Questions: In the sport of curling, large smooth stones are slid across an ice court to land on a target. Sometimes the stones need to move a bit farther across the ice and other times players want the stones to stop a bit sooner. Suggest a way to increase the kinetic friction between the stone and the ice so that the stone stops more quickly. Next, suggest a way to decrease the kinetic friction between the stone and the ice so that the stone slides farther along the ice before coming to a stop.

Solution Steps

In curling, the kinetic friction between the stone and the ice affects how far the stone travels. Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of two surfaces sliding past each other. The amount of kinetic friction depends on the nature of the surfaces in contact and the normal force pressing them together.

To increase the kinetic friction between the stone and the ice, you can make the ice surface rougher. This can be achieved by altering the ice texture, such as by increasing the pebbling on the ice. Pebbling involves spraying water droplets on the ice, which freeze and create a textured surface. A rougher surface increases the frictional force, causing the stone to stop more quickly.

To decrease the kinetic friction, you can make the ice surface smoother. This can be done by reducing the pebbling or by using a scraper to smooth out the ice. A smoother surface reduces the frictional force, allowing the stone to slide farther before coming to a stop.

Final Answer