Marble ramp energy: a 40-minute 4th grade physics activity
What it is: a 4th grade physics activity where students roll a marble down a ramp into a paper cup and measure how far the cup moves. Raising the ramp gives the marble more speed and energy, so it pushes the cup farther, which shows how energy transfers in a collision.
Time: about 40 minutes. Grade: 4th grade.
Materials: per group: a ruler or a cardboard tube cut in half as a ramp, a stack of books, a marble, a small paper cup with a door cut in the side by an adult, a meter stick, and a data table.
- Set the ramp on 1 book with the cup at the bottom. Release the marble (no pushing) and measure how far the cup slides.
- Ask: "What do you predict if we use 2 books? 3 books?"
- Groups test 1, 2 and 3 books, three times each, and record the distances.
- Groups find the middle value for each height and make a bar graph.
- Discuss: "Where did the cup's energy come from? What changed when the ramp was higher?"
Safety: keep marbles on the table or in a tray so no one slips, and collect them all at the end.
Differentiation: students who need support test 2 heights. Students who are ready change the marble for a heavier ball and compare. English learners can use the frame "When the ramp was higher, the cup moved ___."
Quick check: ask a student how they could make the cup move farther and why it would work.
Save this activity to your library so it is ready when you need it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades 3–5
- Subject
- Science
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.