Name ________________________________________________ Date ____________ Period______
The Force of Friction!
Objective: The objective of this lab is to observe and measure the effect of friction on a moving car.
Hypothesis: Write an “If...then….” statement about how the type of surface will affect the amount of
friction and in turn the motion of a car rolling down a ramp.
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Materials:
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Board and books to make a ramp
Toy car
Meter stick
Spring Scale
Timer
Wax paper
Contact/Grip paper
Procedures:
1. Use the books and the board to create a ramp for your toy car to roll down.
2. Measure the distance from the top of the ramp to the bottom. Record that distance in your data
table in centimeters
3. Place the car at the top of the ramp.
4. Release the car and start the timer.
5. Stop the timer when the car reaches the bottom of the ramp.
6. Record this time in your data table.
7. Use the data you collected to calculate the speed of the car in cm/sec and record.
8. Attach the spring scale to the front of your car. Slowly pull the car up the ramp and measure the
amount of force needed to pull it up.
9. Record the force in your data table.
10. Cover the board with wax paper and repeat procedures 3-9.
11. Remove the wax paper and then cover with contact/grip paper and repeat procedures 3-9.
Data Table:
Material on
Board
Distance (cm)
Time (sec)
Speed (cm/sec)
Force (N)
None
Wax paper
Contact/Grip
paper
Analysis:
1. Which of the three types of surfaces provided the LEAST amount of friction for the car? How do
you know?
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2. Which of the three types of surfaces provided the MOST amount of friction for the car? How do
you know?
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3. Give an example of something else you could have covered the board with that would have
INCREASED the force of friction. Explain why it would INCREASE the amount of friction.
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4. Give an example of something else you could have covered the board with that would have
DECREASED the force of friction. Explain why it would DECREASE the amount of friction.
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5. What are the four types of friction? What type of friction is present between the car and the
board?
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Conclusion:
The conclusion section should have AT LEAST FIVE COMPLETE SENTENCES:
● 1st sentence: Repeat the objective
● 2nd sentence: Tell how you achieved the objective.
● 3rd sentence: State your hypothesis and USE EVIDENCE FROM YOUR DATA to explain if it
was it correct or not and why.
● 4th sentence: Share what you learned.
● 5th sentence: This is a general summary of the lab. It ties into the first sentence of the objective.
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