Background: A ramp like the one in the Figure below is another example of an inclined plane. Inclined planes make it easier to move objects to a higher elevation. The sloping surface of the inclined plane supports part of the weight of the object as it moves up the slope. As a result, it takes less force to move the object uphill. The trade-off is that the object must be moved over a greater distance than if it were moved straight up to the higher elevation. You can see several other examples of inclined planes at this URL

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Does the ramp increase or decrease the distance from the truck to the warehouse?

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Who is carrying the boxes a shorter distance?

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Who is carrying the boxes a longer distance?

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Who is carrying all the weight of the boxes?

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Who is carrying only some of the weight of the boxes?

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Who is working harder?

Situation: Mark liked working in the warehouse. His favorite job was unloading the trucks. Mark could loaded boxes from the truck onto a dolly then push that up a ramp and onto the dock which was several feet above the ground.  One of his coworkers Jim was a show off and insisted it was faster just to carry the boxes to the dock without the ramp and lift them up to the dock.

Question: Who is working easier

Situation: Bob pulled the moving truck up in front of his new home. The truck was filled with everything he owned. He lowered the loading ramp and began carrying boxes down the ramp and into the house.

Question: Did the ramp increase or decrese the distance to the ground?

Situation: Bob pulled the moving truck up in front of his new home. The truck was filled with everything he owned. He lowered the loading ramp and began carrying boxes down the ramp and into the house.

Question: Did the incline plane support some or all of weight of the boxes?

Situation: Bob pulled the moving truck up in front of his new home. The truck was filled with everything he owned. He lowered the loading ramp and began carrying boxes down the ramp and into the house.

Question: Did the ramp make the work easier or harder?

Situation: Bob pulled the moving truck up in front of his new home. The truck was filled with everything he owned. He lowered the loading ramp and began carrying boxes down the ramp and into the house.

Question: would the distance to the ground be closer or further without the ramp??

Situation: Bob pulled the moving truck up in front of his new home. The truck was filled with everything he owned. He lowered the loading ramp and began carrying boxes down the ramp and into the house.

Question: would the work be harder or easier without the ramp?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Is the distance to the door longer or shorter without the ramp?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Is the distance to the door longer or shorter with the ramp?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Doeas the ramp suport some of the wheelchairs weight or all of it??

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Doeas the ramp support some of Mark's mom's weight or all of it??

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Does it take more or less force to reach the door without the ramp?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Does it take more or less force to reach the door with the ramp?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Does the ramp create more or less work?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Does the stairs create more or less work?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Is more effort required to go up the steps or the ramp?

Situation: Mark was putting a ramp in for his parents. His mother had recently started using a cane and sometime a wheelchair. She had a lot of difficulty climbing the stairs. Mark hoped the wheelchair would make her life a little easier.

Question: Is more less effort required to go up the steps or the ramp?