Question 07/00
ENERGETICS OF WALK
Energy expenditure (power) for walking on a level for speed v smaller than 2m/s
is approximately given by the expression: P=M+K*v. (At speeds higher than 2m/s the
walk is naturally transformed into running. "Race-walking" has higher speeds but involves
a very different kind of body motion.) In the expression for power, M represents
basal energy spent even when we are standing, which is about 80W
(see problem 08/98).
Why do we need to use energy in order to walk on a horizontal plane?
What is the coefficient K in the above expression?
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