Mississippi Science P.2.6.3
The Standard
- P.2.6
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the motion of objects is affected by pushes, pulls, and friction on an object.
Develop a plan to change the force (push or pull) of friction to solve a human problem (e.g., improve the ride on a playground slide or make a toy car or truck go faster). Use an engineering design process to define the problem, design, construct, evaluate, and improve the plan. *
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Motions, Forces, and Energy
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students decide whether a moving object needs more or less friction to solve a problem. They choose a surface, build a simple test, compare results, and change their design.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain why a rougher track may slow a toy car and a smoother track may let it roll farther. They use the same car and starting point for each test, record what happens, and improve their track.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think friction is always a problem and miss that grip can prevent slips. They may change the ramp height and track surface at once, then claim the surface caused the result.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A toy car rolls past its cardboard parking spot. Draw a track change to stop it sooner, then write how you would test it and what you would change if it still rolls too far.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Build a cardboard ramp and flat track, test sandpaper and wax paper liners with one toy car, then replace the liner that missed the target.
Ask: If a toy car rolls past its parking spot, should the track be rougher or smoother? How would you check?
Play Track Trials: teams launch the same car from one mark onto three surfaces, record stopping distances, and choose a liner to meet a target.
Push a sneaker by hand across dry tile and a rubber mat, then sketch a safer mat for the school entrance.
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Printable P.2.6.3 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- P.3.6.2
Plan an experiment to investigate the relationship between a force applied to an object (e.g., friction, gravity) and resulting motion of the object.
- P.6.6.3
Investigate and communicate ways to manipulate applied/frictional forces to improve movement of objects on various surfaces (e.g., athletic shoes, wheels on car...
- P.5.6.5
Predict how a change of force, mass, and/or friction affects the motion of an object to convert potential energy into kinetic energy.
- P.5.6.6
Design a system to increase the effects of friction on the motion of an object (e.g., non-slip surfaces or vehicle braking systems or flaps on aircraft wings). ...
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