Unit 9 Space Travel

Topic

Friction: foe or friend?

Curriculum Link

9.2 Friction

Estimated Lesson Time

80 minutes

Introduction

Students are engaged to focus on the importance of friction in our daily life by some questions, a video clip 'skidding car in slippery road'. Then they are required to complete three tasks in this learning activity. Firstly, students conduct an experiment to explore the existence of friction. Then students conduct another experiment to explore the factors affecting the value of friction. Finally, teacher provides students an opportunity to elaborate more on suggesting method to reduce friction and make use of friction.

Key Question

What are the factor(s) affecting friction?

Learning Objectives

In this activity, the students should be able to

  1. understand that friction is a force between two surfaces to oppose their relative motion;
  2. measure friction (SP1) ;
  3. draw conclusion with the experiment results (SP5);
  4. design experiment to explore the factors affecting friction. (SP3).

Teaching Plan

Task (Time) Brief Description Materials Objectives

Engagement
(10 min)

Students are engaged to focus on the relationship of  friction and movement by watching a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDsclaXxy6c

 (1)

Exploration & Explanation
(25 min)

Task 2: Experiencing friction

Invite students to experience friction by pulling two books apart. By comparing the situations with and without rubber band holding the books, students are invited to think about the factors affecting friction.
  • PowerPoint
  • Worksheet
  • Apparatus and materials *
 (1)

Exploration & Explanation
(25 min)

Task 3: Measuring friction

Students are guided to measure friction between wooden block and table. Students are expected to distinguish friction and maximum friction

 (2) & (3)

Exploration & Elaboration
(20 min)

Task 4: Factors affecting friction

Based on the learning experiences in Task 3, students are invited to explore the factors affecting the friction. They are also asked to suggest ways to increase and reduce friction.

 (4)

*Apparatus and materials required: