Physical Science · Forces & Motion
Friction Experiment: Which Surface Slows Motion?
Run a fair sliding test on different surfaces, measure how far an object travels, and use the results to explain how friction can change motion.
Lesson plan
Friction Experiment: Which Surface Slows Motion?
A step-by-step guide to help you teach this lesson.
Plan with confidence
Lesson overview
What students will learn
- Plan and carry out a fair comparison that changes only the surface.
- Measure and compare sliding distance as evidence about friction.
Key science ideas
- Friction acts when surfaces touch and move, or try to move, past one another.
- Friction can slow a sliding object.
- Different surface combinations can produce different amounts of friction.
Lesson at a glance
- Grade 3
- 45 min
- ~10 min prep
- 8 materials
What’s included
- Lesson Plan
- Investigation
- Teacher Slides
- Printable Worksheet
- Teacher Answer Key
- Interactive Activity
- Vocabulary