
A rolling ball sculpture (sometimes referred to as a marble run, ball run, gravitram, ''kugelbahn'' (German: 'ball track'), or rolling ball machine) is a form of
kinetic art
Kinetic art is art from any medium that contains movement perceivable by the viewer or that depends on motion for its effects. Canvas paintings that extend the viewer's perspective of the artwork and incorporate multidimensional movement are ...
– an art form that contains moving pieces – that specifically involves one or more rolling balls.
A version where
marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...
s compete in a race to win is called a marble race.
Toys
People make toys out of rolling ball sculptures.
World records

The tallest rolling ball sculpture in the world, at tall, is named the ''Energy Machine'', and located in the
Hong Kong Science Museum in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
.
According to
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...
, the longest marble run is 2,858.9 meters long and was completed in Switzerland in September 2017.
See also
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George Rhoads
George Rhoads (January 27, 1926 – July 9, 2021) was a contemporary American painting, painter, sculpture, sculptor and origami master. He was best known for his whimsical Rolling ball sculpture, audiokinetic sculptures in airports, science muse ...
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Rube Goldberg machine
A Rube Goldberg machine, named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction–type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in a comically overcomplicated way. Usually, these machines consist of a s ...
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Bruce Gray (sculptor)
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Perplexus
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Rolling ball clock
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Jelle's Marble Runs
Jelle's Marble Runs is a YouTube channel based in the Netherlands centered on marble (toy), marbles, marble runs and marble races. It is run by the brothers Jelle and Dion Bakker. The channel spoofs the Olympic Games, Formula One, and other sport ...
References
{{reflist
External links
David Morrell (sculptor)Matthew Gaulden
Modern art
Types of sculpture
Kinetic art