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Friction
Why things slow down, why shoes grip and ice is slippery, and how to calculate friction with f = μ·N. Three ages, each with a text, an experiment, a game, a quiz, a printable worksheet and a teacher sheet.
Ages 6–7Grippy or slippy?Why does a sliding thing slow down and stop? Meet friction, the force that makes shoes grip and ice slippery, and race a toy car over different floors.Ages 10–11Friction: the force against motionWhere friction comes from, why it is harder to start something sliding than to keep it going, and when friction helps or hinders. With a force meter fair test.Ages 15–16Friction: coefficients and calculationsStatic and kinetic friction, the coefficient of friction μ and the model f = μ·N, inclines and the energy friction turns into heat. With an experiment to measure μ two ways.