Gravity and Orbits PhET

Last updated almost 4 years ago

12 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions and Questions to go along with the Gravity and Orbits PhET

Explore

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1

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1

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2

Experiment

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7

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1

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2

Apply

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1

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1

Required

1

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1

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Gravity and Orbits PhET

Gravity and Orbits PhET

Take 5 minutes to explore the interactive below.

Pay attention to how the Earth, Moon, and the Space Station move.

For the Sun and Earth system: Draw the path of the Earth with Gravity ON and Gravity OFF

Draw the Sun’s gravitational pull (gravity force) on the Earth & the Earth’s gravitational pull on the Sun

If both the Earth and Sun pull on each other with equal force, why does the Earth move, but the Sun does not move?

Experiment with the simulation.

What actions change the force of gravity and How?
(This is indicated by a change in the length of the blue gravity force arrows. DO NOT PRESS PLAY)

Based on your results in question 4, what two factors affect the gravitational force between objects?

If the Sun and Earth have gravitational force pulling on the moon, why does the moon orbit the Earth and not the sun?

Choose the picture you think shows the gravity forces on the Earth and Sun. (A longer arrow represents a bigger force, and a shorter arrow represents a smaller force.)

How would these gravity forces change if the Sun got much bigger?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth was much closer to the Sun?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth got much smaller?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth and the Sun were moved farther apart?

Choose the picture of how Earth would move if you "turned off" the force of gravity.

Take 5 minutes to explore the interactive below.

Pay attention to how the Earth, Moon, and the Space Station move.

For the Sun and Earth system: Draw the path of the Earth with Gravity ON and Gravity OFF

Draw the Sun’s gravitational pull (gravity force) on the Earth & the Earth’s gravitational pull on the Sun

If both the Earth and Sun pull on each other with equal force, why does the Earth move, but the Sun does not move?

Experiment with the simulation.

What actions change the force of gravity and How?
(This is indicated by a change in the length of the blue gravity force arrows. DO NOT PRESS PLAY)

Based on your results in question 4, what two factors affect the gravitational force between objects?

If the Sun and Earth have gravitational force pulling on the moon, why does the moon orbit the Earth and not the sun?

Choose the picture you think shows the gravity forces on the Earth and Sun. (A longer arrow represents a bigger force, and a shorter arrow represents a smaller force.)

How would these gravity forces change if the Sun got much bigger?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth was much closer to the Sun?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth got much smaller?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth and the Sun were moved farther apart?

Choose the picture of how Earth would move if you "turned off" the force of gravity.

Gravity and Orbits PhET

Gravity and Orbits PhET

Take 5 minutes to explore the interactive below.

Pay attention to how the Earth, Moon, and the Space Station move.

For the Sun and Earth system: Draw the path of the Earth with Gravity ON and Gravity OFF

Draw the Sun’s gravitational pull (gravity force) on the Earth & the Earth’s gravitational pull on the Sun

If both the Earth and Sun pull on each other with equal force, why does the Earth move, but the Sun does not move?

Experiment with the simulation.

What actions change the force of gravity and How?(This is indicated by a change in the length of the blue gravity force arrows. DO NOT PRESS PLAY)

Based on your results in question 4, what two factors affect the gravitational force between objects?

If the Sun and Earth have gravitational force pulling on the moon, why does the moon orbit the Earth and not the sun?

Choose the picture you think shows the gravity forces on the Earth and Sun. (A longer arrow represents a bigger force, and a shorter arrow represents a smaller force.)

How would these gravity forces change if the Sun got much bigger?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth was much closer to the Sun?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth got much smaller?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth and the Sun were moved farther apart?

Choose the picture of how Earth would move if you "turned off" the force of gravity.

Take 5 minutes to explore the interactive below.

Pay attention to how the Earth, Moon, and the Space Station move.

For the Sun and Earth system: Draw the path of the Earth with Gravity ON and Gravity OFF

Draw the Sun’s gravitational pull (gravity force) on the Earth & the Earth’s gravitational pull on the Sun

If both the Earth and Sun pull on each other with equal force, why does the Earth move, but the Sun does not move?

Experiment with the simulation.

What actions change the force of gravity and How?(This is indicated by a change in the length of the blue gravity force arrows. DO NOT PRESS PLAY)

Based on your results in question 4, what two factors affect the gravitational force between objects?

If the Sun and Earth have gravitational force pulling on the moon, why does the moon orbit the Earth and not the sun?

Choose the picture you think shows the gravity forces on the Earth and Sun. (A longer arrow represents a bigger force, and a shorter arrow represents a smaller force.)

How would these gravity forces change if the Sun got much bigger?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth was much closer to the Sun?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth got much smaller?

How would these gravity forces change if Earth and the Sun were moved farther apart?

Choose the picture of how Earth would move if you "turned off" the force of gravity.

What actions change the force of gravity and How?
(This is indicated by a change in the length of the blue gravity force arrows. DO NOT PRESS PLAY)

What actions change the force of gravity and How?
(This is indicated by a change in the length of the blue gravity force arrows. DO NOT PRESS PLAY)