Turn potential energy into kinetic energy

What can we use if we don't have a cardboard or board ramp, a stack of books, or tape?

Use a sturdy shoebox lid or wooden plank instead of cardboard/board, a small stool or a stack of phone books instead of the books, and a non-slip mat or heavy book weights in place of tape to keep the ramp from slipping.

The ramp keeps slipping or my toy veers off—what should I check and fix?

If the ramp slips, press the tape firmly to the books and floor or tuck a towel under the base for grip, and if the toy veers, straighten the ramp edges or make a shallow guide line with tape so the car or marble rolls straight.

How can I adapt this ramp activity for younger kids or older kids?

For younger children, use fewer books to make a gentler slope, swap the marble for a large ball and have an adult handle the taping step, while older kids can raise the ramp higher, use a stopwatch and ruler to time and measure each run, and record results on the paper.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize the experiment after the basic runs?

Test different ramp surfaces like sandpaper or felt, try multiple toys (toy car, marble, LEGO vehicle), mark and measure run distances on your paper and graph how adding one more book changes speed, then share a photo or video and your note on DIY.org.