3-13: Gravity

A. Make a Prediction

Like Earth, all the other planets also orbit around the Sun. Watch the video of the orbiting planets. As you watch the video, consider why the planets stay in orbit instead of crashing into each other or the Sun. 

All the planets in our solar system stay in orbit due to gravity. Gravity is an invisible force of attraction. 

B. Read

How does gravity support life on Earth?

Now it is time to learn more about gravity and how it supports life on Earth. As you read, think about these questions

  • What effect does Earth’s gravity have on objects near the planet? 
  • What keeps Earth and other planets in orbit?
  • How does the mass of an object affect its gravitational strength?
  • How does the distance between two objects affect the objects’ gravitational pull? 
  • How does a planet’s distance from the Sun impact the length of its orbit?

Fact Finder:  Write down any information in the “Fact Finder” section of your mission log. 

C. Life Without Gravity

Let’s make sense of what you just read. What would happen to our universe if we did not have gravitational force?  How would our universe change? 

Directions: Use what you have learned about gravity to write a short story with illustrations about life without gravity in your Mission Log. 

D. Summarize

You’ve learned a lot about how gravity supports life on Earth. Now it is time to summarize your new knowledge. You can use this summary to help you decide what conditions you want to highlight in your time capsule. 

 

 

Directions: Use the words in the word bank to complete the paragraph.

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