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PLAYING WITH GRAVITY

ACTIVITY: PLAYING WITH GRAVITY

Gravity is a force affecting all objects with mass in the universe, and determines the weight of a given mass of material.

Pages Suggested time 15 minInquiry points 38

Consider what force is making the thrown balls fall back toward the ground.

1

Answer

Gravity or gravitational force

Read how Earth’s gravity makes objects fall back toward the surface.

T

Gravity is different on all of the planets in the solar system, therefore your weight will be different on each of the planets. Encourage

enthusiatic students to find out the gravity on all of the planets and use the formula weight = mass × gravity to determine their weight

on each planet.

T

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3

Consider if the balls’ masses should change when they are on the moon.

Answers

No

Mass isn’t dependent on an object’s location.T...

T...

Consider how the movement of the different balls on the moon compares to their movement on Earth.

2

Answer

The balls took longer to drop to the ground, and were easier to pick up/throw around.T...

T... 1IP

You’ve probably heard a story about an apple landing on the head of the famous physicist, Sir Isaac Newton. While it didn’t quite happen this way, Newton did recount to a friend later in his life that he struck on the idea that the same force that pulled objects to the ground also kept planets in their orbits in space while walking in an apple orchard.

Newton didn’t explain what gravity was, or even suggest there was a force called gravity. He said “I feign no hypothesis”, meaning “I’m not suggesting a cause for gravity”. However, he was the first to suggest two seemingly different things - like falling apples and moving planets - are caused by the same laws of physics.

Talking point!

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5

Consider again how the mass of the balls on the moon compares with their mass on Earth.

Answer

No1IP

4

Read about the difference between mass and weight.

Read about Newton’s second law of motion, F = ma, and the unit of measurement for force, the newton.

Science extra

Some objects in the universe are so massive, they have gravity that is difficult to imagine. Ask students to research two massive

objects - neutron stars and black holes. Invite them to share their discoveries, such as where these objects are found and how their

gravity influences surrounding space (and time!).

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©3P Learning | intoscience.comACTIVITY: PLAYING WITH GRAVITY

8

Read about how the gravity of an object is directly related to it mass.

7

Consider how weight on different planets depends on their mass.

Answer

The more mass an object has, the greater its gravitational attraction.

T...

T...

T...

1IP

6

Read about gravity as a measurement of acceleration.