why is it more difficult to run at an incline on a treadmill when you aren’t actually climbing higher, (g potential energy not increasing)?
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It’s probably a bit easier to visualize if you imagine walking up an escalator that is moving down at the same time. You stay in one place, but it’s equally as hard as walking up regular stairs.
The escalator is taking potential energy away from you by moving you down and you need to use your muscles to regain that potential energy. In this case you’re actually helping out the motor of the escalator, so that’s where the energy is going.
Even if your upper body stays in one place, the escalator is stealing potential energy because the leg that’s on the steps is being moved down, and you counteract it by lifting the other leg up to the next step.
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