How to use the friction force calculator
Calculate normal force and friction force on a surface or slope. Enter mass, friction coefficient, surface incline in the fields above; the normal force, friction force are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- m — Mass (kg)
- mu — Friction coefficient
- ang — Surface incline (°)
Worked example
With mass = 20 kg, friction coefficient = 0.4, surface incline = 0 °, the calculator gives normal force ≈ 196.133 N; friction force ≈ 78.4532 N.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the friction force calculation?
Normal force (N) = m × GRAV × cos(ang). Friction force (N) = mu × [Normal force]. Here m is mass (kg), mu is friction coefficient, ang is surface incline (°).
What inputs do I need for the friction force calculator?
You need mass in kg, friction coefficient, surface incline in °. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.