Science Secrets · Drawing 03 of 40
Why Did My Socks Slide?
Forces and Movement
These socks slide easily on the smooth floor. They grip the rug more strongly. Friction, the rubbing between two surfaces, helps slow things down.
Did you know?
Friction also helps shoes grip the ground.
Look together
Where would a small toy slide farther: on the floor or on the rug?
An idea to try
Slide the same small block on fabric and on a smooth surface. Use a similar push and compare with an adult.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Friction depends on both surfaces and conditions. Rougher surfaces do not always give more friction. The activity uses a block rather than sliding the child.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified scene and shapes. Models, imagined comparisons and enlargements do not preserve all real measurements.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Science World: ForcesDefines friction as the resistance an object meets when moving over a surface, and compares friction on different surfaces.
Page prepared on October 12, 2026. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
This drawing is from the book Science Secrets to Colour
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