AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
95 
V. Fifth Grade 
Heat from Friction. 
Aim. To bring out different methods of producing heat from 
friction. 
Introduction. 
When I rub these two sticks together, they say there is 
friction between these objects. Try rubbing your hands 
together pressing them firmly against each other and moving 
them rapidly. How do thej^ feel? Why do persons rub their 
hands together in cold weather?. Rub a coin on your coat 
sleeve. What happens? What do we mean by a “hot box” 
in your wagon ? (The bearings of the wheels become so hot that 
they are set on fire.) What caused this? (Friction.) How 
does your father overcome friction in the bearings of his 
machinery? (By oiling them.) What is the name given to 
this oiling? (Lubricating.) 
What use was friction to the Indians? (Depended upon it 
for fire.) What did they use to take the place of matches today ? 
(Rubbed two sticks together.) Did you ever try to do this? 
What success did you have? How many in the class have read 
the “Two Little Savages,” by Seton-Thompson? Read it and 
find out the trouble they had in making fires. We will try an 
easier way than this. 
The following experiments are taken from Rowell, Elemen¬ 
tary General Science. I should have the teacher or some pupil 
demonstrate. 
Experiment 1. Primitive Fire-making. 
Materials. Two blocks of wood 2"x4"x6", circular wooden rod 7" 
long and pointed at both ends, a bow and string, 
lubricating oil or grease. 
a-. Bore a hole part way through the blocks at their center 
points. Wind the string of the bow around the wooden rod 
once. Lubricate the hole in the top block but put nothing in 
the lower block. Place the rod in the holes. Bear down hard 
on the top block and move the bow backward and forward very 
rapidly. You may not be able to make the lower block burn 
but you should be able to make it smoke. Does the hole in 
the upper block become equally hot? Why? This apparatus 
is called a fire drill; and this method of obtaining fire was 
used in olden times. 
