Friction Lab

Students are introduced to different kinds of frictions and in the end, be able to
demonstrate understanding of the different kinds of frictions.

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to define and demonstrate different kinds of frictions. Students will
be able to use a force gauge. Students will be able to explain how friction can be helpful
and is utilized.

1 ENGAGE
Activity:Debating

Ask the question: What would happen when a car suddenly brakes on an icy road? On
a normal road?

2 EXPLORE
Activity:Other — use of Force gauge

Give students books, string, and a force gauge and ask students to figure out the
easiest way to move the books across the table. Also give them material on which they
can pull the books on. i.e. cloth, colored pencils, sandpaper. Have them find out which
takes the smallest amount of force and which one takes the largest amount of force.

3 EXPLAIN
Activity:Presenting

Tell the students about different types of friction. Define static and kinetic friction. Define
sliding and rolling friction. Have a book on each table of students. Have them
demonstrate each friction..

        Static – book not moving

        Kinetic – book moving

        Sliding – dragging book on table

        Rolling – dragging book on top of colored pencils

4 ELABORATE
Activity:Other — Force gauge and scale

Explain how to measure friction with the force gauge. Give each group a force gauge
and 3 text books. Students are write down each measurement in an excel sheet.
Template provided below.

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

    Static Sliding Rolling

1 book Trial 1      
Weight Trial 2      

  Trial 3      

  Average      

2 book Trial 1      

Weight Trial 2      

  Trial 3      

  Average      

3 book Trial 1      

Weight Trial 2      

  Trial 3      

  Average      

         

5 EVALUATE

Remind students to input the data into an excel spreadsheet and make graphs of the
data. Template provided above. Show students how to create graphs in excel.

1. Input data and then go to insert

2. Choose the type of chart/graph to create
STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

Students are to interpret the data using graphs and explain any patterns they see.
Explain how the data can be utilized for practical uses.