Question

A man X goes to the top of a building by a vertical spiral staircase. Another man Y of the same mass goes to the top of the same building by a slanting ladder. Which of the two does more work against gravity and why ?

Answer 1

We know that work done against gravity = change in potential energy
Change in potential energy = m g h
h = change in height
As the change in height is the same for both men, both the men have done equal work against gravity.