Friction in Action: Helpful and Harmful
Created byDanilo Buday
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Friction in Action: Helpful and Harmful

Grade 10Physics4 days
★★★★★
4.0 (1 rating)
This project challenges students to explore the concept of friction, its various types, and its impact on motion and heat generation. Through hands-on experiments and design activities, students investigate how different factors influence friction and its role in everyday applications. They design a safety device utilizing friction, demonstrating their understanding of its principles while considering both beneficial and detrimental effects. The project culminates in building a prototype and explaining its functionality.
FrictionMotionForcesEnergy TransferExperimental DesignSafetyEngineering Design
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a device that utilizes friction to improve safety and efficiency in everyday applications, considering its beneficial and detrimental effects?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How does friction affect motion in our daily lives?
  • What are the different types of friction and how do they work?
  • How can friction be both beneficial and detrimental?
  • How is friction related to other forces like gravity and inertia?
  • How do we measure and control friction?
  • How is friction used in braking systems?
  • What would our world be like without friction?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to explain the concept of friction and its different types.

Teacher Provided

Standard-1
Primary
Describe solid friction as the force between two surfaces that may impede motion and produce heatingReason: This standard directly relates to the project's focus on understanding friction and its effects.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Friction in Design

Students are presented with a series of real-world problems involving friction, such as designing safer braking systems for cars or improving the grip of athletic shoes, encouraging them to apply their understanding of friction to practical challenges.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Sliding into Understanding

Students will explore the concept of friction by observing its effects on different surfaces.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Observe and record the movement of objects on different surfaces like wood, carpet, and ice.
2. Analyze the differences in motion and explain how friction plays a role.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA lab report detailing observations and explanations of friction's impact on various surfaces.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers describing solid friction as a force between two surfaces.
Activity 2

Friction Factors

Students will design experiments to test how different factors affect friction.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a variable to test, such as surface type, weight, or surface area.
2. Design an experiment to test the chosen variable's impact on friction.
3. Predict the outcomes of the experiments based on your understanding of friction.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityExperimental designs and predictions for how various factors influence friction.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers how friction impedes motion.
Activity 3

Heating Up with Friction

Students will investigate how friction generates heat and its real-world implications.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research examples of friction creating heat, like rubbing hands together or braking a car.
2. Explain the energy transfer involved in the process.
3. Present your findings with real-world examples.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation explaining the heat generation due to friction and its applications.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers how friction produces heating.
Activity 4

Friction in Design

Students will design a device utilizing friction to improve safety.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Brainstorm safety issues that could be addressed using friction.
2. Design a device that uses friction to improve safety in the chosen area.
3. Build a prototype of the device.
4. Write a detailed explanation of how the device works and how it addresses the safety issue.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA prototype of a safety device utilizing friction, along with a written explanation of its design and functionality.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers describing solid friction as a force between two surfaces, impeding motion and producing heating.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Friction Exploration Rubric

Category 1

Understanding and Application of Concepts

Evaluation of students' grasp of friction concepts and their ability to apply them in real-world scenarios.
Criterion 1

Conceptual Understanding

Measures students' comprehension of friction and its types, including effects on motion and heat production.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of friction concepts, accurately describing different types and their effects on motion and heat production with exceptional clarity.

Proficient
3 Points

Shows thorough understanding of friction concepts, describing different types and their effects on motion and heat production clearly and accurately.

Developing
2 Points

Displays emerging understanding, describing friction concepts inconsistently and with partial clarity.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows initial understanding with minimal clarity and accuracy in describing friction concepts.

Criterion 2

Application of Concepts

Assesses how well students apply friction knowledge in real-life applications and experiments.

Exemplary
4 Points

Applies friction concepts innovatively in new scenarios, showing exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Proficient
3 Points

Applies friction concepts appropriately in familiar scenarios with effective problem-solving strategies.

Developing
2 Points

Applies friction concepts with partial effectiveness, showing basic problem-solving abilities.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to apply friction concepts accurately in given scenarios, limited problem-solving skills.

Category 2

Experimental Design and Execution

Assesses students' ability to design, conduct, and analyze experiments involving friction variables.
Criterion 1

Experimental Design

Measures the effectiveness and creativity of students' experimental designs to test factors affecting friction.

Exemplary
4 Points

Designs highly effective and innovative experiments demonstrating creativity and detailed planning.

Proficient
3 Points

Designs effective experiments with clear methods and logical planning that test relevant variables.

Developing
2 Points

Designs basic experiments with some inconsistencies or gaps in planning and variable relevance.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to design experiments effectively, lacking clarity and relevance in testing variables.

Criterion 2

Data Analysis

Evaluates students' ability to analyze and interpret experimental data related to friction.

Exemplary
4 Points

Analyzes experimental data with superior accuracy and depth, providing insightful interpretations.

Proficient
3 Points

Conducts accurate data analysis, interpreting results effectively with logical reasoning.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts data analysis with partial accuracy, offering limited insight and interpretation.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with data analysis and interpretation, demonstrating little accuracy and insight.

Category 3

Collaboration and Communication

Evaluates students' ability to work collaboratively and communicate their findings effectively in various formats.
Criterion 1

Collaboration

Assesses students' proficiency in engaging with peers to accomplish shared exploration and tasks related to friction activities.

Exemplary
4 Points

Exhibits leadership and exceptional collaboration skills, fostering a productive team environment.

Proficient
3 Points

Contributes effectively to group work, demonstrating cooperation and reliability.

Developing
2 Points

Participates inconsistently in group tasks, with limited contributions or support.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal participation in collaborative efforts, requiring frequent support and encouragement.

Criterion 2

Communication

Evaluates clarity, coherence, and effectiveness in presenting ideas and findings about friction in written and oral forms.

Exemplary
4 Points

Communicates ideas with exceptional clarity, coherence, and creativity in both oral and written forms.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents ideas effectively and clearly, showing coherence in both oral and written communications.

Developing
2 Points

Communicates with partial clarity and coherence in presenting ideas, showing basic communication skills.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with clear communication of ideas, lacking coherence and clarity.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on the "Sliding into Understanding" activity. How did observing objects on different surfaces help you understand the concept of friction?

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Question 2

In the "Friction Factors" activity, what variable did you choose to test, and why? How did your experiment help you understand the factors influencing friction?

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Question 3

During the "Heating Up with Friction" activity, what real-world examples did you find most compelling in demonstrating how friction produces heat? How does understanding this phenomenon connect to everyday life?

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Question 4

Reflect on the design process of your safety device in the "Friction in Design" activity. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? How does your device utilize friction to improve safety?

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Question 5

On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in your understanding of friction and its applications after completing these activities?

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