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This HTML5 simulation demonstrates how friction affects temperature and molecular motion. Rub two books together to generate friction and watch the temperature increase as the molecules' kinetic energy increases. As greater friction is applied, some of the molecules in the "Chemistry" book break free of their bonds. However, the molecules in the "Physics" book are much more tightly bound. (No amount of heat will remove them.) This simulation is appropriate for conceptual physics courses as a way to introduce friction in terms of both macroscale and molecular-scale interactions. Don't miss the 2-minute Video Primer and the pdf "Teacher Tips" overview.
This is part of a larger collection developed by the Physics Education Technology project (PhET). Please note that this resource requires Flash. Editor's Note: Friction is a highly complex phenomenon. It cannot be fully represented by a simple model. In introducing friction, this simulation can be very useful in helping students ask questions about how friction from rubbing two objects is related to temperature and to kinetic energy of the molecules in each of the interacting objects. Note: Teachers may need to provide scaffolds to ensure that learners carefully look at the differences between the two objects -- the "Chemistry" book and the "Physics" book. Why do molecules fly off the Chemistry book but stay bound on the Physics book?
Next Generation Science StandardsDisciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)
Structure and Properties of Matter (PS1.A)
Definitions of Energy (PS3.A)
Crosscutting Concepts (K-12)
Systems and System Models (K-12)
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)
Asking Questions and Defining Problems (K-12)
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=6094">PhET. PhET Simulation: Friction. Boulder: PhET, November 15, 2017.</a>
AIP Format
(PhET, Boulder, 2017), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction).
AJP/PRST-PER
PhET Simulation: Friction (PhET, Boulder, 2017), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction>.
APA Format
PhET Simulation: Friction. (2017, November 15). Retrieved April 23, 2025, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction
Chicago Format
PhET. PhET Simulation: Friction. Boulder: PhET, November 15, 2017. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction (accessed 23 April 2025).
MLA Format
PhET Simulation: Friction. Boulder: PhET, 2017. 15 Nov. 2017. 23 Apr. 2025 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{
Title = {PhET Simulation: Friction},
Publisher = {PhET},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {23 April 2025},
Month = {November 15, 2017},
Year = {2017}
}
Refer Export Format
%T PhET Simulation: Friction %D November 15, 2017 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction %O text/html
EndNote Export Format
%0 Electronic Source %D November 15, 2017 %T PhET Simulation: Friction %I PhET %V 2025 %N 23 April 2025 %8 November 15, 2017 %9 text/html %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/friction Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |
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