Boxi Learn › Physics › Stage 3 · Structure and Evidence
How far would a cart roll with no friction?
PHY-1 A force changes motion, it does not keep it goingX-1 Guess, then check
What many people think
A moving thing stops by itself when the push runs out.
The idea
The smoother the floor, the farther the cart rolls; with no friction at all it would never stop.
Explain it
A friend says “the ball stopped because the kick ran out”. Using the word “friction”, explain what really stopped it, and what would happen on perfect ice.
Try at home
Lean a book on a few other books to make a ramp. Roll a toy car or a can down it onto a carpet, then onto a smooth floor. Mark where it stops each time and measure the distances.