Activity Overview
In this activity, students will find the coefficient of friction for a car and use it to decide which tires to use on certain surfaces.
About the Lesson
Because racing can happen on various surfaces, teams must be prepared to choose the best tires for the surface on which they are racing. Knowing the coefficient of friction between different tires or tire coatings and surfaces will allow teams to choose the best tire for a particular surface and race. A higher coefficient of friction will allow for a higher speed without sliding.