Inclined Plane Investigation
Purpose: This lab is to allow you to investigate different inclined plane designs and identify the advantages and
disadvantages of each design. You will use this information in your trifold or pamphlet.
In each part of this lab, you will be lifting your brick (refrigerator) to a height of .2m. This would simulate lifting a real
refrigerator 2 meters off the ground.
MATERIALS: spring scales, brick (represents your refrigerator), ramps of various lengths
Procedure:
1. Calculate the amount of work needed to lift your brick to a height of .2m
a. Record the dead lift Force: ____________________________- (This is how much force it would take to lift it straight
up .2m.) (It is also the same as the weight of the object in Newtons)
b. Calculate the work done. Work= Force X Distance
2. INCLINED PLANE #1 Length of ramp = 50 cm (.5m)
a. Prop it up so that one end is .2m off the
b. Calculate the Ideal Mechanical Advantage of this inclined plane.
IMA= length ÷ height
c. Use your spring scale to pull the brick (refrigerator) up the ramp. Record the input force (scale reading)
d. Calculate the Actual Mechanical Advantage
AMA = Output force (weight) ÷ Input Force (scale reading)
Did you notice that the IMA and the AMA were not the same?
Why are they different?
e. Calculate the work done pulling the brick up the ramp.
Work = force (scale reading) X distance (length of ramp)
f. Did it take more or less force to pull it up the ramp than to dead lift it?
3. Inclined Plane #2: Length of ramp = 75 cm (.75m)
a. Prop it up so that one end is .2m off the
b. Calculate the Ideal Mechanical Advantage of this inclined plane.
IMA= length ÷ height
c. Use your spring scale to pull the brick (refrigerator) up the ramp. Record the input force (scale reading)
d. Calculate the Actual Mechanical Advantage
AMA = Output force (weight) ÷ Input Force (scale reading)
Did you notice that the IMA and the AMA were not the same?
Why are they different?
e. Calculate the work done pulling the brick up the ramp.
Work = force (scale reading) X distance (length of ramp)
f. Did it take more or less force to pull it up the ramp than to dead lift it?
4. INCLINED PLANE #3 Length of ramp = 100 cm (1m)
a. Prop it up so that one end is .2m off the
b. Calculate the Ideal Mechanical Advantage of this inclined plane.
IMA= length ÷ height
c. Use your spring scale to pull the brick (refrigerator) up the ramp. Record the input force (scale reading)
d. Calculate the Actual Mechanical Advantage
AMA = Output force (weight) ÷ Input Force (scale reading)
Did you notice that the IMA and the AMA were not the same?
Why are they different?
e. Calculate the work done pulling the brick up the ramp.
Work = force (scale reading) X distance (length of ramp)
f. Did it take more or less force to pull it up the ramp than to dead lift it?
ANAYLSIS:
1. Which ramp (inclined plane) required the LEAST amount of force to use?
2. Since simple machines are designed to make work easier and there is always a tradeoff. The machine either requires
less force then there must be a tradeoff for this. What is the tradeoff when using an inclined plane (ramp)?
3. What are the advantages of using an inclined plane to move the brick (refrigerator) up to the porch?
4. What are the disadvantages of using an inclined plane to move the brick (refrigerator) up to the porch?