The Normal Force on an Inclined Plane

A cart is placed in static equilibrium on an inclined plane. This is accomplished by supplying a tension in a string attached to the cart by passing the string over a “frictionless” pulley and hanging a mass off the string. The Normal Force can be calculated. The ramp, i.e. the Normal Force, can be replaced by a force of equal magnitude that is perpendicular to the surface of the ramp. The ramp can then be removed and the cart stays in the same location.

Set-up Time: Novice = 25 minutes, Experienced = 10 minutes

Normal Force Theory