Final Velocity of a Rough Block on a Fixed Wedge Calculator
When a rough block slides down a fixed wedge, some energy is lost to friction. The energy balance is given by:
\[
mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \mu\,mg\,h\cot\theta
\]
which leads to:
\[
v = \sqrt{2gh\left(1 – \mu\,\cot\theta\right)}
\]
* Enter the vertical drop \( h \) (m), wedge angle \( \theta \) (°), gravitational acceleration \( g \) (m/s²), and friction coefficient \( \mu \). (For sliding, ensure μ < tanθ.)
Step 1: Enter Parameters
Example: 5 m
Example: 30°
Example: 9.81 m/s²
Example: 0.2