What does an inclined plane do?

Answer 1

An inclined plane lets you use less "intensity" to move things. Note that it does take about the same amount of energy to push a rolling cart up a ramp (an inclined plane) as it does to just lift it up. But you can push that cart up the ramp applying energy in increments. You may not have the physical strength to just "dead lift" this load straight up to get it to that higher level. You've figured out that you have to move the object a farther distance than if you moved it up in a straight line, right? But with the inclined plane, the ramp lets you lift something without having to put all the energy into it at once to raise it straight up. Simple and easy. The inclined plane is what is called a simple machine.