Table of contents
- 0. Math Review31m
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- Calculating Displacement from Velocity-Time Graphs15m
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- Toroidal Solenoids aka Toroids12m
- Biot-Savart Law (Calculus)18m
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- 30. Induction and Inductance3h 38m
- 31. Alternating Current2h 37m
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- 32. Electromagnetic Waves2h 14m
- 33. Geometric Optics2h 57m
- 34. Wave Optics1h 15m
- 35. Special Relativity2h 10m
9. Work & Energy
Work On Inclined Planes
Problem 36
Textbook Question
In pedaling a bicycle uphill, a cyclist exerts a downward force of 420 N during each stroke. If the diameter of the circle traced by each pedal is 36 cm, calculate how much work is done in each stroke.

1
Convert the diameter of the circle traced by the pedal into the radius. The radius is half the diameter: \( r = \frac{36 \text{ cm}}{2} = 18 \text{ cm} \). Convert this to meters: \( r = 0.18 \text{ m} \).
Calculate the circumference of the circle traced by the pedal using the formula for the circumference of a circle: \( C = 2 \pi r \). Substitute \( r = 0.18 \text{ m} \) into the formula.
Determine the distance traveled by the pedal during one stroke. Since the cyclist exerts the force over half a revolution, the distance is half the circumference: \( d = \frac{C}{2} \).
Use the work formula \( W = F \cdot d \cdot \cos(\theta) \), where \( F \) is the force exerted, \( d \) is the distance, and \( \theta \) is the angle between the force and the direction of motion. Here, \( \theta = 0 \) degrees because the force is applied tangentially, so \( \cos(0) = 1 \). Substitute \( F = 420 \text{ N} \) and the calculated \( d \) into the formula.
Simplify the expression to find the work done in one stroke: \( W = 420 \cdot d \). This gives the work done in joules (J).

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Work
In physics, work is defined as the product of the force applied to an object and the distance over which that force is applied, in the direction of the force. The formula for work is W = F × d, where W is work, F is the force, and d is the distance moved in the direction of the force. In this context, the cyclist's downward force and the distance the pedal moves during each stroke are crucial for calculating the work done.
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Calculating Net Work
Distance Traveled by the Pedal
The distance traveled by the pedal in one complete stroke can be determined by the circumference of the circle traced by the pedal. The circumference (C) is calculated using the formula C = π × d, where d is the diameter of the circle. Given that the diameter of the pedal circle is 36 cm, this distance is essential for calculating the work done in each stroke.
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RPM of pedals of static bicyle
Force
Force is a vector quantity that represents an interaction that causes an object to change its velocity, direction, or shape. In this scenario, the cyclist exerts a downward force of 420 N on the pedals. Understanding the magnitude and direction of this force is vital for calculating the work done, as it directly influences the total energy transferred during each pedal stroke.
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Intro to Centripetal Forces
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Related Practice
Multiple Choice
A 600 kg object is being pulled up a frictionless inclined plane at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal. If the force applied parallel to the incline is 3000 N, how much work is done in moving the object 10 meters up the incline?