How does changing the angle of an inclined plane impact its effectiveness?

Changing the angle of an inclined plane significantly affects the force needed to move an object along it. When the angle of the incline is steeper, more of the gravitational force acting on the object is directed down the slope, which increases the component of the gravitational force that opposes the motion up the incline. Consequently, this means that more force is needed to overcome that opposition, hence a steeper angle requires more force to move the object upwards.

In contrast, a gradual angle reduces the component of gravitational force that opposes motion. Therefore, while a gradual incline allows for easier lifting of the object by requiring less force, it also necessitates traveling a greater distance up the incline to raise the object to the same height compared to a steeper incline. This concept illustrates the trade-off between the angle of the inclined plane and the amount of distance over which the force must be applied.