Feedback

Please provide feedback on your experience of this adventure or activity

Report Quality Assurance

If there are errors or issues with this adventure/ activity, please go to the Report Quality Assurance Page.

Adventure/Activity Feedback Form

This feedback helps identify things den leaders like and opportunities for improvement.

Cub Scout Adventures >

Webelos >

Wheel Friction

Webelos – 4th Grade

Race Time Webelos

Elective

Requirement 3

Wheel Friction

Webelos – 4th Grade

Race Time Webelos

Elective

Requirement 3

Wheel Friction

Snapshot of Activity

Cub Scouts learn how friction impacts their race car.

Indoor

If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.

Supply List

Directions

Before the meeting:

Set up meeting space with various surfaces and room for the Pinewood Derby® car to race on.
Place the plywood flat on the floor in one area.
Place the cotton fabric on the floor in another area.
Place the carpet on the floor in another area.

During the meeting:

Explain that Cub Scouts will be exploring how different surfaces affect a Pinewood Derby® car.
Explain what force is. “In physics, a force is what causes the motion of an object to change its speed. If you take a ball and place it on the floor, it may roll around for a while, but eventually, it will stay in one place. If the wind blows, the ball will move. The wind is the force causing the ball to move. If you kick the ball, your foot provides the force causing the ball to move.
Explain what friction is. “Friction is a type of force. When a force is applied to something that is moving one way and the force is going another way, it is called friction. Let’s use the ball as our example. When you kicked the ball, the ball had to move through the air which caused friction, slowing down the ball. The surface that the ball is rolling on also causes friction. The ball will roll longer on a smooth surface compared to rolling on a grassy field. Have the Cub Scouts buddy up with a car and place them at a station. They will roll their car across the three different types of surfaces and record their results.
After each Cub Scout buddy group has had a turn pushing the car across the three different surfaces, gather them together and ask the following questions:
- Which surface did the Pinewood Derby® car go the fastest?
- Why do you think it went the slowest on the carpet? What got in the way?