Ramps and Surfaces

Steep ramps and smooth or rough surfaces change speed.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 41

Gravity pulls a toy car down a ramp. The steeper the ramp, the faster the car goes!
The floor matters, too. On a smooth floor, like wood or ice, the car rolls a long way.
Rough floors, like carpet, grass, or sand, rub against the wheels and slow the car down. That rubbing force is called friction.
Your turn! Put these floors in order, from the smoothest to the roughest.
Try it with a grown-up! Lean a board on a stack of books to make a ramp. Roll a toy car down. Add more books. What happens? Try it onto a rug, too.

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science:

S2P2.a — Plan and carry out an investigation to demonstrate how pushing and pulling on an object affects the motion of the object.
S2P2.b — Design a device to change the speed or direction of an object.