STEM Ball Run Challenge
Date – Time
February 19, 2026
– 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location
Bull Run Library
8051 Ashton Ave
Manassas, VA 20109 US
Additional Information
Who: Grade 3-12, love hands-on STEM activities, have a basic understanding of Newton's 1st Law of Motion, friction and gravity.
*This event will take place at the same time as the Valentine’s craft event. Students who complete the challenge early are welcome to stay and create a craft using egg cartons.
Materials: Each participant will need to bring a roll of clear or masking tape (1" or 2" wide). Please bring toilet paper or paper towel rolls to share if you can.
Balls (1 1/8" diameter) for the test, toilet paper/paper towel rolls, letter size paper, card board, and materials to create friction in the ball runs are available.
The goal of this exercise is to design a ball run that demonstrates Newton’s First Law of Motion, friction, and gravity. Students will work in teams of 2–3 people (one adult may assist each team to support younger students). Teams with younger students will design and build a two-dimensional (2D) ball run. Teams with older students will design and build a three-dimensional (3D) ball run with a specified starting height.
10-20min for group discussion
45min to 1hr for creating create the ball run
30min for testing and group presentation
Option 1--2D ball run (younger students)
Students will use assigned materials to introduce friction along the path of the ball run. The path will be made with toilet paper or paper towel rolls. A ball will be placed at the top entrance of the run and released when the timer starts. The vertical distance between the top entrance and the bottom exit of the run will be <24". The width of the ball run should be <24". Driven only by gravity, the ball is expected to travel through the run to the bottom exit. The timer will stop once the ball reaches the exit. The team whose ball takes the longest time to travel from the top entrance to the bottom exit will win the challenge. Once the timer starts, the ball must remain within the path and move only under the influence of gravity. No external forces may be applied to the ball during the run.
Some ideas:
https://frugalfun4boys.com/turn-cardboard-box-epic-marble-run/
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/doing-fun-science-at-home-activity30-wall-marble-run
Option 2--3D ball run (older students)
Below is the original 2006 Science Buddies Engineering Challenge:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/engineering-challenge?ytid=VW16rdv2LJs&ytsrc=description
Before the event:, please review the reference above and at least watch the video with your kiddo so you’re familiar with the overall challenge concept.
Our Simplified Version:
To make the challenge work within our time limit, we are modifying the materials and setup:
Allowed Materials: paper, cardboard, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, clear or masking tape.
Some other materials for creating friction in the ball run path may be provided.
Run Requirements:
The run will start at <20" above the ground. The dimensions of the ball run should be less than 20"x20"x20".
The original timing rules still apply.
Signups
Email the Event Coordinator – [email protected], [email protected]