Four Second Inclined Plane Joyride

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See notes below.

Flash

 

Notes

Joyride constraints and controls

Every run of the sliding box takes the same amount of time, about four seconds.

Use the slider in the upper right corner to change the angle of the incline. Note that the component vectors change size and direction when the angle of the incline changes.

Required understanding

• Inclined Plane, Introduction
• Inclined Plane, Angle and Components

 

What to see

Note at a small angle, say 10 degrees, that the accelerating force, F_para, is small. This results in a small acceleration down the incline, or a small a_para. At 10 degrees the acceleration is so small that the object does not even make it to the end of the ramp in the four seconds.

At a large angle, say 80 degrees, the large accelerating force creates a large acceleration down the incline. At this angle the object flys off the end of the ramp well before the animation recycles in four seconds.

 

The Four Second Inclined Plane Joyride, Version 2

Here is, basically, the same animation. This one, though, shows the component vectors forming a triangle. This is an often useful other way to see them.

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