On the slopes

Which objects slide more easily down a slope?

PLAN

Collect various objects.

Make an adjustable slope from a piece of wooden board.

Place the objects side by side on the board.

Gradually increase the slope of the board.

Observe which objects start sliding first.

I WILL NEED

Various objects (e.g.: block of wood, book, plastic CD case, house-brick, etc.)

Large piece of board for slope.

Paper and pencil.

I MAY NEED

Some extra weights.

FAIR TEST

Does it matter that the objects have different masses?  How could you make conditions more fair? 

PREDICTION

What do you think might happen?

Why do you think so?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

What did you do to the objects before you placed them on the board?

How did you increase the slope of the board?

What did you observe as the slope was made steeper?

When objects started to move, how did you measure the position of the slope?

COLLECT

DATA

Apart from recording which objects started sliding first, what else do you need to record?

ANALYSE

DATA

What can you say about the "slippy-ness" or "sticky-ness" of each object?

This sticky-ness is caused by friction.  What have you learned about friction?

PRESENT

FINDINGS

What is the best way to explain what you did?

Would a diagram make things clearer?

What did you learn about friction - and what is the best way of explaining this?

EVALUATE

INVESTIGATION

If someone else was going to carry out this investigation, what tips or advice would you give them?

How could you improve this investigation?

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Friction