2. Science Standard 3- The Physical Setting Indicator 5.3.6- Demonstrate that things on or near Earth are pulled towards it by Earth’s gravity. Taken from: http://www.indianastandards.org/standardSummary.asp?Subject=sci&Grade=5. Link to Activity: http://www.indianastandards.org/files/sci/sci_5_3_pull.pdf.
3. Definitions Gravity- Force of attraction that causes objects on Earth to fall towards the center (or downward). Force-Push or Pull on an Object. Balancing Point (Center of Gravity)- Point of an object that is closest to the ground (where weight equal on all sides). Weight- Mass- Amount of matter in an object.
4. Testing Gravity The mass of an object determines its gravity. Weight has a direct relationship with gravity (mass is not the same thing as weight) An object of the same mass can have different weights when there are different gravities Gravity can vary from place to place (the moon and other planets all have different gravities). Your weight (you keep the same mass) is different on Earth than it is on the moon.
5. Try it out! Look at the given chart and equations: Pluto- weight/7.5 Mercury- weight/2.9 Mars- weight/2.63 Calculate your weight using the equations. What happens? Is your weight greater with greater force of gravity? Now let’s test whether gravity affects the speed of descent. Use to two objects (weight them) given and drop them from the same height Do they fall at different speeds?
