inclined planes

Inclined Planes

let's start with a review of simple machines so far

Multiple Choice

What are the 6 types of simple machines?

• pulley, lever, wheel and axle, screw, wedge, inclined plane

• pulley, lever, wheel and axle, shrew, wedge, declined plane

• pulley, lever 2000, wheel and rod, shrew, shoehorn, declined plane

• pulley, lever, wheel and axle, screw, wedge, scissors

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true about the force on a lever?

• The longer the effort arm of the beam is, the less force needed to move the load.

• The shorter the effort arm of the beam is, the less force needed to move the load.

• The force on a lever is only affected by the weight of the lever itself
• The force on a lever is always the same regardless of the distance from the fulcrum

Multiple Choice

A wheel and axle work on similar principles as a lever.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

In a Ferris wheel, the large wheel is propelled by a center motor to go around in a circle. This is an example of

• using a monstrous wolf to power our amusements

• a force being applied to an axle

• a force being applied to the wheel to turn the axle

• French people making up ways for Americans to be distracted

Multiple Choice

What is the mechanical advantage if a wheel radius is 40 cm on a 2 cm axle?

• 2

• 42

• 20

• 38

Multiple Choice

What type of simple machine is shown here?

• Pulley
• Wheel and Axle
• Lever
• Wedge

Multiple Choice

A simple machine that consists a rigid bar that pivot about a fixed point

• lever
• pulley
• wheel and axle
• fulcrum 

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of someone using a simple machine to do work?

• a boy runs across a football field
• a banker counts money
• a mother pushes a stroller up a ramp
• a girl eats a sandwich

and now...



Inclined Planes

• An inclined plane is one of the classical simple machines.

• It can be used to lift an object, hold an object in place, or separate two objects or portions of an object.

​

Inclined planes, aka ramps, reduce the force necessary to move a load up but increase the distance required to complete the move.

​

​The amount of work remains the same.

​1/2 a wedge


with a right angle

This machine can be used for a variety of purposes, including lifting as ramps, sloping roads, chisels, hatchets, plows, and air hammers.

​

MA = length traveled along the plane or hypotenuse vertical distance.

​Mechanical Advantage