NEWTONIAN MECHANICS / EXPERIMENT

Crate on an Inclined Ramp.

How much does friction slow a sliding crate? Change the slope, surface and load, then predict its speed at the bottom.

THE CHALLENGEFinish under 3 m/s

LIVE WAREHOUSE EXPERIMENT

READY TO RELEASE

WAREHOUSE BAY 04 · 12:00

0.00 m/s

T+ 0.00 s

Playback

Show force vectors Random oil hazard (8–15 s)Space = Play / Pause

LAB NOTE · Adjust the variables, then release the crate from rest.

Acceleration

3.21 m/s²

Along the ramp

Final speed

4.39 m/s

At the bottom

Slide time

1.37 s

From rest to finish

Energy lost

101.9 J

Work done by friction

Understand the physics

Will it start moving?tan(θ) > μₛ

Down-ramp accelerationa = g[sin(θ) − μₖ cos(θ)]

Speed at the bottomv = √(2aL)

Travel timet = √(2L/a)

These equations assume a rigid crate, a straight ramp, dry Coulomb friction, no air drag and a start from rest. Speed and time formulas assume constant, positive acceleration; the simulation instead integrates motion when the oil hazard changes the surface.

Mass cancels: a heavier crate has more gravitational pull, but proportionally more friction too.
Static friction: below the critical angle, the crate stays put.
Energy: friction converts mechanical energy to heat; the remainder becomes kinetic energy.

✓ Reference physics test: checking…

Trial results

Finish under 3 m/s to win all three stars (with a slide longer than 1.5 s). Speeds above 6 m/s are a loss.

Trial	Angle	μₖ	Speed	Stars
No finished trials yet. Release the crate to begin.