Inclined Plane

An inclined plane is a sloping plane surface, usually a wooden plank used to raise heavy load by pulling or pushing them along the surface of the plane.
Consider the diagram

Mechanical advantage of the inclined plane

Example:

A loaded wheelbarrow of weight 800N is pushed up an inclined plane by a force of 150N parallel to the plane. If the plane rises by 50cm for every 400cm distance measured along the plane, find the velocity ratio, mechanical advantage and efficiency of the plane.

 Solution;
 Data given
 Load = 800N
 Effort = 150N
 Length of plane = 400cm
 Height of the plane = 50cm
 V.R =?
 M.A=?
 £=?

 (a) Velocity ratio

The velocity ratio = 8

(b) Mechanical advantage

The Mechanical advantage= 5.3

(c)  Efficiency of machine 

The efficiency of the machine = 67%