The sloping surface of the inclined plane supports part of the weight of the object as it moves up the slope. As a result, it takes less force to move the object uphill. The trade-off is that the object must be moved over a greater distance than if it were moved straight up to the higher elevation. On the other hand, the output force is greater than the input force because it is applied over a shorter distance. Like other simple machines, the ideal mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is given by
Sam is moving construction materials into a new home he is building. The stairs to the second floor of the home have not yet been built, so he needs to build a ramp to get the materials to the second floor. Sam is trying to decide between two ramp options for moving the supplies: Ramp A has a small slope but is longer than Ramp B; Ramp B has a steep slope but is shorter than Ramp A.
Which ramp will require the supplies to be moved over a shorter distance?