How does the steepness of a ramp affect how fast an object moves?

Answer 1

The steepness of the ramp affects the direction of the normal force of the object on a ramp (which is always perpendicular to the ramp). The net gravitational force is always straight down.

Using the angle of inclination of the ramp with Trigonometry, you can find the vector forces of gravity perpendicular and parallel to the normal force which makes up the net gravitational force. The parallel portion is in the same direction of the ball rolling down the ramp. This will give you your force of acceleration, which you can use in basic equations to find the velocity of the object.

The steeper the ramp, the faster the object rolls down. A ramp of 0 degrees would result in a ball just sitting on the ramp as normal force and gravitational forces cancel each other. A ramp of 90 degrees would be like a cliff and this would produce the fastest velocity since the ball is moving in the same direction as the force of gravity in free fall. A ramp with an angle between these means that part of the gravitational force is being offset by the normal force.

Answer 2

Short answer: yep

Long answer:

To find the gradient of a graph you divide the difference in the y value by the difference in the x value

In this case if the y value is the displacement and the x value is time as they would be on a normal position / time graph then you are dividing displacement by time which equals speed (well technically velocity)

Answer 3

yes there is the higher the height of the slope the quicker the speed is, so as the height of the slope increases, the speed of the object decreases

Answer 4

yes