Lesson by Hayley Callan
Learning Intentions:
To explore the effects of friction on objects.
To develop an understanding of how different surfaces produce different amounts of friction.
Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils
For this activity you will need the following resources:
- Toy cars (or you could build toy cars out of construction sets)
- Different materials to create a slope (such as cardboard, paper, carpet, sandpaper, bubble wrap, foil)
- Measuring equipment (ruler, tape measure, stopwatch or timer)
There is short video approximately three minutes long and a PowerPoint to read.
The main activity can be completed offline.
Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information
In this activity you will study the effects of friction by setting up some car races with toy cars. To learn more about friction watch the short video below:
Before you begin your own investigation you will need to have the following resources:
- Toy cars (or you could build toy cars out of construction sets)
- Different materials to create a slope (such as cardboard, paper, carpet, sandpaper, bubble wrap, foil)
- Measuring equipment (ruler, tape measure, stopwatch or timer)
Read the PowerPoint below for more information about friction and the investigation:
Make some predictions about which slope you think the car will go fastest on.
Don’t forget to carry out all your races fairly and carefully.
Record your results in a table.
Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity
Activity 1
- Make sure you have all your materials ready
- Create your slopes using different materials that the cars can race down
- Make sure the slopes are set up so they are the same length and incline (height)
- Consider the variables:
– What variable will you change? (THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE)
– What variable will you measure? (THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE)
e.g. distance the car travels from the end slope
– What variables will you keep the same? (THE CONTROLLED VARIABLES)
Activity 2
- Create a table to record your predictions and results
- Make you predictions
- Carry out the investigation
- Time how long it takes each car to race down the slope and measure the distance travelled
- Record your results in a table
- Write a conclusion about your findings
Once you have completed the task you can email anything you create (photos, documents, screenshots etc.) directly to your teacher or directly upload it to any of the available places in Step 5.
Step 4: Look over the success criteria for this activity:
Success criteria #1: I can explore the effects of friction on objects.
Success criteria #2: I understand how different surfaces produce different amounts of friction.
Success criteria #3: I can complete a fair investigation.
Look at the learning intentions ‘how well do you think you have done?’
Step 5: Upload your work
Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas