Movers want to get a refrigerator up over a 6-inch step. They place a small ramp on the step to make the task easier. Why are the movers using the ramp?
A. The ramp reduces the mechanical force needed to move the refrigerator.
B.The ramp reduces the distance that the refrigerator needs to move. (my answer)
C.The ramp increases the distance that the refrigerator needs to move.
D.The ramp increases the mechanical force needed to move the refrigerator.
A.
actually the distance along the ramp is greater than the vertical height of the step.
(moreover you can use wheels or rollers :)
The correct answer is A. The ramp reduces the mechanical force needed to move the refrigerator.
When lifting an object vertically, the force required depends on the weight of the object. However, when using a ramp, the force required to move the object horizontally is reduced. This is because the incline of the ramp allows the force to be split between the vertical and horizontal directions, making it easier to move the object.
To understand why the ramp reduces the force, you can think of it in terms of vectors. When lifting the refrigerator vertically, you must exert a force equal to its weight. However, when using a ramp, you are pulling the refrigerator up along the incline, which creates a vertical and horizontal component of the force. The vertical component is responsible for counteracting the weight, while the horizontal component helps to move the refrigerator forward. By distributing the force between these two directions, the total force required to move the refrigerator horizontally is less than the force required to lift it vertically.
In conclusion, the movers are using the ramp because it reduces the mechanical force needed to move the refrigerator.
The correct answer is A. The ramp reduces the mechanical force needed to move the refrigerator.
Explanation: By using a ramp, the movers can decrease the effort required to lift the refrigerator by spreading the weight over a longer distance. This results in a reduction of the mechanical force needed to move the refrigerator. On the other hand, option B is incorrect because the ramp does not reduce the distance that the refrigerator needs to move.