Why does it feel “easier” to go up a set of steps on an angle, rather than straight on? Surely the work required to go up them is the same?

Question

Why does it feel “easier” to go up a set of steps on an angle, rather than straight on? Surely the work required to go up them is the same?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Can’t guarantee this is the reason, but if it were a ramp rather than steps, it does take less power to be able to zig zag up it because the slope will be less.

It’s possible that, without stopping to think, our instinct is that steps would work the same as a ramp but they don’t.