What is the force necessary to move a 240-pound block up an incline that rises 5 feet and is 20 feet long?

To determine the force necessary to move a 240-pound block up an incline, we need to consider the concept of the mechanical advantage provided by the incline. The incline allows the weight of the block to be distributed over a longer distance, reducing the effort required to lift it vertically. The critical factors here are the rise of the incline and its length.

First, we can calculate the angle of the incline using the rise and run. The vertical rise is 5 feet, and the horizontal distance (the run) can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. However, for the purpose of determining the force required, we can also use the ratio of the rise to the length of the incline to find the sine of the angle, as this gives us the effective force needed to lift the block.

The formula to calculate the force needed to overcome gravity on an incline is given as:

[ \text{Force} = \text{Weight} \times \frac{\text{Rise}}{\text{Length}} ]

Substituting the given values:

• Weight = 240 pounds

• Rise = 5 feet

• Length = 20 feet

[

\text{Force} = 240 \times \frac{5}{