Incline Friction Simulator (2D)

Incline

Angle θ 30°

Friction coefficient μ 0.40

Ready — set θ and μ, then release.

Live Readout

Normal force N

0.0 N

Gravity along slope

0.0 N

Max static friction

0.0 N

Critical angle

21.8°

How it works

A block resting on a slope is pulled down-slope by the component of gravity mg·sinθ and pressed into the surface by the normal force N = mg·cosθ. Friction resists motion up to a maximum of μ·N.

As long as mg·sinθ ≤ μ·mg·cosθ, static friction holds the block still. That condition simplifies to tanθ ≤ μ — so the block first starts to slide exactly when the incline reaches the critical angle θc = arctan(μ), independent of the block's mass.

Once sliding, kinetic friction (here modelled equal to μN) still opposes motion but can no longer exceed the driving force, so the block accelerates down the slope at a = g·(sinθ − μ·cosθ).