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?

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

Facts about a typical escalator

slopes at #0$ to the hori%ontal each step rises 1& m in 1.0 minute efficiency of electric motor is '0(

How Escalators Work

When fully laden

)0 people get on and off in 1.0 min average mass of one person '0 kg a frictional force of 1.* + 10, -, moving #0 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. ake g . /.) - kg01. 2 1how that the kinetic energy given to the people on the escalator is small compared to the potential energy they receive. 23int4 find the speed up the slope.5 3 Calculate the work done per second by the frictional force. 4 6sing your answers to questions 1 and #, calculate4 (a) (b) (c) the total output power of the electric motor the input power to the electric motor the overall efficiency of the escalator.

5 7!plain why the potential and kinetic energy of the steps can be ignored in your calculation in question ,. 6 7!plain 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 1ome 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. 7!plain your ideas.

AQA Physics A AS Level Extension Activity Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008