Inclined Plane

simple machines · physics · everyday

Just a tilted surface. An inclined plane is a flat surface with one end higher than the other. We usually call it a ramp!

A simple machine. It's one of the six classic simple machines named by scientists during the Renaissance, alongside tools like the lever and wheel.

Less effort needed. Instead of lifting a heavy load straight up, you push it up a ramp. It takes less force, though you move it a longer distance.

Everywhere you look. Ramps help load goods into trucks, let people walk up gentle slopes, and even help cars and trains climb hills.