Indoor activity
Cardboard Tube Marble Run
Design and build an exciting marble run using cardboard tubes and tape. A brilliant engineering challenge!
Materials
- Cardboard Tubes
- Marbles
- Scissors
- Tape
Illustrated Steps
Prepare the Tubes
Collect all your cardboard tubes. For more variety, carefully cut a few of them in half lengthwise using the scissors to create open troughs.
Start at the Top
Tape your first tube high up on the wall or door. Make sure the angle is steep enough for the marble to gain speed!
Test and Add
Drop a marble through the first tube and watch where it falls. Tape the next tube exactly in that spot, repeating this process to build your track downwards.
The Final Run
Once your track reaches the floor, place a small bowl at the end to catch the marble. Release your marbles and watch them zoom through the course!
Transform everyday cardboard tubes into an exhilarating marble roller coaster! This activity is a fantastic introduction to basic physics and structural engineering as you figure out the best angles and connections to keep your marble rolling.
What You’ll Create
An intricate pathway made of connected tubes where a marble can travel from top to bottom continuously.
How to Set It Up
Step 1: Prepare the Tubes
Collect all your cardboard tubes. For more variety, carefully cut a few of them in half lengthwise using the scissors to create open troughs.
Step 2: Start at the Top
Tape your first tube high up on the wall or door. Make sure the angle is steep enough for the marble to gain speed!
Step 3: Test and Add
Drop a marble through the first tube and watch where it falls. Tape the next tube exactly in that spot, repeating this process to build your track downwards.
Step 4: The Final Run
Once your track reaches the floor, place a small bowl at the end to catch the marble. Release your marbles and watch them zoom through the course!
Have fun!
Start from the top and secure your first tube. Drop a marble through and see where it lands, then place the next tube there! Experiment with gaps, drops, and corners.
Why It’s Amazing
It’s a wonderful combination of creative design, problem-solving, and physics in action. Adjusting the track to get the perfect run is deeply satisfying.
Pro Tips
Use painter’s tape if attaching to walls so you don’t damage the paint! Cut some tubes in half lengthwise to create open ‘half-pipe’ sections for extra visibility.