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MMathematicsS2 to S4Building construction · Inclusion
Construction maths lab: ramps and stairs that everyone can use
A school is for everyone. Design a ramp a wheelchair user can climb and stairs that are safe and comfortable, using gradients and trigonometry.
LevelS2 to S4 (and IGCSE)
TimeAbout 30 min
You useGradient, tan, Pythagoras, ratio
PriceFree: no account
🎯 Aim
To use gradients, trigonometry and Pythagoras to design safe ramps and comfortable stairs for a school entrance.
You will learn to
- Calculate a gradient as a ratio and a percentage.
- Use tan to find an angle.
- Use Pythagoras to find a sloping length.
- Apply design rules for ramps and stairs.
🧭 What to do
- Choose A ramp and set the rise to 0.6 m.
- Change the Horizontal length of the ramp until the wheelchair turns green.
- Choose Stairs and change the Riser and the Going.
- Find a staircase that passes every check.
- Answer the questions with the class data.
- Write your conclusion and download your lab report.
📋 The data
The heights of three entrances in a school.
🧠 Investigate: answer from the data
Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.
➕ Get more from this experiment
📝 Free
Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.
📦 Premium Lab Pack
1 000 RWF
- Practical worksheet: survey the ramps and stairs of your school
- Gradient, trigonometry and design problems
- Teacher guide and answer key
- Exam-style questions with marking scheme
👩🏫 For teachers
Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.
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