📏 Inclined Plane Calculator
Calculate the forces acting on an object on an inclined ramp, including gravity components, normal force, and net acceleration.
What this calculator finds
An object on an inclined plane experiences gravity split into two components: one pulling it along the slope’s surface and one pressing it into the surface (balanced by the normal force). Friction opposes motion along the slope.
The formulas used
The along-slope gravity component is m·g·sin(θ), and the normal force is m·g·cos(θ). Friction force is μ·N, where μ is the coefficient of friction. Net acceleration down the slope is found from (m·g·sinθ − μ·m·g·cosθ)/m, i.e. g(sinθ − μcosθ).
A negative or zero result means friction is strong enough to prevent sliding from a rest state (static conditions would need separate analysis). This calculator assumes kinetic friction and a rigid, non-elastic surface, for general physics education purposes.