Finding the work done in pulling a stranded climber to safety. In an unfortunate accident, a rock climber finds herself stuck 17 m from the top of a 80 m rock face. Rescuers sent to help the climber lower a harness attached to a cable that will pull the climber to the top of the rock face. If the climber, secured in the harness, weighs 56 kg and the cable weighs 0.7kgm, how much work is done in raising the climber, harness, and cable to the top of the rock face? Note: the weight of the climber and cable is really a mass so you will need to multiply the mass in kg by the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8ms2).

-9446.22 J

Explanation:

Parameters given:

Mass of climber and harness = 56kg

Mass of cable = 0.7kg

Distance between climber and top of rock face = 17m

The work done in pulling the climber is given as:

W = F * d

F is the force applied on the rope. It is opposite the force of gravity pulling the climber, hence, it is given as:

F = -Fg

Fg = force of gravity

Fg = m * g

g = acceleration due to gravity.

The mass of the climber, harness and cable = 56 + 0.7 = 56.7kg

=> Fg = 56.7 * 9.8

Fg = 555.66 N

Therefore, the work done will be:

W = - 555.66 * 17

W = -9446.22 J

The negative value of work means that the work done is opposite the value of the force acting on the climber.