Friction and Gravity
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Friction and Gravity" is written for 6th Grade (Ages 11-12), and it covers NGSS MS-PS2-4. If your student is a year younger but already steady on forces and motion, the page still works. You may just need to read the instructions out loud. And if they are older and forces and friction never quite stuck, this is a short review rather than busywork.
2 pages in this set
6th grade science worksheet: compare sample friction data on ice and sandpaper, then explain an astronaut's weight on the Moon. Answer key included. Part of our forces and friction collection. Aligned to NGSS standards.
How do I use this worksheet?
Have students mark the larger side of each diagram before they subtract, and write the direction every time. Use the Moon question to check that students can keep mass and weight separate.
What students will practice
- Students will use a table of sample data to compare the force needed on four surfaces.
- Students will describe how mass and distance change the pull of gravity.
- Students will explain why an astronaut's weight falls on the Moon while her mass stays 60 kg.
Curriculum Links
Next Generation Science Standards
Science · 6th Grade
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FAQ
How do I use this forces and friction worksheet?
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Have students mark the larger side of each diagram before they subtract, and write the direction every time. Use the Moon question to check that students can keep mass and weight separate.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Compare sample friction data on ice and sandpaper, then explain an astronaut's weight on the Moon. The directions on the page read: Read the text and study the table. Then answer the questions on page 2. An answer key is included.
Can I use this forces and friction worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 6th Grade forces and motion, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with forces and friction. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.
What is the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces?
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When the net force is 0 N, the forces are balanced and the object's motion does not change. When the net force is more than 0 N, the forces are unbalanced, so the object speeds up, slows down or changes direction.
Why do rough surfaces make more friction?
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Rough surfaces have tiny bumps that catch on each other. In the sample data on Friction and Gravity, the pull rises from 2 N on ice to 14 N on sandpaper.
What does the strength of gravity depend on?
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It depends on mass and distance. The more mass the objects have, the stronger the pull, and the farther apart they are, the weaker the pull.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 6th Grade |
| Subject | Science |
| Topic | Forces and Motion |
| Standard | MS-PS2-4 |
| Pages | 2 pages |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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