Forces and motion on an inclined plane

Do you want to learn how an inclined plane works?

The online simulations on this page will help you better understand how forces act on an inclined plane and the motion they produce.

An inclined plane is a flat surface that forms an angle with respect to the horizontal. When an object moves along an inclined plane, its motion is defined by three forces: the force of gravity (the weight of the object), the normal force and the force of friction.

Gravity is the force that pulls all objects toward the center of the Earth. Gravity acts on the object in a vertical downward direction. The normal is the force exerted by the surface of the plane on the object and acts perpendicular to the inclined plane. This force is what keeps the object in equilibrium on the inclined plane. Friction is the force that opposes the motion of the object on the surface. On an inclined plane, friction acts in the opposite direction to the motion of the object. The vectorial composition of these forces can be done with the help of trigonometry and will allow to calculate the motion of the object on the inclined plane.

Below are several simulations and other educational resources, which can also be very illustrative examples. Also included is a selection of books and courses that will help you broaden your knowledge of this subject.