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Forces and Friction Exploration

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Forces and Friction Exploration

A toy car needs to travel as far as possible down a ramp. Read the evidence, solve the force puzzles, then plan a fair friction test. A force is a push or pull that can change an object's movement or shape.

Forces in action

Use the ideas in the mission to answer each question.

1.Harrison kicks a rugby ball. Is the force she applies a push or a pull? Explain what the force does to the ball.

2.A moving scooter slows when its rider squeezes the brakes. Which force between the brake parts helps slow the scooter?

Friction
Magnetism
Gravity
A push from the air

3.Circle all the changes a force can cause: start an object moving; stop an object; change its direction; change its shape; make every object heavier.

4.Complete the idea: Rough surfaces usually create friction than smooth surfaces. A toy car will usually roll far on a rough surface.

Read the test results

A class released the same toy car from the same ramp three times on each surface. These are the mean distances travelled.

Surface

Mean distance

Smooth wooden board

145 cm

Carpet

62 cm

Sandpaper

28 cm

5.Which surface had the most friction? Use a result from the table to support your answer.

6.How much farther did the car travel on the smooth wooden board than on the carpet? Show or explain your subtraction.

7.True or false? The results suggest that the rougher the surface, the farther the car travelled. Give one reason for your choice.

TrueFalse

Plan a fair investigation

A fair test changes one thing at a time. Keep the car, ramp height, release point, and starting method the same; change only the surface.

8.A class wants to find out whether a towel changes how far the car rolls. Name the one thing they should change and two things they should keep the same to make the test fair.

9.Predict what will happen if the class places a towel on the track. Explain your prediction using friction.

10.Friction is useful when walking because shoes grip the ground. Name one other everyday situation where friction is helpful, and one situation where people try to reduce friction.