Ossama is right. If friction is ignored then the work done (energy spent) is m*g*h, no matter what path is taken by the mass; it is only the change is height that is important. This is a result of physics that applies to many different situations.

Including the effect of friction can only increase the required amount of work, and now the path taken to raise the mass is important. The least work would be done by lifting the mass straight up (pushing the mass up a slope, even if it were on wheels, would take more energy).

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By Joel Larid on Thursday, July 1, 1999 - 05:31 am:

Ossama is right; no matter what method of construction they used (ramps, pulleys, cranes, counter-weights or levers) this is the amount of energy that had to be spent by the workmen, if no other source of power was harnessed.

I agree with Chris that the granite beams would destroy these ramps, so these blocks may have been lifted by some other method.

Inundation power would greatly simplify this, as the problem becomes a matter of buoyancy which invalidates the use of m*g*h.

Furthermore, these granite beams had to have been lowered into position. Surely sliding them into position would pull the King's chamber apart?

All the best,
Joel.