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Exploring Gravity

The Gravity Force Lab Basics simulation allows students to explore how different variables, such as mass and distance, affect gravity. The lab encourages students to manipulate these variables and observe their effects on gravitational force. Key concepts include understanding gravity as a force and identifying independent and dependent variables in experiments.

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5 views4 pages

Exploring Gravity

The Gravity Force Lab Basics simulation allows students to explore how different variables, such as mass and distance, affect gravity. The lab encourages students to manipulate these variables and observe their effects on gravitational force. Key concepts include understanding gravity as a force and identifying independent and dependent variables in experiments.

Uploaded by

ashl3ym157
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:
Gravity Force Lab Basics

This lab uses the Gravity Force Lab Basics simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab-basics/latest/gravity-force-lab-basics_en.html

Learning Goal: Students will investigate the variables that affect gravity.

QUESTION: How does gravity affect objects?

Jasmine and Emily were learning about forces in class. They learned that a force was either a push or a pull.
Emily wondered if gravity was a force. She knew that when she dropped her book it was pulled down to the
ground. Jasmine knew that the moon had less gravity than the earth, but she wasn’t sure why.

Underline the statements you think are true:

o Gravity depends on the material of the objects.


o Gravity is not a force because it can’t move objects.
o Gravity is a force because a force is a push or a pull.
o The moon has less gravity than the Earth because it has less mass than the Earth.
o The moon has less gravity than the Earth because it has no atmosphere.

Background information:

Variable-A variable is any factor that can be changed or controlled

Independent Variable – something that is changed by the scientist


● What is tested
● What is manipulated

Dependent Variable – something that might be affected by the change in the independent variable
● What is observed
● What is measured
● The data collected during the investigation
4/26/20 Loeblein and Borenstein https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/4076 page 1
INSTRUCTIONS: Open up the Gravity Force Lab Basics simulation on the PhET website.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab-basics/latest/gravity-force-lab-basics_en.html

Type your answers in RED for each question.

1. Get familiar with the simulation by moving the figures back and forth as well as changing the mass of
the spheres. ( Take a screen shot and paste here)

2. Underline the different variables that can be found in this simulation.

Distance between figures Mass of the spheres


Force Size of the figures
Strength of the figures Size of spheres

3. What do you think the size of the arrows on top of each sphere represent?
The way its goin

4. Pick a variable to manipulate (the independent variable). Summarize what you changed and what
happened in the table below: the independent variable is the mass
5. The dependent is how gravity changes

Manipulated (Independent) Variable Dependent Variable

The intendment is the height the mass and gravity force


6. Change a different variable and summarize what happens in the table below:

Manipulated (Independent) Variable Dependent Variable

Test your understanding:


True or False State the correct answer and provide your reasoning

6. Gravity is a force that can be changed. false, its a force that cant be changed

7. The bigger an object is, the smaller the force of gravity. -false, the greater the size of the masses

4/26/20 Loeblein and Borenstein https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/4076 page 2


8. As one object gets closer to another object, the force of gravity will increase. -
true
9. The Sun has a greater gravitational force than Jupiter. -true

10. Which of the pairs has greater gravitational force?

Explain why you chose the diagram you did.


The both pairs have the same gravity force

11. Which of the pairs has greater gravitational force?

Explain why you chose the diagram you did.


The left one has more

12. Why do you think Saturn and Jupiter have more moons than the other planets in our solar system?
They have moons than other planets

Summarize your understanding

13. Can gravity be considered a force?


CLAIM yes

EVIDENCE:it contains 2 masses

SCIENTIFIC REASONING :the most mass has the most gravity force

14. What variables affect gravity?


CLAIM:gravity affect by the size of object

EVIDENCE:when object increases gravity increases

4/26/20 Loeblein and Borenstein https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/4076 page 3


SCIENTIFIC REASONING: the most mass has the most gravity force

4/26/20 Loeblein and Borenstein https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/4076 page 4

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