Inclined

Planes – 5W’s Simple Machines

What?

An inclined plane is a flat surface

that connects a lower level with a

higher level.

What?

The word inclined means, “at an angle.”

The word plane means, “a flat surface.”

Why?

What would happen if you built a skate

park with no ramps?

Why?

When it comes to a skate board park, you

need to have ramps.

A skateboard ramp is a simple machine.

Inclined planes come in many forms such as

ramps, slides, stairs and winding roads.

Up!

Stand up behind your desk and push your

chair in. Make sure you have space in front

of you.

Now, close your eyes.

Follow my directions. I’m not joking :)

Your eyes should be closed

right now… you shouldn’t be

reading this.

Your favourite celebrity is in trouble. S/he is being held against their will by an evil mathematician. It is your responsibility to save her/him. Unfortunately, the mathematician is holding the celebrity at the top of a cliff.

The only trick is that there is no road, and no other way to get to the top except to go straight up.

Now, climb.

Why?

A winding road or path would take longer but you would use less effort.

Remember the force of gravity? An inclined plane splits gravity into two smaller forces.

When you use an inclined plane like a winding road, you go forward and up. The distance you travel is greater but the force is less.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igrMlzHL-qg

Force

What?

A force is any influence that causes an

object to undergo a change in either its:

Movement

Direction

Geometric construction (physical make-up)

Think of it as a push or pull on an object, caused

by an interaction with another object.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEs9J2IQIZY

Back to

Inclined Planes!

Who?

We all use inclined planes (whether we’re

aware or not).

Where do they exist in the real world?

Who?

In ancient times, armies built inclined

places called siege ramps. These ramps

made it possible for armies to haul heavy

equipment to the tops of high walls. In 73

AD Roman soldiers built a huge siege

ramp using thousands of tons of dirt and

rock to attack the hilltop Jewish

settlement of Masada. The ramp still exists

today!

When?

We use inclined planes most often to reduce the effort (force) needed to lower or raise an object.

Think of how hard it would be to move a refrigerator into a truck without a ramp!

How hard would it be to lift that refrigerator back out of the truck?

Where?

Inclined planes are everywhere around us.

On a piece of paper, make a list of sports

that rely on inclined planes in order to be

played. Be ready to explain how inclined

planes come into play for each sport.

This can go in the “class notes” section of your

binder.

Sports & Inclined Planes

Fundamental

Questions

What is a force?

What are some

examples of

forces?

How can forces

change an

object’s

movement,

shape, or

position?

… soon to come!

Homework: Design an amusement park ride that relies on an

inclined plane to function properly.

It must be:

1. Drawn on a piece of white, unlined paper.

2. Labelled using straight lines (just like your other scientific drawings).

3. Safe.

4. Fun!

Due Date: Thursday, March 20th

You’ll be creating a ride based on each simple machine before the end of the unit.

Keep it simple, so that you don’t use all of your best ideas on one ride! You’ll be putting these together to create one huge amusement park.

Name of Ride Student Name

Date handed in

*specifically label any

inclined planes