Figuring out the acceleration of ice down a plane made of ice.
Explore the various forces acting on a block sitting on an inclined plane. Learn how to break the force of gravity into two components - one perpendicular to the ramp and one parallel to the ramp. Finally, using geometry and trigonometry, learn how to calculate the magnitude of each component of force that is acting on the block.
In this unit we will learn how these factors can affect the output of a simple machine. We will also learn about the difference between ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) and actual mechanical advantage (AMA), and how to apply your knowledge to calculate the efficiency of various simple machines.
What are simple machines? Simple machines are tools that make work easier. They have few or no moving parts. These machines use energy to do work with one movement. They make our work easier by letting us use less mechanical effort to move an object.