Final answer:
A simple machine is a device that can multiply or augment a force. Examples include levers, wheelbarrows, cranks, and inclined planes. Pushing a cart up an inclined plane requires less force than lifting it straight up using a ladder.
Step-by-step explanation:
A simple machine is a device that can be used to multiply or augment a force that we apply. Examples of simple machines include the lever, nail puller, wheelbarrow, crank, and the inclined plane. The mechanical advantage of a simple machine is the ratio of output to input forces. For example, pushing a cart up an inclined plane requires less force than lifting the same cart straight up using a ladder. Inclined planes or ramps were likely used during the construction of the Egyptian pyramids to move large blocks of stone.