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From: hes@ecsvax.UUCP (Henry Schaffer)
Newsgroups: net.bio
Subject: Re: Up The Down Escalator
Message-ID: <1421@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Jun-85 15:53:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.1421
Posted: Wed Jun  5 15:53:04 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Jun-85 01:53:24 EDT
References: <237@ihnet.UUCP>
Organization: NC State Univ.
Lines: 11

They are both moving their legs in the same manner, but the
forces involved are not the same (assuming they both are "climbing"
at a steady pace.)   X, the stair climber, has to lift his body
up each step.   Y, on the escalator, just lets his leg, which
took a step up, ride down with the tread.
Y has to transfer weight between his two legs, but doesn't have to
use his leg muscles to lift his body.
(Y could spend more energy by quickly taking a step up, then
riding one step worth down, take another quick step up, ...  This
should be approximately equal to the stair climber.)
--henry schaffer  n c state univ