When placing a ramp for cattle to board a truck, an inclined plane is used.
A thing with a somewhat smooth surface, lacking reliefs and elevations , is known as a plane ; an object that has only two dimensions and that contains infinitely many points and lines; a schematic and scale representation of a territory or a construction; or the position from which someone analyzes a thing or situation.
Inclined , for its part, is a word that derives from the verb incline (which means to move something away from its position perpendicular to the horizon).
The notion of inclined plane , then, combines both notions and refers to a plain or area without relief that forms an acute angle with the ground and that, due to these characteristics, facilitates the raising or lowering of an object or body.
The inclined plane, a simple machine
The concept, in general, allows to name the simple machinery achieved from a flat area capable of achieving an acute angle with respect to the base and that is used to raise a body to a certain height . This helps require less force to lift the body than if it were to be lifted vertically.
In this sense, we can determine that any inclined plane has three clear functions. Thus, first of all, we have to explain that it can be used as a ramp to, in this way, proceed to raise a specific mass, reducing the level of effort that must be made to achieve the objective. A clear example of this is when ramps are placed on a truck to proceed to introduce livestock into it.
Secondly, it must be emphasized that the second clear function that any inclined plane has is to act as a wedge. In this way it can be used both to cut and to tighten or even to separate or open an element. There are several examples that we can use to understand this work of the aforementioned plane, such as when it is used to hold the doors and prevent them from closing. A knife, scissors or an ax are also examples of this second function mentioned that we have explained.
Thirdly and finally, it must be determined that any inclined plane can have the task of functioning as if it were a propeller. In this way, what is achieved is that the rotary movement of an element in question is linear. The propeller of a ship is a perfect example of this, however, it is not the only one that we can highlight. Thus, it also acts as a screwdriver when placing a screw on a specific surface.
An inclined plane can function as a wedge.
Simon Stevin's contributions
The mathematician Simon Stevin ( 1548 – 1620 ) was the one who first stated the laws that determine the behavior of bodies on an inclined plane.
It is important to keep in mind that various forces influence the operation of this simple machine, such as the force of gravity (the weight, which arises from the magnitude of the mass in the vertical direction), the normal force (the reaction force that the plane exerts on the body according to Newton's Third Law) and the friction force (the friction force that exerts resistance with respect to the direction of displacement of the element or object in relation to the surface).