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Methods for Inclined Planes

An inclined plane is defined as a plane surface set at an angle anywhere between zero and 90 degrees against a horizontal surface. Inclined planes have been used for thousands of years to lessen the burden of carrying heavy loads, particularly up high altitudes. Examples of where inclined planes are applied include sloping roads, ramps, hatchets, chisels and plows.

  1. Principle

    • The principle behind inclined planes lies in their ability to overcome large resistance by applying force to a load over a longer distance. As the load travels up the plane, the gravitational resistance is split into a perpendicular and parallel force. Only the parallel force needs to be overcome, thus the incline and extra distance requires less effort to transport the same load. The inclined plane method is applied to a number of measurable parameters.

    Measuring Friction

    • Friction coefficients are measured using the inclined plane method for a range of industry material, such as packaging. Here, the angle of the inclined plane is increased gradually until the material slides down the plane. This angle determines the friction coefficient. Movement occurs because the component of the material weight parallel to the plane overcomes the static friction force, which is in accordance with Newton's second law of motion.

    Measuring Acceleration

    • The inclined plane method is commonly used for measuring rates of acceleration. A popular experiment involves rolling balls down an inclined plane such as a ramp and measuring the distance traveled between equally marked time intervals along the plane. The acceleration, or change in speed, is recorded as the balls move further down the ramp.

    Erosion Resistance

    • Researchers from Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland applied the inclined plane principle to measure the erosion and tracking resistance of polymer materials. Electrical conductors were set up at opposite ends of a 45-degree inclined plane, and a high-voltage electrical stress was applied to the polymer material in the presence of a liquid contaminant. Resistance was determined by measuring material degradation over time at various voltages.

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