How to Use an Inclined Plane

The incline plane is one of the six simple machines that has come down to us from ancient times. In the simplest terms, an incline plane is a flat surface that is higher at one end than it is at the other. Using an incline plane an object can be moved from a lower level to a higher level or from a higher level to a lower level using far less force than would be necessary to move the same object vertically. The trade off is that the incline plane requires the object to be moved a greater distance. There are thousands of examples of incline planes in use today, from the curb-cut for your driveway to the slides at your local park.

Things You'll Need

• Board: 6-foot-long 2x6 Heavy object

Instructions

1. Place one end of a 6-foot-long 2x6 on a table or bench that is approximately 24 inches above the floor. Allow the other end of the board to rest on the floor. This simple board is now an incline plane.

2. Push a heavy object to the lower end of your incline plane.

3. Maneuver the object onto the end of your incline plane and then carefully push the object up the board until it reaches the top end of the board.

4. Push the object off of the top end of the board and onto the bench or table. You have now lifted the heavy object approximately 24 inches off the floor using much less force (and much less possibility of damage to your back) than you would have used if you had lifted the object straight up onto the table.

5. Maneuver another object onto the top end of your incline plane and then push it to the bottom of the board. You have now used your incline plane to move a heavy object 24 inches higher and an object 24 inches lower with little strain to your body.

Tips & Warnings

• As objects that you want to move become heavier simply increase the length of your incline plane -- the longer your incline plane the less force that must be used to move an object up the plane. The smoother the surface of the incline plane the less force will need to be used to move an object up or down the plane.

References

• Demonstration of an incline plane in action