SLICK SLIDING SOAP

PROBLEM: What makes soap slide down a pan?

RESEARCH: Look up friction in a science book. Discuss what causes something to slow down.

HYPOTHESIS: Based on your research, do you think the soap will slide better with the hand lotion, the water, or the cooking oil? Be sure to discuss why.

MATERIALS:

a bar of soap

water

a cookie sheet or flat pan

cooking oil

hand lotion

paper towels

PROCEDURE:

1. Put the cookie sheet at an angle by stacking up several books.

2. Put the dry soap on the top of the cookie sheet. Did it slide down? If it did slide, measure the distance and record your observations.

3. Put water on the soap.

4. Put the soap down on the cookie sheet. How far down did the soap slide? Measure the distance and record your observations.

5. Dry off the soap with a paper towel and put hand lotion on it.

6. Repeat step 4.

7. Dry off the soap with a paper towel and put cooking oil on it.

8. Repeat step 4.

DATA: Make a data table to record the distances the soap slide and your observations and inferences.

CONCLUSION: This is not optional. You must explain what you learned by doing this activity.

Remember that you must answer the question you asked in your original problem statement.

NOTE: BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGNS YOUR WORK. PARENTS: YOUR SIGNATURE SHOWS YOUR STUDENT HAS DONE THE WORK.

TEACHER SECTION:

POSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS: Students should discuss whether or not the soap will slide or what will make the soap slide.

POSSIBLE CONCLUSION: Students should discuss observations and relate them to the problem. There should be some discussion of friction.

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Judy Schneider

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