Friction (forces on a train)
Ms. Johnson's class

lyrics by Ms. Johnson’s class (3rd grade)
to the tune of Hark, The Herald Angels Sing

Friction is a force you know
It can help a train to go
Wheels and rails don’t like to slide
When we’re on a railroad ride
Wheels rotating touch the track
Using friction, pushing back
Without friction, wheels would slip
Friction helps the wheels to grip
Friction is a force you know
It can help a train to go!

Friction is a friend to you
But it can cause trouble too
Moving things have energy
Friction turns it into heat
No matter how fast you go
Friction wants to make you slow
Engineers say it’s a pain
Wearing out the tracks and train
Friction is a friend to you
But it can cause trouble too!

MagLev trains are really great
Magnets make them levitate
Floating just above the track
Friction cannot hold them back
Magnets counter gravity
Help the train go fast, you see
Off in far-away Shanghai
There is a MagLev you can try
MagLev trains are really great
Magnets make them levitate!

Engineers all have a goal:
Keeping friction in control
Friction is a touching force
Helps us stay in place, of course
You don’t want to slip or slide
You might fall on your backside
Friction helps us move around
Even though it slows us down
Engineers all have a goal:
Keeping friction in control!

Engineers all have a goal:
Keeping friction in control!

Notes

Ms. Johnson's kids researched and wrote this one (with help from Mr. G) as part of their physical science unit, Forces All Around Us.

Here are some grade level standards (3rd grade) from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) addressed by this song.

3-PS2-1. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.

3-PS2-2. Make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.

3-PS2-3. Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.

3-PS2-4. Define a simple design problem that can be solved by applying scientific ideas about magnets.

Chords: E, A, B, F#, B7