Even though the object is on an inclined surface, the force of gravity acts on the object's center of mass and points vertically downwards.
Important Note: While gravity acts straight down, you'll often decompose this force into two components when working with objects on inclined surfaces:
* Normal force: This component acts perpendicular to the surface, preventing the object from falling through it.
* Parallel force: This component acts parallel to the surface, causing the object to slide down the incline.
Let me know if you'd like a more detailed explanation or a diagram!
