Level 1: Core Concepts Check (Aiming for a Pass - 'S')

1. Define: What is friction?

2. List: Name two situations where friction is helpful.

3. List: Name two situations where friction is a problem.

4. Identify: What is the name for the maximum static friction force?

5. Recall: Name one way to reduce friction between two surfaces.

6. True or False: A wider object experiences more friction than a narrow object of the same weight.

7. Identify: What type of friction acts on an object that is already sliding?

8. List: What are the two main factors that determine the size of the frictional force?

9. Recall: In which direction does the frictional force act relative to motion?

Level 2: Connecting the Dots (Aiming for a Credit - 'C')

1. Explain: Why is it easier to keep a heavy box sliding across a floor than it is to start it moving in the first place? Refer to the different types of friction in your answer.

2. Describe: Explain how car brakes use friction to stop a vehicle.

3. Compare: Why is there more friction between a shoe and a concrete path than between the same shoe and an icy path?

4. Explain: How does putting oil in a car engine help the engine work better?

5. Discuss: "Friction is a necessary evil." Explain this statement with one example of it being necessary and one of it being an evil (a problem).

Level 3: Exam Challenge (Aiming for a Distinction - 'A'/'B')

1. Experimental Design: You are asked to investigate the relationship between the weight of an object and the limiting frictional force. (a) List the key apparatus you would need for this experiment. (b) Describe the step-by-step procedure you would follow. (c) What is the independent variable and the dependent variable in this experiment? (d) What result would you expect to find?