What Is Friction?

What Is Friction? — page 1 — FRICTION Is EVERYWHERE Friction is everywhere It is a force a push or pull that acts between two objects that are touching one another Friction slows or stops the movement between the surfaces of the objects that are touching 1E liding over snow is possible because wax on the skis reduces friction between the skis and the

What Is Friction? — page 2 — THINK ABOUT IT Friction occurs between all types of matter Name two solids a solid and a liquid or a solid and a gas How could they come into contact Friction can occur between all types of matter solids liquids and gases Sometimes it can be useful At other times it can cause problems All around us at home at school at work and at play we encounter friction in our lives every day a A parachute creates friction with air to slow a

What Is Friction? — page 3 — LOOK CLOSELY Scientists use microscopes to look closely at all It kinds of things When they look at the surfaces of a common objects all sorts of tiny bumps ridges and pits show up What about glass or slippery plastic Looking carefully shows that this is true for even the smoothest of surfaces Under a microscope an adhesive bandage has all kinds of bumps and jagged edges 6

What Is Friction? — page 4 — Plain wooden floors have little friction to stop toy cars CoMPARE AND CONTRAST When objects touch Compare and contrast or rub together the what could happen while bumps ridges and pits playing with toys like cars grip grind drag and or marbles on different smash into each other types of floors Rough surfaces such as a carpeted floor have more of these bumps and jagged edges They produce a larger amount of friction Smoother surfaces such as a plain wood floor are more even They produce less

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