Make your own screw or marble ramp
Build a cardboard Archimedes screw or marble ramp, test marbles rolling at different angles, and observe how slope and shape affect speed.
About this activity
Build a cardboard Archimedes screw or marble ramp, test marbles rolling at different angles, and observe how slope and shape affect speed.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all the materials listed and bring them to a clear workspace.
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Step 2
Use the ruler and pencil to draw a long rectangle about 60 cm by 10 cm on the cardboard.
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Step 3
Cut out the rectangle from the cardboard with scissors while an adult helps.
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Step 4
Mark fold lines 1.5 cm in from each long edge using the ruler and pencil.
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Step 5
Fold up both long edges along the lines to create raised rails for the ramp.
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Step 6
Tape along the folded edges so the ramp keeps its chute shape.
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Step 7
Prop one end of the ramp on a low stack of books to make a shallow slope.
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Step 8
Place a marble at the top edge of the ramp and let it go without pushing.
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Step 9
Time the marble by counting “one-one-thousand” until it reaches the bottom.
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Step 10
Write the counted time on your scrap paper and label it “shallow angle.”
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Step 11
Raise the top of the ramp higher by adding more books until the angle increases by about 10–20 degrees using the protractor if you want a measured change.
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Step 12
Repeat placing the marble at the top and counting “one-one-thousand” until it reaches the bottom, then write this new time and label it “steeper angle.”
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Step 13
Make a shape change by cutting a small curved strip of cardboard and taping it inside the chute to add a bump or curve.
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Step 14
Test the ramp with the new shape by rolling the marble, timing it the same way, and writing the result labeled with the shape you made.
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Step 15
Share photos and what you learned about slope and shape affecting speed by posting your finished ramp and notes on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I build a cardboard Archimedes screw or marble ramp to test slopes?
Start by choosing either an Archimedes screw (a spiral inside a cylinder) or a simple marble ramp. For the screw, roll a spiral strip of cardboard and form a tube around it; for a ramp, cut long flat pieces and stack or prop them at different angles. Place marbles at the top, release, and time or watch how fast they reach the bottom. Change slope angle and shape, repeat trials, and record observations to compare speeds.
What materials do I need to make a cardboard Archimedes screw or marble ramp?
You’ll need sturdy cardboard or poster board, marbles, scissors or a craft knife (adult use), tape and/or hot glue, a ruler and pencil, and a dowel or tube for the screw’s center. Optional items: clamps, small clamps, paper clips, sandpaper for smooth tracks, protractor for measuring angle, and a stopwatch or phone timer to measure marble speed. Use recycled boxes to keep costs low.
What ages is building a cardboard Archimedes screw or marble ramp suitable for?
This activity suits ages 5–12 with adjustments: preschoolers (5–7) can help assemble simple ramps and observe rolling marbles with close adult supervision; ages 8–12 can cut shapes, measure angles, and record results more independently. Younger children need help with sharp tools and small parts. Tailor complexity: older kids can experiment with spiral pitch, friction, and data collection.
What are the benefits and safety tips for doing a marble ramp or Archimedes screw project?
Benefits include hands-on STEM learning: physics of slope, friction, and speed, plus problem-solving and fine motor skills. Safety tips: supervise cutting and hot glue use, keep marbles away from very young children (choking hazard), secure ramps to prevent collapse, and test on a soft surface to avoid rolling marbles into breakables. Wear eye protection for forceful builds and clear a safe run-out area for marbles.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a glass marble or a protractor for measuring the 10–20° change?
Use a small bead, washer, or ping-pong ball instead of a marble and use a printed protractor, a protractor app on a phone, or a ruler and known-height stack of books to estimate the 10–20° increase.
The marble keeps falling out or the ramp flattens—how do we fix that so the marble rolls straight down the chute?
Re-fold the 1.5 cm long edges carefully, press the tape firmly along the folded edges, and stabilize the base by widening the stack of books under the ramp so the taped chute keeps its shape and the marble stays between the rails.
How can we adapt this activity for younger kids or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger children, have an adult cut the 60 × 10 cm cardboard and let them fold, tape, and roll a larger ball while older kids can use the protractor to set precise 10–20° changes, record times on scrap paper, and compare results.
What are simple ways to extend or personalize the ramp after the basic tests?
Tape in different small curved cardboard strips to create multiple bumps or curves, run and record timed trials on your scrap paper for each shape, decorate the ramp, photograph it, and post the comparisons to DIY.org.