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Physics calculator

Slip or Tip Calculator

Whether a block on a level surface slips or tips under a horizontal force. Slip uses the friction engine. Tip is the moment of the weight about the leading edge. Runs locally.

Instant result
Result
—

Enter values to calculate.

Inputs—
Mode—
Formula—
Trust summary Engine tested · Source checked · 7/7 tests · Production surface contract 6/6 · v1.0.0
Input interpretation
Enter values to calculate.
Result
—
Model
Whether a block on a level surface slips or tips under a horizontal force, and the force at which that happens.
Scope
Calculation runs locally in the browser; values are not uploaded.
Verification
Engine tested · 7/7 tests · Production surface contract 6/6 · Source checked · v1.0.0
Named expert review
Optional · Not performed
Sources
  • Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Statics — Dry friction — tipping or slipping
Sources
Evidence
3 golden · 4 boundary · Production surface contract 6/6 · Artifact integrity PASS
Production
Embedded snapshot: unpublished · Build schema 1.0.0 ready · Semantic contract ✓ · Attestation report not published on origin · Live production status STALE (3 capabilities; 189 remain CURRENT) @ 2026-09-23T10:40:38.140Z
Semantic contract
PASS

Formulas

Core equations used by this calculator.

SlipP_slip = μ W
TipP_tip = W b / (2 d)
iThe force is horizontal at height d. The weight acts through the center of a base of width b. This page does not solve an incline, a wedge, or a belt.

How to use

1

Enter the weight and μ

W is in newtons. μ is the coefficient at impending slip.

2

Enter the base and the height

b is the width in the direction of the force. d is the height of the force above the surface.

3

Read which mode happens first

slip, tip, or either. P is the smaller of the two threshold forces.

Example calculations

Common configurations with formula and result.

ϟ

Slips first

W = 100 N, μ = 0.25, b = 2, d = 2

P_slip = 25, P_tip = 50
slip, P = 25 N
ϟ

Tips first

W = 100 N, μ = 0.5, b = 1, d = 4

P_slip = 50, P_tip = 12.5
tip, P = 12.5 N

Slip or Tip calculator specification

Version 1.0.0 · Engine tested

Calculation status

Review policy · Evidence

Definition
On a level surface, P_slip = μW and P_tip = W b / (2d). The smaller force happens first. Equal forces are reported as either.
What it calculates
Whether a block on a level surface slips or tips under a horizontal force, and the force at which that happens.
Inputs
  • W
  • mu
  • b
  • d
Outputs
  • mode
  • P
  • P_slip
  • P_tip
  • N
Formula
P_slip = μW, P_tip = Wb/(2d)
Assumptions
  • Calculation runs locally in the browser; values are not uploaded.
  • Keep units consistent with the labels on each field.
  • The force is horizontal at height d. The weight acts through the center of a base of width b. This page does not solve an incline, a wedge, or a belt.
Units
  • W, P, P_slip, and P_tip are in one force unit. b and d share one length unit. μ is dimensionless.
Boundary conditions
  • missing W, μ, b, or d → MISSING_REQUIRED_INPUT
  • W ≤ 0, b ≤ 0, or d ≤ 0 → VALUE_MUST_BE_POSITIVE
  • μ < 0 → VALUE_OUT_OF_RANGE
Example
W=100 mu=0.25 b=2 d=2 → slip, P=25
Validation cases

3 published on this page · 7/7 tests · Production surface contract 6/6 · View evidence

  • W=100 mu=0.25 b=2 d=2 → mode=slip, P=25, P_tip=50
  • W=100 mu=0.5 b=1 d=4 → mode=tip, P=12.5
  • W=100 mu=0.25 b=2 d=0 → VALUE_MUST_BE_POSITIVE
Sources
  • Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Statics — Dry friction — tipping or slipping
    Supports: On a level surface the horizontal force to slip is μW, and the force to tip is the weight times the half-width divided by the height of the force
Calculation version
1.0.0

Background

Interpretation and common distinctions.

Find whether a block on a level surface slips or tips.

Supported and not supported

Supported: a horizontal force at height d on a block of weight W and base width b. P_slip comes from the friction engine with N = W. P_tip is the moment of W about the leading edge.

Not supported: an incline, wedges, screws, belts, and a force that is not horizontal. /calc/mechanical is not open.

Agent / API notes

Capability id: mechanical.statics.slip_or_tip · tool id: slip-or-tip · pin 1.0.0.

{ "W": 100, "mu": 0.25, "b": 2, "d": 2 }

Share the link with W, mu, b, and d. The result is not written into the link.

Other calculators in this family: Incline friction, Friction .

μ Incline friction › F Friction ›
}

Frequently asked questions

Key distinctions behind the calculation.

What does either mean?

P_slip and P_tip are the same, so both modes are impending at that force.

Is this an incline?

No. The surface is level and the force is horizontal. A force parallel to an incline is on the incline-friction page.

Where does the weight act?

Through the center of the base, halfway across the width b.