I show how to do this with Blender V2.79b and also with V2.80 Beta just to complete the exercise.
In Blender V2.79b do the following:
- As a test create a plank from a cube and place a sphere above the plank as in the image.
- Select the Sphere
- In the Tools click the Physics tab and click Add Active button while the sphere is selected, see below
Select the plank.
In the Physics tab click Add Passive button, while the plank is selected, see below
- Switch to Cycles Render and add any material you wish to the plank and the ball to see the ball rolling. This step is not necessary but it was part of the question, hence the inclusion.
- Click the play button and you will see the ball dropping on the plank and start rolling down.
Make sure the plank is steep enough, otherwise it may not roll.
In Blender 2.80 you can create the same. ForIn this example for the plank and the ball I just assigned a random colour material for the plank and the ballwith some noise node.
For the sphere set Physics, see below.