---
title: "Friction & Surfaces"
description: "Compare how things move on different surfaces, noticing that some surfaces create more friction than others"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/friction-and-surfaces-mt_-p_xp4hMvh
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/friction-and-surfaces-mt_-p_xp4hMvh.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Friction & Surfaces

Compare how things move on different surfaces, noticing that some surfaces create more friction than others

Subject: Science · Area: Forces & Motion · Ages 7 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/friction-and-surfaces-mt_-p_xp4hMvh

## Ready when they can

- Observe and compare how the same object moves on at least three different surfaces
- Describe that rough surfaces slow objects down more than smooth surfaces
- Use the word 'friction' to explain why movement differs on different surfaces

## Lesson: Friction: why rough surfaces slow things down

You already know that pushes and pulls make things move. Friction is a force too, but it works the other way. It happens when two surfaces rub together, and it slows movement down or stops it. Every surface makes some friction, but some surfaces make a lot more than others.

*(drawing: The same toy car was pushed with the same push on three surfaces. It rolled shortest on carpet and farthest on ice.)*

**Example.** Leo pushes his toy car across the thick bedroom carpet. It rolls a little way and stops. Then he pushes it just as hard across the smooth wood floor. This time it rolls much farther. The rough carpet grips the wheels and makes a lot of friction. The smooth wood makes less friction, so the car keeps rolling.

Look closely at a surface to guess how much friction it makes. Rough surfaces, like carpet, sand, gravel or sandpaper, have lots of tiny bumps that catch and slow things down. Smooth surfaces, like polished wood, tile, glass or ice, have far fewer bumps, so things slide across them more easily.

**Recap.** Rough surfaces make more friction and slow things down; smooth surfaces make less friction and let things move farther.

## Practice

23 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Pushes & Pulls](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/pushes-and-pulls-mt_B3W5EfimJw)
- [Forces Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/forces-vocabulary-mt_GBY8enpzO0)

## Opens up

- [Balanced & Unbalanced Forces](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/balanced-and-unbalanced-forces-mt_3WMADSy0mA)
- [Contact & Non-Contact Forces](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/contact-and-non-contact-forces-mt_lcf8lx-LkZ)
- [Air Resistance & Friction](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/air-resistance-and-friction-mt_Y9k86G8BBT)