How cardboard gravity-powered ramp walker really works

Abstract A cardboard figure walking on an inclined plane is a popular example of a physics toy. When demonstrating the movement, many authors only emphasize the technical aspects of the production and design of the figure and leave the physics explanation very brief. In order to understand and explain the physics phenomena involved in the movement of the cardboard figure, we set up a laboratory apparatus and carried out a series of measurements. We investigated the forces involved, the energy conversions, the dynamics and the kinematics of the movement. For measurements, we use a mobile phone with the Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite App and Coach7 video measurements. Based on the measurement results, we are working on a conceptual understanding of the observed motion.