Final answer:
A ramp is a simple machine that reduces the force needed to move an object by increasing the distance over which the force is applied, maintaining the total work done.
Step-by-step explanation:
A ramp is a machine that decreases the force required to move an object while increasing the distance the object travels. By using a ramp, the effort needed to lift an object to a certain height is reduced because the force is applied over a longer distance, making the work more manageable. This concept also explains how ramps or inclined planes were likely used in historical engineering feats, such as the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, to move massive stone blocks.
Ramps utilize the principles of mechanical advantage to reduce the needed input force, which is achieved by lengthening the path over which the force is applied. Although the force required is less, it's important to understand that the work done (energy transferred when a force is applied over a distance) to move the object remains the same; this conserves the energy regardless of the path taken. Hence, while a ramp decreases the exertion required, it compensates by increasing the path taken.