Inclined Plane Calculator

About this calculator

This calculator resolves the weight of a mass resting on a frictionless inclined plane into two components: the force parallel to the slope, F∥ = mg·sinθ (which pulls the object down the ramp), and the force normal (perpendicular) to the surface, F⊥ = mg·cosθ (which the ramp pushes back with, keeping the object on the surface). These two components always sum vectorially back to the full weight, mg, and together they explain why steeper ramps require more force to hold an object in place.

Physics students use this constantly in introductory mechanics for ramp and incline problems, and it underlies practical applications like calculating the force needed to push objects up loading ramps or the load on retaining structures. Enter the mass and incline angle to get both force components.