Girls Under the Hood: Friction

Adam Weiss

Advisor: Dr. Beth Parks

High school girls earn lower scores than boys on standardized science tests. It is our goal to keep girls interested in science by taking advantage of fourteen-to seventeen-year-olds’ newfound interest in cars. This project focuses on the relationship between the automobile braking system and friction. We have developed an apparatus to investigate friction using sliding blocks and a force sensor. By providing the right tools for exploration, we hope to facilitate the development of greater understanding of friction and the advantages of antilock brakes.