Does speed affect calories used?

[System]

June 10, 2017 at 11:12 am

Just curious – but may be able to solve a family argument
How do you work out the calories used per activity? My son claims that physics would decree that whether you cycle fast or slow around identical routes you’ll use identical amounts of calories and that this should work with running fast, running slow or walking.
???

Simon Maddison

[Colin]

Your son is both right and wrong, depending on how you look at it.

The amount of useful work done is the same irrespective of the speed you travel.

However, the actual amount of energy expended does increase with speed. People move less efficiently at higher speeds and the energy expended to overcome friction (mainly air resistance) is also higher.