What is Friction?
Friction is a force that acts between two objects that are in contact with one another. Friction is like a friendly tug-of-war between surfaces when they rub against each other.
Surface Interaction: When you walk or slide something, the surface of your shoes or the object interacts with the ground. Friction happens when these surfaces stick a bit and then slide.
Microscopic Grip: Imagine tiny bumps on surfaces; these create friction. The more bumps, the stronger the friction, like tiny hands holding onto each other.
Slowing Down or Stopping: Friction can be helpful – it's what helps you stop when you apply brakes on a bike or a car.
Everyday Friction: Think of playing on a slide; friction helps you slide down, and it also helps you stop at the bottom. It's like a force that affects how things move and interact!
Surface Interaction: When you walk or slide something, the surface of your shoes or the object interacts with the ground. Friction happens when these surfaces stick a bit and then slide.
Microscopic Grip: Imagine tiny bumps on surfaces; these create friction. The more bumps, the stronger the friction, like tiny hands holding onto each other.
Slowing Down or Stopping: Friction can be helpful – it's what helps you stop when you apply brakes on a bike or a car.
Everyday Friction: Think of playing on a slide; friction helps you slide down, and it also helps you stop at the bottom. It's like a force that affects how things move and interact!
Fun Facts about Friction
1. Super Sneakers: Friction is what keeps your shoes from slipping on the floor. It's like having tiny grips on your sneakers.
2. Slide Speed: Ever wondered why slides are slippery? Less friction makes sliding down more fun!
3. Skating Science: Ice skaters glide smoothly because the ice has less friction. It's like dancing on a low-friction dance floor.
4. Brake Buddies: Friction is your bike's best friend. When you squeeze the brakes, they create friction on the wheels, helping you stop.
5. Rubber Grip: Car tires have a special rubber that creates friction with the road. It's what helps cars stay on track.
6. Static Electricity Fun: Rub a balloon on your hair, and it sticks! That's static electricity caused by friction.
7. Noisy Friction: Rub your hands together fast – the sound you hear is a result of friction between your palms.
Remember, friction is like a friendly helper that can make things stop, slide, or stick together!
2. Slide Speed: Ever wondered why slides are slippery? Less friction makes sliding down more fun!
3. Skating Science: Ice skaters glide smoothly because the ice has less friction. It's like dancing on a low-friction dance floor.
4. Brake Buddies: Friction is your bike's best friend. When you squeeze the brakes, they create friction on the wheels, helping you stop.
5. Rubber Grip: Car tires have a special rubber that creates friction with the road. It's what helps cars stay on track.
6. Static Electricity Fun: Rub a balloon on your hair, and it sticks! That's static electricity caused by friction.
7. Noisy Friction: Rub your hands together fast – the sound you hear is a result of friction between your palms.
Remember, friction is like a friendly helper that can make things stop, slide, or stick together!
Friction Race
Discuss and demonstrate friction:
- Ask the children why they think it was so difficult to move the bricks/rocks across the floor.
- Tell them that it is because of friction. (Have them repeat the word, “friction.”) Ask if anyone knows what friction is. Friction is a force. What is a force? (A push or pull). It is a force that slows down objects when they rub against each other.
- Give each child a matchbox car. Have them flip it over (so the wheels are up) and push it across the rug. Did it move far? Why not?
- Ask: “How can we reduce the friction?” Have them reduce the friction by turning the car over onto its wheels. Try pushing the car across the rug. Did it go farther? Why? Instead of the entire car rubbing against the carpet, now only the wheels touch it.
- -Ask: “How could we reduce the friction even more and make the go even further?” Let the children push the cars on the laminate flooring. What can you conclude about the relationship between friction, force, and wheels?
Young kids learn by exploring, observing, and figuring out the way things work by experimenting. Exploring ramps and friction encourages all of the above. Kids will learn that friction can be two surfaces rubbing against one another. We experience this when we rub our hands together when they are cold. Friction is also the resistance an object meets when moving over another surface. The materials you attached to the ramps changed the surface of the ramp. The different cars will experience different amounts of friction when going down these ramps causing the cars to speed up or slow down some.
|
|
|