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Year 5

Friction: plan

I can plan an investigation to measure the effects of friction.

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New
New
Year 5

Friction: plan

I can plan an investigation to measure the effects of friction.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Friction is the force between two surfaces that are moving, or trying to move, across each other.
  2. Friction always acts in the opposite direction to the movement of an object.
  3. Only changing one variable ensures that no other factor affects the test results.

Common misconception

Friction is always unhelpful.

Examples given of positive uses of friction for braking and turning.

Keywords

  • Surface - The surface is the top or outside layer of an object or material.

  • Force - A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, change speed, change direction or change shape.

  • Friction - Friction is a force that acts between surfaces.

  • Variable - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.

This lesson focuses on the working scientifically skill of planning a comparative test investigation within the context of comparing the friction of different types of surfaces. Pupils will carry out and review their investigation in lesson 4 of this unit.
Teacher tip

Equipment

See additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Does an object experience more friction when moving across a rough surface or a smooth surface?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a rough surface
a smooth surface
Q2.
What can forces do to an object?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Change its shape.
Correct answer: Start it moving.
Change its colour.
Correct answer: Change its direction.
Make it heavier.
Q3.
Which of these describes a surface?
The space around an object.
Correct answer: The top or outside layer of an object or material.
The area beneath an object.
The inside of an object.
Q4.
Which of these words describes how an object can move or be moved by a force?
Correct answer: grab
Correct answer: shove
push
pull
Q5.
What type of meter do you measure the size of forces?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: force, newton, newton meter, force meter
Q6.
Magnets can pull certain objects towards them from a distance. What type of force is magnetism?
An image in a quiz
contact
Correct answer: non-contact

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Friction is the force between two objects, or that are moving, or trying to move, across each other.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: surfaces, surface
Q2.
What is a variable in an experiment?
Correct answer: Something that is changed, measured or controlled in an experiment.
A tool used to collect data.
A measurement of the final result of the experiment.
Q3.
If the enquiry question is, "Does the type of sports shoe affect the amount of friction created between the shoe and the floor?", which variable should you change?
the floor surface
the equipment used to measure the size of the force
Correct answer: the type of sports shoe
Q4.
In an investigation we should control...
Correct answer: all but one variable.
one variable.
all variables.
no variables.
Q5.
Friction always works in the direction to the movement of an object.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: opposite
Q6.
Why is it important to change only one variable in a scientific investigation?
To make the experiment quicker and easier to do.
To make the experiment more complicated and harder to analyse.
Correct answer: To make sure we know which variable caused the change.
Q5 UYSEG

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