Science Lab Experiment: Air Hockey
Demonstration: Reducing Friction
Object: To determine one method for reducing the force of friction.
Materials: empty wooden thread spool, balloon, smooth wood tile, glue
Diagram:
Method: The empty wooden spool was glued to the wooden tile. A balloon
was placed over the spool and filled with air by blowing thorough
the opening in the tile. The device was then allowed to travel over
the surface of a table. Its movement was compared to that of a tile
with no balloon attached.
Observations: The air was released slowly from the balloon as the tile moved
across the table. It was noticed that little force
was needed to start and to keep the tile in motion.
More force was needed for the apparatus without the balloon.
Conclusions: It was concluded that the air forcing out of the balloon
formed a cushion under the tile, which lifted it
slightly above the surface of he table, thus reducing the
effect of friction.