This resource discusses student misconceptions about friction.

The resource provides teaching strategies for teaching about friction as a contact force. It also includes critical teaching ideas and research about student alternative conceptions.

Critical teaching ideas covered:

• Explaining friction as the idea that all surfaces have tiny bumps.
• When two surfaces slide over one another the tiny bumps push on each other.
• Friction causes a force on a surface which is in the opposite direction to its motion.
• Friction can be reduced by the application of lubricants.

New Australian Curriculum 9 Codes: AC9S4U03 (Year 4)