Pick a lever, pulley, inclined plane or wheel and axle, then set the load mass, your effort and the machine ratio. Readouts show mechanical advantage, the effort needed, and the work put in and taken out.
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Inclined Plane
About this simulation
Inclined Plane resolves gravity into a component along the ramp and a component pressing into it, then compares friction against the pull down the slope. Students change the ramp angle from 0 to 60 degrees, the friction coefficient and the mass, and toggle force arrows. Readouts show acceleration, friction force, normal force and a verdict on whether the block slides or sticks. It is well suited to teaching free-body diagrams, friction and the rule that the block slides only when tan theta exceeds mu.
What students can explore
- Raise Ramp angle slowly until the Verdict changes from sticking to sliding.
- Set Friction mu to 0.5 and predict the angle where sliding starts, then test it.
- Change Mass and note that the acceleration readout does not change.
- Turn Force arrows on and compare the arrow along the ramp with the friction arrow.
- Set Friction mu to 0 and read the acceleration at 30 degrees.
Learning objectives
- 1Resolve weight into components parallel and perpendicular to a slope.
- 2Calculate the maximum friction force from mu and the normal force.
- 3Predict whether an object slides using tan theta and mu.
- 4Explain why acceleration on a ramp does not depend on mass.
Questions teachers ask
Is the Inclined Plane simulation free?
Yes. It is free, has no sign-up and runs in any modern browser, including whiteboards, tablets and Chromebooks.
When does the block start to slide?
The block slides when the tangent of the ramp angle is greater than the friction coefficient mu. Below that, friction balances the pull along the slope.
How do I use it?
Drag the sliders for angle, friction and mass. The block returns to the top each time. Switch on Force arrows and read the Verdict, Acceleration and Normal force values.
Why does mass not change the acceleration?
Both the pull along the ramp and the maximum friction are proportional to mass, so mass cancels. The acceleration is g times sin theta minus mu times cos theta.
Embed this simulation
Drop it into your LMS, blog, or class site — free.
<iframe src="https://kiwibee.io/en/simulations/inclined-plane-3d-simulation/embed" title="Inclined Plane | KiwiBee" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen style="width:100%;height:min(70vh,620px);min-height:420px;border:0;border-radius:16px"></iframe>Continue exploring
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