Friction – the contact force that slows or stops moving objects

This collection is in support of Science in a Van's: Hive Mind: Friction.

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However, it's useful for anyone teaching about forces and friction.

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There are notes with science concepts, contexts for learning about friction and some simple hands-on activities you can try in the classroom.

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Friction is the resistance to motion that arises when one surface moves over another.

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Very simply, all surfaces have tiny bumps. When two surfaces slide over each other the tiny bumps push on each other.

Friction creates a force on a surface that is in the opposite direction to its motion.

We make some surfaces so that the bumps are really small and they don't create too much friction - like the top of a table or desk.

We create some surfaces so that the bumps are bigger to create more friction - like the tread on stairs.

Friction is a force.

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• Friction is a holding or sliding force that slows down or stops the movement of the object acting on it.
• Friction always acts to slow or prevent movement.
• Sometimes this is an advantage - studs on football boots, wider tyres on mountain bikes or brakes on a bike or car.
• At other times, it is a disadvantage - biking against the wind, skinning a knee on concrete.

Building Science Concepts Book 59 Levers, Friction, and Motion

Big idea: Friction is a contact force that we can use to influence movement.

How the concepts might build in sequence:

• Friction occurs wherever two different surfaces slide over each other.
• By increasing friction, we slow things down.
• The harder and smoother the surfaces, the less the friction between them.
• Friction is a force that makes it harder to move things or slows moving things down.
• Tyres and brakes have features that increase friction to make movement controllable.
• Wheels reduce friction because they roll rather than slide.
• Surfaces get hot when there is a lot of friction between them as they slide past each other.
• Ball bearings are like tiny marbles or wheels that we use to decrease friction between surfaces.
• We use lubricants like oil to reduce friction and take away heat.

Science in a Van - in person show

In-Person Science Show : Billy Goats Gruff : A tale of competing forces

This is a classic tale with some new twists! Your juniors will be spellbound as they watch the crafty goats apply their knowledge of forces to move the terrifying troll. By the end of this storytelling your students will be able to use the words 'force' and 'friction'. They will also understand the effect of pulling and pushing a stationary object.

This is a 45 minute science storytelling show which has been developed for Years 0-3 and facilitated by Science in a Van.

In-Person Science Show : Move It! Exploring the laws of motion

During this interactive show, your students will learn what Newton's three laws of motion are all about. They will then apply that knowledge to fly Space Chick Steve across the school hall! This show will get you thinking about how and why things move. Cleverly it introduces the concept of fair testing while exploring forces.

This is a 45 minute science show which has been developed for Years 4-8 and facilitated by Science in a Van

Science in a Van - online show

Online Science Show : Forces Are With You

Why do things move? Are all forces the same? Can I change the forces around me? In this zoom classroom session, we use Isaac Newton’s laws of motion as a guide as we explore forces including gravity, air resistance and friction.

After Session Exploration resources: How does friction work? Learn a new party trick and explore how ‘fair testing’ works.

This is a 45 minute online zoom classroom session which has been developed for Years 4-8 and facilitated by Science in a Van

Science in a Van - free online resources

Friction, the grippy force. In this video Science in a Van explains friction and talks through the ‘Friction Ramp’ – a super simple experiment that you can easily put together and use in your classroom.

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‘The Tablecloth Trick’ is a classic trick/experiment that will enable your students to think about and experiment with different variables. Without much nudging from you, they’ll soon understand why friction is important! Watch Science in a Van as they talk you through the set up and how to successfully facilitate this experiment in your classroom

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Science in a Van - online resources

Check out this Co-Lab created by 321Science and Science in a Van!

This unique classroom resource brings together the knowledge and insight of teaching the New Zealand Science Curriculum from 321Science and the engaging science communication skills of Science in a Van.

It's packed with exclusive Science in a Van videos and easy to follow experiments which have all been tried and tested in the classroom by 321Science. If you’ve seen Science in a Van’s ‘++Move It!’++ science show, this lab will help you extend that experience into your classroom. Haven’t seen the show? No problem, you’ll still benefit from all the fun physics experiments in this lab!

Packed with 8 engaging lessons! Stacker Challenge, Tablecloth Pull, Jar of Beads, Ramps, Craters of the Moon, Double Bounce, Balloon Rocket & Tray Spinner

A digital resource which is only $50 (including GST) - licensed for one teacher

Purchase when you ++book a Science in a Van show++ or buy directly from ++321Science++

And because it's Science in a Van. . .

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Just for fun! Science in a Van’s favourite Vegan Gravy Recipe that, when spilt on the kitchen floor, is super slippery!

Images are an ideal way to elicit students' prior knowledge and experiences with friction.

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Some of the following images show how humans try to reduce the creation of friction (to increase speed) and some show how we use friction to slow things down.

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Friction occurs in the natural environment, too.

Bikes are a great context for learning about friction and other forces.

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Aerodynamics help to reduce friction drag (air resistance) and tight clothing helps to reduce skin friction drag.

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Tyres either reduce friction (to go fast) or create friction (for better grip when mountain biking).

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Brakes are key to creating friction to slow or stop the bike.

Earthquakes and tectonic movements are also a great context for learning about friction and other forces.

Flight is also a good context for learning.

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Four main forces affect the flight abilities of birds and planes – weight, lift, thrust and drag.

Flight occurs when the lift force is greater than the weight force and when thrust is greater than drag (friction) forces.

Aerodynamics help to reduce friction drag (air resistance) .

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The collection: It’s a bird, it’s a plane – it’s tōpana (forces)! is full of great information!

Simple activities to try:

• Rubbing your hands together - friction creates heat.
• Rubbing your hands together when wet or with a lubricant like hand lotion. Lubricants reduce friction, which reduces heat - that's why we have oil in our car engines!
• Try tug of war in socks vs shoes; on a wooden floor vs grass surface.
• Roll a marble on surfaces like a linoleum floor, Astroturf court, concrete court and grass field. Which surfaces promote or reduce friction? How can you design a fair test and/or publish the results?
• Test/compare materials (aluminium foil, waxed paper, sandpaper, plastic bag, balloon, sponge) by rubbing them along a piece of cardboard or other 'safe' surface. Which materials promote or reduce friction? How can you design a fair test and/or publish the results?
• Examine the soles of students' shoes and sports shoes.
• Design a shoe/sole for a specific purpose (to promote friction or to reduce it) and use everyday materials to produce one. Create and print or video ad and use science to convince consumers to purchase the shoe.
• Debate whether a banana peel is actually the best fruit for causing someone to slip. How can you design a fair test, conduct it and/or publish the results?