Friction is a force that makes things slow down. It happens when two surfaces touch and slide against each other.

Here are a few ways friction affects how things move:

1. How Surfaces Interact: Friction happens when two surfaces rub together. For example, when you push a book across a table, the roughness of the table tries to grab the book. This is what causes the book to slow down.

2. Different Types of Friction: There are a few kinds of friction to know about:

   • Static friction: This keeps something still when it’s not moving.
   • Kinetic friction: This slows things down when they are already moving, like a hockey puck sliding over ice.

3. Everyday Examples: Imagine using a skateboard. When you drag your foot on the ground, the skateboard slows down. That’s friction doing its job!

In all these situations, friction takes some of the energy from the moving object and turns it into heat. This is why the object slows down.