Forces: Gravity - a non-contact force

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Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 2/09/2014 6:42:36 PM

Brainstorm words and examples about what you know of gravity. 

Outline what you know about the gravitational field of:

- the Earth

- the Sun

- the Moon 

 

Watch the below clip about the gravity from Prof Brian Cox 

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: TKH at 2/09/2014 9:40:48 PM
Go through the following slides as a class
Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rmc at 22/10/2014 9:21:09 AM

 Anywhere Anytime Learning Activity 01

The more mass an object has, the stronger the gravity force created.  As the planets in our solar system vary in mass, they have different amounts of gravitational force.  If you assign 1 to the gravity on the Earth, other planets will have more or less gravitational force. 

The experiment link allows you to calculate how high you would jump on each planet.  Measure how high you can jump on Earth and divide your jump by the gravity on each planet.

For example, on Jupiter, the largest planet, gravity is 2.53 compared to the Earth's gravity of 1.  If you could jump 60 cm on Earth, you would only jump 60 / 2.53 = ~24 cm on Jupiter. 

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: TKH at 2/09/2014 9:37:59 PM

Anywhere Anytime Learning Activity 02

 Work through the worksheet from the link below.

 

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 3/09/2014 12:58:43 PM

 Ever wanted to create your own mini-solar system?

Explore the simulator link below and see if you can arrange a variety of objects to orbit one another, depending on their mass, location and gravitational field.

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 2/09/2014 7:21:25 PM

 What is the difference between mass and weight?

Research their scientific definitions and be sure you are clear about the differences between them. 

Watch the clip below to learn more.   

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: TKH at 2/09/2014 9:28:47 PM

The experiment link is an activity that will involve small groups timing  a variety of objects falling from the same vertical distance.  Groups will need to work together to coordinate dropping and timing objects. 

For the written report, answer the 7 discussion questions at the end of the experiment.