Friction  Lab

Get a grip! Friction affects motion. One wont be able to move without friction. Walking, running, riding a bike, or driving a car requires friction. Friction keeps us from slipping and sliding when we walk, helps keep us in our seat, keeps our cell phones in our hands, and keeps our computers on our desks.

In this lab, students have access to a variety of tools to study friction and its effects on motion. They will use remote control cars to learn that frictional changes on surfaces require them to make adjustments, use simulated vehicles to test out different surface types, see frictional heating with a thermal camera, and harness their creative talents to build and race mini cars.

Lesson Centers

Lesson Centers

  • This mini lesson reviews friction. They will know and understand where friction exists in their daily lives, and how important it is for their safety.

  • Students will practice driving our RC test vehicles with special tires to understand the effects of low friction, low traction surfaces on movement and travel!

  • Students will practice driving high friction, high traction vehicles with a PC based dynamic vehicle simulator. Surface types, and the damage resulting from unsafe conditions are all modeled!

  • What happens when two objects slide or rub against each other? They heat up! Students will see how this transfer of energy increases temperature in real time!

  • Students will take advantage of rolling friction to build and test mini cars on our downhill challenge track!

    1. Student time - About 3 hours. Classes will rotate in and out similar to library scheduling.

      Set up time - 1 hour Prior to event start time.

    2. NGSS Standards

      PS2.A: Forces and Motion

      PS2.B: Types of Interactions

      PS3.A: Definitions of Energy

      Cause and Effect: (1- PS4-1), (1-PS4-2), (1-PS4-3)

    3. Lab Timing ~ 55 Minutes, with a 5 minute buffer.

      1. ~ 10 Minute Mini Lesson

      2. ~10minute Simulation Center

      3. ~10 Minute Low Grip Driving Center

      4. ~10 Minute Infrared Visualizer Center

      5. ~10 Minute car building center.

      6. 5 Minute wrap up.

    4. Supervision Supervision via valued teachers is required.

    5. Lab Centers are best suited for 24-32. Ideal for grade levels 3+. RCs are set to walking speeds for safety.

      **Fewer students may be sent, (Admin discretion)

      **Custom class sizes, grade level combinations, or other participants are per Admin’s Discretion.

    6. Lab centers include Remote Controlled test vehicles, tracks, IR Camera, and accompanying hardware.

    7. Location - A carpeted classroom is preferred.