Will an athlete who runs for an hour at moderate pace and is not tired at the end burn more calories than an out of shape person who runs for an hour a way shorter distance but is exhausted at the end?
Assuming both have the same weight and such
What I want to know basically is if your body gets stronger will it need less energy to perform the same amount of work?
In: 1708
>if your body gets stronger will it need less energy to perform the same amount of work?
“Work” is a term from science that equals Force times Distance. If for example you pick up a box and carry it to the other side of the room it will always be the same amount of work done regardless how much or how little you struggle.
However, struggling increases energy cost. Arms shaking, maybe you need to set it down and take a breather then pick it back up. Even the systems for breathing and transfer of energy to muscles require energy themselves.
When running you’re basically the box itself and also the Force moving it a given Distance. The same rules apply, energy spent not on directly completing the task is lost efficiency.
TL;DR: Struggling decreases the *efficiency* of energy spent on the task, therefore increasing the total spent.
Bonus: Levers are interesting in the conversation of work. Remember W=F*D, so if you increase the distance (longer lever) it decreases the force required (less effort) to achieve the same amount of work (rotation).
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