After a bit more extensive research I found this website:
http://www.batesville.k12.in.us/physics/phynet/mechanics/RotMechanics/fall_slide_roll.htm
which seemed to explain what you just said, and explained that acceleration = gsin(theta), which makes sense.
So taking this into account...
In order to get an appreciation for the time scales involved, think about a block that slides without friction down a ramp that is inclined at an angle q above the horizontal. Initially the block is at rest a distance s (measured along the plane) from the bottom. Click the button marked “DATA”...