Gravity

Gravity pulls on …

everything

What effect does the Sun’s gravity have on the planets?

The Sun keeps the planets going around it without flying off into space

Force

a push or a pull

Non-Contact Force

a force that is exerted/applied across a distance (nothing needs to touch).

Mass

the amount of matter inside something

Weight

the gravity exerted on an object by a massive body, such as Earth

Gravity

a force of attraction

What does the size of gravity’s force depend on?

Mass & distance between objects

Inertia

the property of matter to stay at rest, or to remain in constant motion in a straight line (unless acted upon by an external force)

What is gravity?

Gravity is a force that pulls objects toward each other. On Earth, it pulls everything toward the planet’s center.

How does gravity affect us on Earth?

It keeps us from floating away, causes things to fall, and gives objects weight.

What role does gravity play in space?

Gravity keeps planets orbiting the Sun, moons orbiting planets, and helps form stars and galaxies.

Why do ocean tides happen?

because of the Moon’s gravity pulling on Earth’s oceans.

What is Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation?

It states that every object in the universe attracts every other object. The strength of this force depends on the objects’ masses and the distance between them.

What’s the difference between mass and weight?

Mass is the amount of matter in an object and doesn’t change. Weight is the force of gravity on that mass and can change depending on the planet or moon you’re on.

What is the center of gravity?

It’s the point in an object where gravity seems to act. It affects how balanced and stable the object is.