All bodies start from rest at the top of the same incline. Which reaches the bottom first?
Acceleration a = g*sin. Larger a means faster.
| Body | / | Factor | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid sphere | 2/5 = 0.40 | 5/7 = 0.714 | 1st (fastest) |
| Solid cylinder | 1/2 = 0.50 | 2/3 = 0.667 | 2nd |
| Hollow sphere | 2/3 = 0.67 | 3/5 = 0.600 | 3rd |
| Ring | 1 | 1/2 = 0.500 | 4th (slowest) |
Sliding block (no rotation): / = 0, a = g*sin(theta). Always faster than any rolling body.
Critical insight: Mass and radius cancel out. A tiny marble and a huge bowling ball (both solid spheres) reach the bottom at the same time.