Seems like a subject this forum should have covered but I cannot recall it. So is the energy requirement to climb the same? I expect ramp values like a winch would need to be calculated over time.

Other variables might be with human stride two steps might be superior to a ramp whose gradient is longer than the steps.

New Scientist

Here

For the energetics of stairs vs ramps there’s a cross-over point.

For shallow slopes the swinging of the legs on a ramp is practically identical to that on the flat and the extra energy expended is trivial. But for steps on a shallow slope the need to raise the leg to avoid the riser makes the energy consumption more.

On the other hand, for steep slopes the advantage of having the feet land flat is a big one. On steep ramps the ankle flex isn’t enough so the body tends to topple over backwards from the unbalanced torque (or forwards if descending) and overcoming that torque requires non-optimal muscle movement. So steps are more energy efficient than ramps on steep slopes.

mollwollfumble said:

For the energetics of stairs vs ramps there’s a cross-over point.

For shallow slopes the swinging of the legs on a ramp is practically identical to that on the flat and the extra energy expended is trivial. But for steps on a shallow slope the need to raise the leg to avoid the riser makes the energy consumption more.

On the other hand, for steep slopes the advantage of having the feet land flat is a big one. On steep ramps the ankle flex isn’t enough so the body tends to topple over backwards from the unbalanced torque (or forwards if descending) and overcoming that torque requires non-optimal muscle movement. So steps are more energy efficient than ramps on steep slopes.

Makes sense, humans are lazy. Reading about the expansion of railways in America thecsamecsort of thing, human trails followed animal trails that without building bridges or levelling mountains were the most energy efficient way to navigate peaks, passes and valleys.

In my dialect, steps and stairs are the same thing.

dv said:

In my dialect, steps and stairs are the same thing.

A set of stairs is made from a number of steps.

Moll, what happens if a steep slope is climbed by diagonally traversing the contour?

> Moll, what happens if a steep slope is climbed by diagonally traversing the contour?

I was hoping you wouldn’t ask that. I don’t know.

AwesomeO said:

Makes sense, humans are lazy.

There are degrees of deflection we aren’t built to cope with comfortably.

Teleost said:

dv said:

In my dialect, steps and stairs are the same thing.

A set of stairs is made from a number of steps.

Technically steps are the treads which can be open or enclosed. The stair part is the supporting frame and casing…