Introduction

Inclined plane problems involving gravity, forces of friction , moving objects

etc. require vector representations of these quantities. Components are better
in representing forces using rectangular system of axes since they make
calculations such as the addition of forces easier. Free body diagrams are
also used as well as Newton's second law to write vector equations.

Problem 1 (No friction)

A 2 Kg box is put on the surface of an inclined plane at 27 with the
horizontal. The surface of the inclined plane is assumed to be frictionless.
a) Draw a free body diagram of the box on the inclined plane and label all
forces acting on the box.
b) Determine the acceleration a of the box down the plane.
c) Determine the magnitude of the force exerted by the inclined plane on the
box.

Solution
a)

Free Body Diagram

Let the small blue point be the box

Two forces act on the box: the weight W of the box and N the force normal to

and exerted by the inclined plane on the box (blue point)

b)

Use system of axes x-y as shown to write all forces in their components form

Vectors N, W and a in components form:

N = (0 , |N|)

W = (Wx , Wy) = (|W| cos (27) , - |W| sin (27))

 a = (ax , ay) = (|a| , 0) , box moving down the inclined plane in the direction

of positive x hence ay = 0.

Use Newton's second law to write that the sum of all forces on the box is equal

to the mass times the acceleration (vector equation)

W + N = M a , M is the mass of the box

In components form, the above equation becomes

(|W| sin (27) , - |W| cos (27)) + (0 , |N|) = M (|a| , 0)

For two vectors to be equal, their components must be equal. Hence

x-components are equal : |W| sin (27) + 0 = M |a|

y-components are equal : - |W| cos (27) + |N|= 0

M |a| = |W| sin (27)

weight: |W| = M g ; g = 10 m/2

|a| = M g sin (27) / M = g sin (27) m/s^2 4.5 m/s^2

c)

|N| = |W| cos (27) = 2 10 cos (27) 17.8 N

Problem 2

A particle of mass 5 Kg rests on a 30 inclined plane with the horizontal. A

force Fa of magnitude 30 N acts on the particle in the direction parallel and up
the inclined plane.
a) Draw a Free Body Diagram including the particle, the inclined plane and all
forces acting on the particle with their labels.
b) Find the force of friction acting on the particle.
c) Find the normal force exerted by the inclined on the particle.

Solution
a)
Free Body Diagram

The box is the small blue point. In the diagram below, W is the weight of the

box, N the normal force exerted by the inclined plane on the box, F a is the

force applied to have the box in equilibrium and F s the force of friction opposite

Fa.

b)

The box is at rest, hence its acceleration is equal to 0, therefore the sum of all

forces acting on the box is equal to its mass times its acceleration which is
zero. ( Newton's second law)

Fa + W + N + Fs = 0

The components form of all forces (vectors) acting on the box are:

Fa = (30 , 0)

|W| = 5 10 = 50 N

W = (Wx , Wy) = ( - |W| sin(30) , - |W| cos(30)) = (- 50 sin (30) , - 50 cos

(30) )

N = (0 , |N|)
Fs = (-|F| , 0)

The Fa + W + N + Fs = 0 in components form:

(30 , 0) + (- 50 sin (30) , - 50 cos (30) ) + (0 , |N|) + (-|F| , 0) = 0

x components: 30 - 50 sin(30) + 0 - |F| = 0

|F| = - 50 sin(30) + 30 = 5 N

c)

y components equation:

0 - 50 cos (30) + |N| + 0 = 0

|N| = 50 cos (30) = 25 3 43.3 N

Problem 3

A box of mass M = 10 Kg rests on a 35 inclined plane with the horizontal. A

string is used to keep the box in equilibrium. The string makes an angle of 25
with the inclined plane. The coefficient of friction between the box and the
inclined plane is 0.3.
a) Draw a Free Body Diagram including all forces acting on the particle with
their labels.
b) Find the magnitude of the tension T in the string.
c) Find the magnitude of the force of friction acting on the particle.

Solution
a)

Free Body Diagram

T tension of string, W weight of the box, N force normal to and exerted by the

inclined plane on the box, Fs is the force of friction

b)
Forces and their components on the x-y system of axis.
Equilibrium: W + T + N + Fs = 0

Forces represented by their components

W = (Wx , Wy) = ( - M g sin(35) , - M g cos(35))

T = (Tx , Ty) = (|T| cos (25) , |T| sin (25) )

N = (0 , Ny) = (0 , |N|)

Fs = (- |Fs| , 0) = ( - s |N| , 0) , where s is the coefficient of friction between the

box and the inclined plane.

Sum of x components = 0

- M g sin(35) + |T| cos (25) + 0 - s |N| = 0

which may be rewritten as

|T| cos (25) = s |N| + M g sin(35)

sum of y components = 0

- M g cos(35) + |T| sin (25) + |N| + 0 = 0

|T| sin (25) = M g cos(35) - |N|

We now need to solve the system of two equations with two unknowns |T| and
|N|.

|T| cos (25) = s |N| + M g sin(35) (equation 1)

|T| sin (25) = M g cos(35) - |N| (equation 2)

solve equation 2 above for |N| to get

|N| = M g cos(35) - |T| sin (25)

Substitute |N| by M g cos(35) - |T| sin (25) in eq 1 to get

|T| cos (25) = s [ M g cos(35) - |T| sin (25) ] + M g sin(35)

rewrite above equation as follows

|T| [ cos (25) + s sin (25) ] = s M g cos(35) + M g sin(35)

Solve for |T|

s M g cos(35) + M g sin(35)
|T| =
cos (25) + s sin (25)

Substitute with numerical Values

s = 0.3, M = 10 Kg, g = 10 m/s^2

|T| 79.3 N

c)

Use |N| = M g cos(35) - |T| sin (25) found above

 |N| = 100 cos(35) - 79.3 sin (25) 48.4 N

Problem 4

A 100 Kg box is to be lowered at constant speed down an inclined plane 4

meters long from the back of a lorry 2 meters above the ground. The
coefficient of kinetic friction is equal to 0.45. What is the magnitude of the
force Fa to be applied parallel to the inclined plane to hold back the box so
that it is lowered at constant speed?

Solution

Free Body Diagram

forces acting on the box (purple point) and their components.

W weight of the box, N the normal force exerted by the inclined plane on the

box, Fathe applied force so that the box is lowered at constant speed and

Fk kinetic force of friction (box is moving downward, force of friction opposite

motion).
Components of all forces

N = (0 , Ny) = (0 , |N|)

Fa = (|Fa| , 0)

Fk = (|Fk| , 0)

W = (- M g sin , - M g cos )

Second Newton's law: constant speed means acceleration = 0, sum of all

forces equals mass times acceleration, hence

W + N + Fa + Fk = 0 (vector form)

component equations

x components: 0 + |Fa| + |Fk| - M g sin = 0 (eq 1)

y components: |N|+0 + 0 - M g cos = 0 (eq 2)

equation (2) gives

|N| = M g cos

kinetic force of friction formula: |Fk| = k |N| = k M g cos

substitute |Fk| by k M g cos into equation (1)

|Fa| = M g sin - |Fk| = M g sin - k M g cos

M = 100 Kg, g = 10 m/s^2

sin = 2/4 = 1/2

sin = (1 - sin2 ) = 3 / 2
|Fa| = 1000 (1/2 - 0.45 3 / 2) 110.3 N

Problem 5

A box of mass M = 7 Kg is held at rest on a 25 inclined plane by force Fa

acting horizontally as shown in the figure below. The box is on the point of
sliding down the inclined plane. The static coefficient of friction between the
box and the inclined plane is s = 0.3. Find the magnitude of force Fa.

Solution
Free Body Diagram
 W = (-M g sin , -M g cos )

N = (0 , |N|)

Fa = (|Fa| cos , - |Fa| sin )

Fs = (|Fs| , 0) = (s|N| , 0)

sum of all x components = 0 gives:

- M g sin + 0 + |Fa| cos + s|N| = 0 (equation 1)

sum of all ycomponents = 0 gives:

- M g cos + |N| - |Fa| sin + 0 = 0 (equation 2)

Equation (2) gives:

|N| = |Fa| sin + M g cos

Substitute |N| by |Fa| sin + M g cos in equation (1) to get

- M g sin + |Fa| cos + s( |Fa| sin + M g cos ) = 0

|Fa| (cos + s sin ) = M g sin - s M g cos

|Fa| = M g sin - s M g cos

 cos + s sin
Numaerical values
M = 7 Kg, = 25, s = 0.3
|Fa| = 70 [ sin 25 - 0.3 cos 25 ] / [ cos 25 + 0.3 sin 25 ] 10.2 N