What is the inclined plane?

   The Inclined Plane is one of the simple mechanical powers whose name is self-explanatory. A plank with one end on the ground and the other resting on a wagon, upon which a barrel of salt is being rolled, illustrates an inclined plane and its use. The force necessary to support it on the incline bears the same relation to the weight as the height of the incline does to its length. In other words, the law of equilibrium is: The power multiplied by the length of the inclined plane, equals the weight multiplied by the height. A wagon-road winding around and up a hill, a "switch-back" on a railroad or the inclined plane railway as on Mt. Washington, illustrate the principle. The screw and wedge are modified inclined planes.