- A ramp consisting of a large piece of cardboard, poster board, or similar thin and smooth material
- A toy car such as a Matchbox car
- Books to vary the height of the ramp
- A ruler or yardstick
Procedure: This experiment should be conducted on a smooth floor, such as tile, hardwood, or smooth concrete. Do not perform this experiment on carpeting.
- Using one or two books, raise one end of the ramp off the floor.
- Measure the height of the ramp.
- Place the toy car at the top of the ramp and release. Do not give the car an initial push.
- Let the car roll to a stop and measure the total distance the car rolls. Be sure to include the length of the ramp and the distance rolled.
- Repeat for two additional heights, using additional books to increase the height of the ramp.
- Record your results in the table below.