power output?

Question

is it ever possible for a heavier student moving up stairs slower that a lighter student to produce a greater power output?

Answer 1

Yes, absolutely, Imagine two students. One weighs 100 kg and the other weights 50 kg, and they are both traveling 10 meters going up the stairs. The big guy does it in 8 seconds and the smaller student does it in 10.
Power = (mass* g * distance) / time
Big student:
(100 kg * 9.8 m/s2 * 30 m ) / 10 sec = 2940 watts
small student
(50 kg * 9.8 m/s2 * 30 m ) / 8 sec = 1838 watts

Answer 2

Yes.

Power is how fast work is done (or how fast energy is consumed).

So if a heavier student gets up the stairs in the same time as the lighter student, more power has to be generated for the heavier student.

So depending on the difference in time, and the difference in weight, a heavier student could use more power than the lighter student even if he takes longer.

If walking, each student is producing their own power with their legs.