🔬 Part 1: Understanding Friction

1. What is friction? Circle the best definition:

A force that makes things move faster

A force that occurs when two surfaces rub against each other

A force that only works on smooth surfaces

A force that makes things disappear

2. Fill in the blanks:

Friction is a force that can __________ down or __________ movement when two surfaces are in __________.

3. True or False? Circle your answer:

Friction always works in the opposite direction to movement.

True

False

✅ Part 2: Helpful vs Unhelpful Friction

4. Check all examples where friction is HELPFUL:

Car tyres gripping the road

Shoes slipping on ice

Sprinter's spikes gripping the track

Rubbing hands together to warm them

A heavy box being hard to push across carpet

Walking without slipping

5. Give your own example of when friction is helpful:

6. Give your own example of when friction is unhelpful:

🏃‍♂️ Part 3: Sprinters' Shoes Investigation

7. Why do sprinters wear shoes with spikes? Circle the best answer:

To look professional

To increase helpful friction with the track

To make them heavier

To reduce all friction

8. What would happen if a sprinter wore smooth-soled shoes on a track?

9. Draw arrows to show the forces when a sprinter pushes off from the starting blocks. Label your arrows with "Push force" and "Friction force".

🧪 Part 4: Material Testing Results

10. Complete the table with your investigation results:

Material Tested	Surface	Distance Moved (cm)	Friction Effect (More/Less)
_____________	_____________	_____________	_____________
_____________	_____________	_____________	_____________
_____________	_____________	_____________	_____________

11. Which material had the MOST friction? Why do you think this happened?

12. Which material had the LEAST friction? Why do you think this happened?

🎯 Part 5: Drawing Forces

13. Draw arrows to show the direction of movement and friction force for each situation:

a) A toy car rolling across the floor (slowing down)

b) A person walking forward

c) A book being pushed across a desk

💭 Part 6: Reflection

14. Explain why sprinters' shoes are designed the way they are. Use the word 'friction' in your answer.

15. Think about your daily life. Name one activity where you WANT friction and one where you DON'T want friction:

I WANT friction when: _________________________________

I DON'T want friction when: _____________________________

16. If you could design the perfect running shoe, what features would you include to control friction?

Friction Forces Investigation Worksheet

Friction Forces Investigation Worksheet

🔬 Part 1: Understanding Friction

✅ Part 2: Helpful vs Unhelpful Friction

🏃‍♂️ Part 3: Sprinters' Shoes Investigation

🧪 Part 4: Material Testing Results

🎯 Part 5: Drawing Forces

💭 Part 6: Reflection

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