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Friction and Movement  Lab

Get a grip! Friction affects motion, and movement is difficult 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. It also turns energy into heat!

In this lab, students have access to a variety of tools to study friction and its effects on motion and energy. They will use remote control cars to learn that changes in friction require adjustments, drive virtually on high friction surfaces, harness kinetic energy to build the fastest soapbox cars, and see frictional heating with a thermal camera.

Lesson Centers

Lesson Centers

  • This mini lesson reviews different types of friction, its uses, and engineering considerations like frictional heating. They will know and understand where friction exists in their daily lives, how high and low friction affect movement, and how friction keeps them safe!

  • 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 build mini cars, managing frictional losses in their designs to craft an efficient vehicle. A limited amount of potential energy is available, so they’ll be in for a challenge. Students will have the opportunity to take time and distance measurements to verify their skills!

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

      Set up time - 1 hour prior to kids’ arrival is needed.

    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 per class group, 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 24-30 kids.

      ** The RCs, are equipped with oversized bumpers and low grip tires, keeping speeds perfect for indoor fun.

      **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 - An Indoor location with electricity is needed.

    8. Fire lane/ vehicle access near classroom is required to expedite set up.