In order to lift the fat (306 lb) physics professor 89 meters up to
the rim, he'll need more potential energy, equal to
(mass) x (gravity) x (height) = (139 x 9.8 x 89) = 121,236 joules .
If the faithful horse delivers 1 constant horsepower = 746 watts,
AND if the cute-as-a-button student has instantly figured out a
way to keep the rope sliding around the edge without any friction,
then the soonest Prof. Tubby can arrive at the rim is
(121,236 joules) / (746 joules/sec) = 162.5 seconds .
Nowhere in this tense drama has the student needed her linguistics
skill yet, but I'll bet it comes in handy as she attempts gamely to
comprehend all of the various pleadings, prayers, and expletives
uttered by her heavy hero from the time he falls over the rim until
he's again lifted to it.
