In a recent experiment focused on the concepts of friction and gravity, 6th-grade students at OSMS engaged in a hands-on lab activity. Each student was provided with a beaker, an index card, a quarter, a washer, and a smaller washer.

The objective of the lab was to understand how forces affect the motion of objects. Students began by placing the index card on top of their beaker. One by one, they carefully positioned each item—the quarter, the washer, and the smaller washer—on top of the index card.

After setting the items in place, students quickly pulled the card out from underneath while observing the results. They hoped to see the item drop directly into the beaker.

This activity illustrated the concept of unbalanced forces: when the coin or washer was at rest and the paper was pulled away swiftly, it resulted in an unbalanced force acting on the item, causing it to fall. Through this experiment, students learned about the principles of gravity and the role of friction, enhancing their understanding of physics in a practical setting.