Measuring the coefficient of kinetic friction on an inclined plane

PhysicsForces & DynamicsAges 15–16

Virtual lab: a block slides from rest down a board inclined at angle α, and a digital timer with two light gates measures the time t taken to cover distance L. Students raise the angle and release the block several times; the data table automatically calculates a = 2L/t² and μ = tanα − a/(g·cosα), and the mean is compared with μ for the chosen pair of materials.