What method can be used to calculate the mechanical advantage of an inclined plane?

The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is a measure of how much the inclined plane allows a user to lift a load with less effort compared to lifting it vertically. It can be calculated by using the ratio of the length of the slope (the hypotenuse of the triangle formed by the incline) to the vertical height of the incline.

When using the slope divided by height, the slope (length of the incline) represents the actual distance the effort must move the load, while height indicates the vertical distance that the load is lifted. This is significant because, by using the inclined plane, the effort force required to lift the load can be reduced. The greater the ratio of slope to height, the more advantageous the incline is for lifting the load.

The mechanical advantage reflects the effort saving provided by the incline, allowing a person to exert less force over a longer distance to achieve the same lifting effect. The correct answer effectively provides a way to quantify this benefit, reinforcing the understanding of how inclined planes function in mechanical advantage scenarios.