Sloped Acceleration: Component Forces
This applet demonstrates the component forces acting on an object undergoing sloped acceleration. Fg (the net force of gravity) can be decomposed into Fgx (the force of gravity in the direction of the slope) and Fgy (the force of gravity opposite the direction of the normal force). Fgy in turn causes the normal force, which generates Ff (a frictional force). Ff and Fg together determine the net force on the object in the direction of motion, causing the object's acceleration on the slope.