Vectors · forces · manipulative

Equilibrium on a smooth incline

Weight pulls straight down. Resolve it parallel and perpendicular to the plane — for equilibrium those components must cancel with the normal (and any holding force).

weight mg normal N hold F
mg vertical mg components on plane axes

Smooth plane — no friction. Dial θ and watch the parallel component grow.

30°
5

g = 9.8 taken as 10 for clean classroom numbers.

Resolved forces