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What is Long? What is Round? (Ramp & Slide Tester)

Source:

Build an inclined cardboard ramp to test everyday household objects (balls, pencils, erasers, cans) to discover which ones roll, slide, or do both based on their shape.

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Props & Materials Required

  • •Stiff cardboard sheet (ramp)
  • •Stack of books (to elevate the ramp)
  • •Objects: tennis ball, pencil, coin, eraser, glue stick, plastic bottle cap

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Build the Ramp

Prop one end of a cardboard sheet on 3-4 books to create a smooth slope on a table or floor.

2

Predict and Release

Hold a tennis ball at the top. Ask: 'Will it roll or slide?' Release it.

3

IR Gate Timer

An IR break-beam sensor at the bottom of the ramp detects when the object arrives. The speaker announces 'It ROLLED in 2 seconds!' or 'It SLID in 4 seconds!'

4

LED Scoreboard

A NeoPixel LED strip lights up green for rollers and yellow for sliders. The display keeps a live tally of how many objects rolled vs. slid.

Why It Works & Notes

Children distinguish between curved surfaces (which roll) and flat surfaces (which slide). Testing objects on a ramp provides immediate gravitational feedback, making 3D geometric properties tangible.