Chacham's Journal: Verbiage: Speed increase when walking up stairs.

While i don't always walk at a particular pace, stairs seems to make me go faster. Whether it's up or down, i almost always speed up. I was wondering about this, and came up with a couple reasons.

I know a kid that constantly shakes his head as he reads. I asked his father why. He has a problem with his eyes, that they cannot stay focused without moving. To compensate, he shake his head in the same pattern. Very interesting. His view changed, so he changed to make the view consistent.

When i am walking up the stairs, i am moving forward slowly. My normal perspective of the world passing by is no longer the same. Perhaps i go faster to make it feel the same.

Another thing is the effort involved. It takes more effort to move up. Speeding up makes it go away faster.

Also, moving up, my steps are usually more narrow than on flat ground. This gives me a desire to take two steps at a time. Moving two steps at a time, however, can be uncomfortable at a slower pace do to the stretch. This made me do it more quickly when i was younger. I may just be accustomed to taking them faster, even now that i generally take one step at a time.

Moving down the stairs has another reason. It is easier. Wheras going up is fighitng gravity, going down is working with it.

I also noticed that when i went down steps i took two steps at a time, in rhythm. This has slowed me down as there is a small wait time between each rhythm. This is noticeable when taking stairs quickly. By being concious of this, i eliminated that problem, and all the steps are in one continous stream. This itself lends to taking them faster, as that was the point in the first place.

Against all odds this is a really

[Neop2Lemus]

interesting entry. I've often been fascinated by this as well

I also run up stairs. I think that it is the fight against gravity, it's just easier to get it over with quickly and to run. At least for me.

Who knew such a small topic could be so fascinating?

Re:Against all odds this is a really

[Chacham]

Who knew such a small topic could be so fascinating?

Everything is interesting. :)

I'm trying to post what i think about, rather than thinking about what i should post.

--

Thanx for the reply.

Me too.

[rholliday]

I always hop-jog up stairs two at a time. A lot of people do, I think, unless perhaps they're going up an awful lot of them. I don't do it going down quite as often, though. Always makes me feel awkward-looking, and worry about busting my face.

Re:Me too.

[Chacham]

I don't do it going down quite as often, though. Always makes me feel awkward-looking, and worry about busting my face.

I think i do it more going up the stairs than going down. Not because i was afraid though.

Re:Me too.

[rholliday]

Way to make me sound like a stair-coward. ;)

Re:Me too.

[Chacham]

:)

Q: What's the difference between looking up the stairs and walking up the stairs?

A: One is stepping up the stairs, the other is staring up the steps.

Momentum

[superyooser]

The issue is momentum. It takes more energy to begin moving than it does to continue moving (starting friction is greater than continuing friction). This reality is exaggerated when moving vertically. I think we intuitively understand that taking multiple steps at a time and moving quickly is the best way to take advantage of momentum and reduce effort. Or maybe it's just perception. Going up steps feels like exertion, and we want to minimize time spent doing that. As for speeding up going down steps--well,

Re:Momentum

[Chacham]

Certainly perhaps. :)

Thanx for the reply!