Inclined Plane 
Inclined Plane:
An inclined plane is a
simple machine. It is a flat surface that is higher on one
end. You can use this machine to move an object to a lower or
higher place. Inclined planes make the work of moving things
easier. You would need less energy and force to move objects
with an inclined plane.
Examples of Inclined Planes:
- Ramp
- Slanted Road
- Path up a Hill
- Slide
Try this experiment!
Materials:
Large books, ruler, one
cup of rice inside a small plastic sandwich bag
(closed
with a twist tie), rubber band strip tied to the top of the
bag
Procedure:
Stack the books in one
pile. Lean one book against the other to create an inclined
plane. Place the bag of rice on the table. While holding
the end of the rubber band, lift the bag of rice straight up to the
top of your book stack. Use the ruler to measure the length of
the rubber band. Now put the bag of rice at the bottom of the
inclined plane and drag it to the top of the stack of books by
pulling on the rubber band. When it is almost to the top,
measure the length of the rubber band.
Things to think about during this
experiment:
-What simple machine reduces the length of the
rubber band in
this
experiment?
-Why was the rubber band more stretched when the
bag was lifted straight up into the air?
-What other inclined planes could be used in an
experiment like this?
Conclusion: (Read this after you try the
experiment.)
It took more work to
move the bag of rice straight up into the air. This is why the
rubber band was stretched farther. It takes less force to move
the bag of rice up the inclined plane. return
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