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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 7 - 9

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Three young boys on a sled playing in the snow.Students examine friction

Students learn about two types of friction—static and kinetic—and the equation that governs them. They also measure the coefficient of static friction experimentally.

Engineers who really understand friction designed a braking system to improve our vehicle safety. Have you been in a car when the driver stopped abruptly by slamming on the brakes, but instead of stopping or skidding, the car started to chatter? That vibration is caused by the anti-lock brake system (ABS). Since engineers know that a non-skidding wheel has more traction than a skidding wheel, they designed a braking system that prevents the brakes from locking up, which can cause a vehicle to slide. By not skidding, the static friction is maximized and the driver can stop the car quickly without loss of control.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Understand how static and kinetic friction are important concepts in engineering design.
  • Collect data to solve equations.
  • Experimentally measure the coefficient of static friction.
  • Recognize that different surfaces have different frictional coefficients.

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