Year 7 Forces Homework 2 Name: _____________________________

1. What is FRICTION?
It is a F __ __ __ __ measured in N __ __ __ __ __ __ (Unit) that is present opposite to the direction of
motion by a force.

2. a) Identify which is the Friction and which is the Pushing force?

b) Which force needs to be bigger in order for the Motion to take place? _______________

3. What does this diagram tell you about friction? Use the words: bumps, dips, interlocking

Answer:

4. Re-arrange these surfaces into order of slipperiness from least slippery to most slippery:
Wet Grass, Dry Concrete, Thick Carpet, Ice, Gravel

__________  ____________  ____________ ____________ ____________

5. Do the following people want to make as much friction as possible or as little friction as possible?

a) An ice skater performing a routine - needs ___________ friction.

b) A driver, driving a car on a wet road - needs ___________ friction.
c) A mountain biker riding down a steep muddy hill - needs ___________ friction.
d) A goalkeeper trying to save a goal with their hands in soccer
- needs ___________ friction.

6. When you ride a bike very fast, _____ ______________ (a type of friction by air) is slowing you
down. In water, the friction in water known as ________ ______________ is slowing your
swimming.

7. Give 3 examples of good friction in our daily life.

8. Give 3 examples when friction becomes a bad thing or nuisance.

9. Give 3 ways (with example) in which you can reduce friction.

Information about Friction

Friction is a force between two surfaces that are sliding, or trying to slide, across
each other.

Friction always slows a moving object down. Air resistance is a type of friction.

Friction is a force between two surfaces that are sliding, or trying to slide, across
each other. For example, when you try to push a book along the floor friction
makes this difficult.

Friction always works in the direction opposite

from the direction the object is moving, or trying to move. Friction always slows a
moving object down.

More or less friction

On the microscopic scale, all surfaces are rough. There are bumps and dips on each surface, rubbing against one another
to cause friction. The amount of friction depends on the materials from which the two surfaces are made. The rougher
the surface, the more friction is produced.

For example, you would have to push a book harder to get it moving on a carpet than you would on a wooden floor.
This is because there is more friction between the carpet and the book than there is between the wood and the book.

Friction also produces heat. If you rub your hands together quickly, you will feel them get warmer.

Useful friction and reducing friction

Friction can be a useful force because it prevents our shoes slipping on the pavement when we walk and stops car tyres
skidding on the road. When you walk, friction is caused between the tread on shoes and the ground. This friction acts to
grip the ground and prevent sliding.

Friction between the brakes and wheel help bikes and cars slow down

Ice causes very little friction, which is why it is easy to slip over on an icy day. However this is a good thing for ice
skating and sledging.

It needs effort to pull or push or lift heavy objects because of the friction between the objects and the floor. Too much
friction between the hinge and the door will make a lot of noise.

It can be bad when a gymnast is on bars because too much friction between the bars and the hands can cause
calluses/skin to rip off and leave the skin raw and/or bleeding. Rubs off skin if you fall over is common among all of us.

Reducing friction
The most common methods used to reduce friction between moving surfaces include polishing the surfaces that
come into contact, lubricating the surfaces, using ball or roller bearings and streamlining.

we use oil to reduce the friction between the moving parts inside a car engine. The oil holds the surfaces apart, and can
flow between them. The reduced friction means there is less wear on the car's moving parts, and less heat produced.

Air resistance is a type of friction between air and another material. When an aeroplane flies through the air,
for example, air particles hit the aeroplane, making it more difficult
for it to move through the air.

Some shapes, known as aerodynamic shapes, cause less air

resistance than others. Aeroplanes and cars are aerodynamic, so that
they move through the air as easily as possible. Ships and boats are
streamlined to reduce water resistance too