Applet: Inclined Plane

In this applet, we solve a very complicated inclined plane problem with friction. One mass rests on an inclined plane, and another one is connected to it via a rope that runs over a pulley (we neglect the friction between pulley and rope, though).

You can use the sliders on the left to change both masses, the angle of the inclined plane, and the coefficients of static and kinetic friction.

You can also simulate a number of simpler scenarios. For example, you can study how one mass slides down an inclined plane without friction by simply setting the second mass and the friction coefficients to 0.

© MultiMedia Physics, 1999