# Resolving horizontal and vertical components on an inclined plane

Here is a very simple mechanics question related to inclined planes:

We assume that the body is at equilibrium or at constant speed. To work out the force 'R', I resolve the 100N force due to weight into it's vertical component (Relative to the inclined plane) like so:

The final answer of 115N is incorrect. The reason this answer is incorrect is because the 90 degree angle has been placed next to the line of force of the weight. The correct working is as follows:

As you can see I have now placed the 90 degree angle next to the line of force of 'R'. The answer of 87N is now correct.

My question is, why is placing the 90 degree angle on the line of force 'R' and making it the adjacent instead of the hypotenuse so essential to getting the correct answer?

• The correct method resolves the weight parallel to the slope and perpendicular to the slope. These two components are at right angles to one another. Just look at the dashed triangles that you have drawn. – Farcher Mar 7 '16 at 23:09

Here is the diagram you need to draw for yourself:

The force of gravity (red) can be thought of as the sum of two (green) forces - one perpendicular to the incline (the normal force) and one along it. Since the red vector is the hypotenuse of a triangle, the normal force must be $mg\cos\theta$.

• Such a simple answer and has really answered my question. Thank you. – BleedObsidian Mar 7 '16 at 23:43

This is indeed common mistake and has rather simple mathematical explanation. Mathematically speaking, whenever you want to disassemble a vector into two components, components are always catheti and the total vector is always a hypotenuse.

Geometrically speaking, you must define coordinate system for the disassembling. In incline plane problems one axis is usually directed perpendicular and the other parallel to the inclination. The reason is that Newton equation in the perpendicular direction gives you the value of the normal force of the inclination, since there is no acceleration in that direction. Normal force is then used for Newton equation in the parallel direction (in case you have friction). Hence the second solution.

• Very nice answer, I will remember that the total vector is always a hypotenuse. – BleedObsidian Mar 7 '16 at 23:42

As you are approaching such inclined plane problems, keep in mind two important realizations:

1. The action due to gravity is always perpendicular to the base of the inclined plane pointing to the center of the Earth.
2. According to a well-known theorem in geometry, if two sides of two angles are mutually perpendicular, then the angles forming out of those sides would be the same. To see this, let's name the center of the mass of the box by O. It is obvious that OH is perpendicular to the base of the inclined plane while OA is perpendicular to the inclined plane. Now, according the mentioned theorem, the angle AOH would be similar to the angle named 30 degrees just because their sides are mutually perpendicular. Thanks,