Make a ramp with books
Build a stable ramp using stacked books and cardboard, then roll toy cars to test how slope affects speed and distance.
Step-by-step guide to make a ramp with books
Step 1
Gather all the Materials Needed and bring them to a clear floor space.
Step 2
Clear a flat floor area so you have room for the ramp and the car to roll.
Step 3
Stack two sturdy books to make the starting height for your ramp.
Step 4
Lay the cardboard over the stacked books so one end rests on the books and the other touches the floor to form a smooth ramp.
Step 5
Secure the cardboard to the top book with tape so the ramp does not slip when the car rolls.
Step 6
Put a piece of masking tape or a sticky note at the top edge of the cardboard to mark the start line.
Step 7
Put a piece of masking tape or a sticky note on the floor where you want the car to stop to mark the finish line.
Step 8
Place a toy car just behind the start line and let it go without pushing so it rolls down the ramp.
Step 9
Time the run with a watch or phone from the moment the car leaves the start line until it crosses the finish line and write the time on your paper.
Step 10
Measure the distance from the bottom of the ramp to where the car stopped using the measuring tape or ruler and write the distance on your paper.
Step 11
Repeat the roll, timing, and distance measurement two more times for the same ramp height so you have three trial results.
Step 12
Add one more book under the top of the ramp to raise the slope and re-secure the cardboard with tape.
Step 13
Do three runs again at this new slope (repeat release, time, and measure) and compare your times and distances to see how the slope changed the car’s speed and distance.
Step 14
Share your finished ramp experiment and what you discovered about slope speed and distance on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of cardboard, masking tape, or a toy car if we don't have them?
If you don't have cardboard for the ramp (step 4) use a baking sheet, a piece of stiff poster board, or a clipboard as the ramp surface; swap painter's tape or a sticky note for masking tape on the start/finish markers (steps 6–7); and use a small ball, a Lego car, or any rolling toy instead of a toy car for the roll in step 11.
My ramp keeps slipping or the car won't roll smoothly — what should we try?
If the cardboard slips on the stacked books (steps 3–5) add extra tape at the top book per step 5, place a non-slip cloth or rubber shelf liner under the top book, and make sure the cardboard edge is smooth and centered so the car can roll straight.
How can we adapt this ramp activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, run just one set of three short trials with an adult helping to stack the two books (step 3) and to measure distance (step 10), while older kids can raise the slope by adding another book under the top of the ramp as in the 'raise the slope' step and calculate average speeds from the three trial times.
How can we extend or personalize the experiment after finishing the basic runs?
To extend the activity, test different ramp surfaces on the cardboard in step 4 (foil, sandpaper), compare cars of different weights across the three trials, create a labelled chart of times and distances, and share your slope vs speed findings on DIY.org as the final step.
Watch videos on how to make a ramp with books
Ramps: A Super, Simple Machine! - #sciencegoals
3 Videos
Ramps: A Super, Simple Machine! - #sciencegoals
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Facts about simple machines and basic physics
⚡ The higher the starting point, the more potential energy the car has (potential energy = m × g × h), which converts to speed downhill.
🧩 Friction from the ramp surface and wheel axles often affects results more than air resistance in small-scale toy car tests.
🏎️ Steeper ramps let gravity pull the car more along the surface, so toy cars usually accelerate faster and reach higher speeds.
🔺 The ramp is called an inclined plane — one of the six classical simple machines that makes lifting or moving easier.
🎥 Using a phone camera at 60 fps and counting frames is a simple way to measure small differences in time and speed between runs.
How do you build a stable ramp with stacked books and cardboard to test how slope affects speed and distance?
What materials do I need to make a book-and-cardboard ramp and run toy cars?
What ages is this ramp and toy car experiment suitable for and how should I supervise?
What safety tips should I follow when kids build and test ramps with books and cardboard?
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