Inclined planes are simple machines that are present in everyday life as ramps for loading goods, wheelchair access points, stairs, slides, and construction tools like wedges and screws. They operate by reducing the force needed to lift objects
Inclined planes are a type of simple machine that makes it easier to lift objects by applying a force across a longer distance, thus reducing the force needed. Common examples include ramps used for loading goods into trucks, wheelchair access ramps, and slides in playgrounds. Even household stairs are a form of an inclined plane. Larger scale examples are found in construction, such as the ramps speculated to be used in building the Egyptian pyramids.
Friction can influence the effectiveness of an inclined plane, adding a resisting force that an object must overcome. Objects like a wedge, which is two inclined planes back to back, utilize the same mechanical principle to perform tasks such as cutting or splitting. The principle is also applied in tools like screws, where a circular inclined plane allows for objects to be joined with rotational force.
So, inclined planes are everywhere around us, assisting in various tasks by reducing the amount of force required to move objects.