SCIENCE

INQUIR

Y

LAB STATIO

N 1

PERIOD 6

PROBLEM/ QUESTION:

Will the texture of a surface change the amount of friction?

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:

Our independent variable is the texture of the surface.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE:

If we changed the texture to a sticky surface then the marble will slow down and the index card will not move as far.

CONSTANTS:

Our constants are Ramp height, Force, and the Marble.

HYPOTHESIS:

If the surface is changed to a sticky surface then the object will not move as far.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: We know that when the marble starts at the top of the ramp it has the most potential energy, when it roles down the ramp the potential energy turns into kinetic energy. Potential energy is based on position. Kinetic energy is based on speed. Friction causes objects to stop. Friction is based on kinetic energy which makes objects move, then friction makes the object stop.

PROCEDURES: 1. Stack two books on a flat surface, put one

ruler on the books, the ruler is our ramp. 2. Put tape where the ruler touches the table. 3. Fold one index card in half and place them

at the end of the rulers by the tape. 4. Under the index card lay a sheet of wax

paper for seven trials, this is our sticky surface. Then take it away for the smooth surface.

5. Put one marble on the top of the ruler at 8 inches, (put the ruler where the 0 touches the table and 8 touches the books).

6. Then measure the distance in centimeters the marble moved.

SET UP

Our Set Up

DATA TABLE:

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Trial 7 AverageSmooth 24 19 19 20 20 19 18 19Sticky 15 15 16 15 14 13 15 14

GRAPHED DATA:cm

AVERAGE:

Index Card Movement

Surface Texture

CONCLUSION:We predicted if the surface is changed to a

sticky surface then the notecard will not move as far as it will on the smooth surface. Our hypothesis was correct since the notecard didn’t move as far on the sticky surface as it did on the smooth surface. Our average for the smooth surface was 19cm and our average for the sticky surface was 14 cm which told us that our hypotheses was correct. We learned that the surface can change the distance that the index card traveled. We wonder if we changed the surface to a rocky vs. sticky surface then which surface will move the notecard farther?