A 170 lb fire fighter is carrying 75 lb of equipment up (10 in.) stairs. There are 15 stairs per story in this building. How many dietary calories does the fire fighter burn in climbing 10 flights of stairs

Number of calories burned = 243.93

Explanation:

1 dietary calorie = 4184 Joules

Total stairs the fire fighter has to climb = 10 * 15 = 150

Total increase in height climbing 150 stairs = 10 * 150 = 1150 inches

Total increase in height climbing 150 stairs = 95.83 ft

Total mass of fire fighter and equipment = 245 lb

Total work done = change in Gravitational potential energy

Total work done = mass * gravity * height

Total work done = 245 * 32.2 * 95.83 = 756002.9 foot-pound of energy

Converting this into joules we get: 756002.9 * 1.35 = 1020603.9 Joules

Number of calories burned = Joules of work / joules in one calorie

Number of calories burned = 1020603.9 / 4184

Number of calories burned = 243.93