Glossary
inclined plane
An inclined plane is a sloping surface used to raise a load gradually instead of lifting it straight up. A gentle long ramp needs less force than a steep, short one.
An inclined plane is a sloping surface used to move a load to a different height without lifting it straight up. A ramp, a wheelchair access, a road winding up a hill and the thread of a screw are all inclined planes.
Spreading the climb over a longer distance means you push with less force, because the load is raised gradually rather than all at once. The mechanical advantage is the length of the slope divided by its height, so the gentler and longer the ramp, the smaller the push — though you travel further, and the work done ends up the same.
Friction is the price. A steeper slope is shorter but harder, and a rough surface wastes part of your effort as heat, which is why a ramp for a heavy load is often used with rollers or a wheeled dolly. A wedge is the same shape doing the opposite job.
Taught in
Related terms
- wedge — A wedge is two inclined planes set back to back, driven into a material to split it or hold it apart. The thinner it is, the less force it takes to drive in.
Source: Official ASVAB — subtest descriptions (what each subtest asks) and the CAT-ASVAB scored-question counts (accessed 2026-09)