Lessons:
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Starter Questions:
1) 11/16-19
A) What two variables (from last times lesson) can affect the force of gravity on an object? B) Why won't the space station move when the astronaut pushes on it? C) Is there gravity in space? Give evidence to support your claim. 2) 11/20-21 A) If all objects really do accelerate downward the same (due to gravity pulling down) why does a leaf fall slower than a wood block? B) If I was floating in space, why would a scale read my weight as "0"? C) Why doesn't my mass also change when I go into space? 3) 11/22-23 A) What is weight? B) Why will I weight less on the moon than on Earth? C) Why is the moon more affected by Earth's gravity than Jupiter? |
Unit Assignments:
Answer Keys
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Unit/Subject Videos:
Questions about how well the public knows what gravity is...
If we were to drop a ball with more mass than a second, less massive ball, which would hit the ground first and why? How does what we already learned about forces apply to this lesson?
The Earth's gravity is the simple answer. And that's not incorrect. But is that all there is to the story? Also, we know that gravity from the moon has an effect on the Earth (we can see this in the tides). But how come both objects don't just pull into each other until the collide?
We all know the famous video footage of astronauts floating around their spaceships. This must mean that gravity isn't pulling on them anymore, right? Well, if there is no gravity in space (as many people believe) then how does the Earth keep the moon in orbit around it? Or how does the Sun keep ALL the planets in orbit around it? Clearly there MUST be more to the story that we think...
Usain Bolt is currently the "fastest man in the world" thanks to winning back to back Olympic gold metals in the 100m sprint. But what would happen if there was a race to cover 100m between Mr. Bolt and an Olympic Diver. Bolt having to run the distance while the diver simply has to fall due to gravity. Who would win the race?
The Mythbusters take the idea for the Bolt vs Gravity video and try to test the same principal in a real drop! What if a car as dropped from 1000ft while another drove the same distance. Who would win?
Every time I teach the Gravity unit, I get asked by at least one student, "But what if the Earth was hollow?" Well, I finally found a video that actually explains the answer in a way that makes sense:
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