Final answer:
The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane with a 30 m slope length and a 6 m height is 5. This calculation assumes an idealized machine with no energy loss due to friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mechanical Advantage of an Inclined Plane
The mechanical advantage (MA) of an inclined plane is calculated by dividing the length of the slope by the height. The MA represents how much the inclined plane amplifies the input force. In this case, the slope length is 30 m and the height is 6 m. Therefore, the mechanical advantage would be:
MA = slope length / height = 30 m / 6 m = 5
The mechanical advantage of 5 means that the inclined plane allows you to exert a force that is 5 times less than the force needed to lift the load vertically. This ideal mechanical advantage assumes no energy is lost to friction, and only considers the input work, which is the effort force multiplied by the distance it is applied.