Name __________________________________________ No. ____ Date ______________________
Forces in Motion: Friction
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/friction.shtm
You will be pushing a little red car down a track. The track will be made of vinyl, wood, carpet, and ice. I
would like you to predict how far the car will on each surface.
Surface
On orange
flag
After orange
flag
On green
flag
After green
flag
On blue flag
After blue
flag
On blue flag
After blue
flag
Vinyl
Surface
Wood
Surface
Carpet
Surface
Ice Surface
Now I want you to push the card changing the surface. You must:
1. “Reset” after each push
2. Hit the forward arrow to change the surface
3. Click and drag the surface onto the track
Record what actually happens!
Surface
On orange
flag
After orange
flag
Vinyl
Surface
Wood
Surface
Carpet
Surface
Ice Surface
LOOK at the charts and Compare your results.
On green
flag
After green
flag
How did what you predicted compare to what actually happened?
Vinyl Surface
I thought _____________________________________________________, what
happened was _____________________________________________. This is why
________________________________________________________________
Wood Surface
I thought _____________________________________________________, what
happened was _____________________________________________. This is why
________________________________________________________________
Carpet Surface
I thought _____________________________________________________, what
happened was _____________________________________________. This is why
________________________________________________________________
Ice Surface
I thought _____________________________________________________, what
happened was _____________________________________________. This is why
________________________________________________________________
Now test your knowledge. Click on “Quiz.” Let’s see what you know. Circle the letter of the answer you
think is correct. Do NOT write why. We will do this as a class.
1 A puck slides along an icy surface. What makes it slow down?
A It runs out of push
B It rubs against the ice
C It runs out of electricity
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
2 A boy sits halfway down a grassy slope. What force stops him sliding down?
A Weight
B Gravity
C Friction
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
3 On which surface will a toy sledge travel the furthest?
A Carpet
B Polished Wood
C Ice
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
4 On which surface will a toy sledge travel the least distance?
A Carpet
B Polished wood
C Ice
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
5 The rougher the surface, the
A greater the friction
B less the friction
C same level of friction
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
6 Which of the following is an example of trying to increase friction?
A Squirting oil into door hinges
B Spreading grit on icy roads
C Waxing the underneath of skis
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
7 Which of the following statements is true?
A
Friction is a force that only occurs between solids.
B
Friction is a force that only occurs on rough surfaces.
C
Friction is a force that only occurs when surfaces touch each other
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
8 Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A
Friction can only slow things down.
B
Friction is never useful.
C
Friction can stop things from moving.
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
9 Air resistance and water resistance are both types of friction. Is this….
A
True
B
False
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
10 If you poured oil onto a wooden surface, the friction would…
A
be reduced
B
be increased
C
remain the same
Why? _______________________________________________________________________