Instructions
Read each section carefully and complete the activities to show what you know about the amazing force of gravity!
Part 1: What is Gravity?
Use the words from the word bank to fill in the blanks in the paragraph below.
- force
- pulls
- Earth
- mass
Gravity is a natural ____________________ that attracts, or pulls, objects toward each other. It's the reason things fall down to the ground instead of floating away into space. Every object that has ____________________ also has gravity. The bigger an object is (the more mass it has), the stronger its gravitational pull. The planet ____________________ has a very large mass, which is why it ____________________ everything towards its center, keeping us on the ground.
Part 2: Gravity Here and There
Read each statement below. Is it true or false? Circle your answer.
| 1. The force of gravity is stronger on the Moon than on Earth. | True / False |
| 2. You would weigh less on the Moon than you do on Earth. | True / False |
| 3. The Sun's gravity is what keeps Earth and the other planets in orbit. | True / False |
| 4. Gravity only pulls things down; it cannot pull things sideways. | True / False |
Part 3: Mass vs. Weight
Mass and weight are related, but they are not the same thing! Draw a line to match the term to its correct definition.
| Mass | The measure of the pull of gravity on an object. This can change if you go to another planet. |
| Weight | The amount of "stuff" or matter inside an object. This amount never changes, no matter where you are. |
Part 4: Thinking About Gravity
Answer the following question in a complete sentence.
If you drop a bowling ball and a feather at the exact same time, we know the bowling ball hits the ground first. But what is the force that slows the feather down? (Hint: It's the same force you feel when the wind blows.)
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Drawing Challenge: In the box below, draw an apple falling from a tree. Then, draw one or more arrows to show the direction gravity is pulling the apple.
Answer Key
Part 1: What is Gravity?
Gravity is a natural force that attracts, or pulls, objects toward each other. It's the reason things fall down to the ground instead of floating away into space. Every object that has mass also has gravity. The bigger an object is (the more mass it has), the stronger its gravitational pull. The planet Earth has a very large mass, which is why it pulls everything towards its center, keeping us on the ground.
Part 2: Gravity Here and There
- False (The Moon has much less mass than Earth, so its gravity is weaker.)
- True (Because the Moon's gravity is weaker, it pulls on you with less force, so you weigh less.)
- True (The Sun's immense gravity keeps all the planets in our solar system in their orbits.)
- False (Gravity pulls objects toward the center of a massive body, like a planet. For a planet orbiting the sun, gravity is the force pulling it "sideways" to keep it from flying off into space.)
Part 3: Mass vs. Weight
- Mass → The amount of "stuff" or matter inside an object. This amount never changes, no matter where you are.
- Weight → The measure of the pull of gravity on an object. This can change if you go to another planet.
Part 4: Thinking About Gravity
Question Answer: The force that slows the feather down is air resistance (or wind/air). In a vacuum (a place with no air), they would hit the ground at the same time!
Drawing Challenge: The drawing should show an apple falling from a tree with an arrow pointing from the apple straight down toward the ground/center of the Earth.