Ramps

Splitting gravity into parts

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• On a ramp: $mg\sin\theta$ pulls along the slope, and $N = mg\cos\theta$.
• Frictionless: $a = g\sin\theta$. With friction: $a = g(\sin\theta - \mu_\text{k}\cos\theta)$.
• An object starts to slip when $\tan\theta > \mu_\text{s}$, whatever its mass.

Steps

1. Tilt the ramp
2. Components of gravity
3. Sliding down
4. On the edge
5. Heavier block?
6. Rough slide