at constant power by providing facts about a typical escalator and having readers calculate the potential energy, kinetic energy, work done by friction, and efficiency. It also asks readers to explain why the escalator works better at constant speed than power and to compare the motor power for walking vs non-walking passengers.

Uploaded by

Stefan Novak
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic 10.

4
Energy and efficiency

The escalator
Aims
In this activity you will demonstrate your understanding of kinetic energy, potential energy
and power by applying equations and ideas from Chapter 10. You will make comparisons
and evaluate whether escalators can run at constant power.

Does an escalator run at constant power?


The largest and most expensive machine many people use on a daily basis is the escalator.
In the escalator an electric motor pulls a chain linked to moving steps. When the escalator is
fully laden, as one person steps on at the bottom another steps off at the top.

Facts about a typical escalator How Escalators Work


 slopes at 30° to the horizontal
 each step rises 15 m in 1.0 minute
 efficiency of electric motor is 70%

When fully laden


 80 people get on and off in 1.0 min
 average mass of one person 70 kg
 a frictional force of 1.2 × 104 N,
moving 30 m in 1.0 min, acts
against the motion

1 Calculate the potential energy given each minute to the people on a fully laden escalator.
Take g = 9.8 N kg−1.
2 Show that the kinetic energy given to the people on the escalator is small compared to the
potential energy they receive. (Hint: find the speed up the slope.)
3 Calculate the work done per second by the frictional force.
4 Using your answers to questions 1 and 3, calculate:
(a) the total output power of the electric motor
(b) the input power to the electric motor
(c) the overall efficiency of the escalator.
5 Explain why the potential and kinetic energy of the steps can be ignored in your
calculation in question 4.
6 Explain why it is better that the escalator works at constant speed rather than at constant
power. You might like to consider what happens if the motor produces constant power, and
the escalator carries a decreasing number of people.
7 Some people on the escalator walk up as the escalator rises. Compare the power provided
by the motor with the power needed when they do not walk up. You may assume that the
escalator runs at a constant speed and that the frictional force is unchanged.
Explain your ideas.

AQA Physics A AS Level Extension Activity © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008 1

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