z.Homeschool Gravity and your weight in the Solar System

Lesson Plan
Video
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Description:

We experience gravity every day, but understanding gravity is quite complex. Take a tour of the solar system to understand the relationship between gravity, mass, and wieght.

Time:

30-45 minutes

Grade Level:

3-5, 6

Next Generation Science Standards:

5-PS2-1

Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.

Utah Core Standards:

3.4

Students will understand that objects near Earth are pulled toward Earth by gravity.

6.1.2

Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity and inertia in orbital motions of objects in our solar system.

Materials

· A scale (or just guess your weight)

· A lab sheet

Key words to know

Gravity is a force which tries to pull two objects toward each other. Anything which has mass also has a gravitational pull. The more massive an object is, the stronger its gravitational pull is. Earth's gravity is what keeps you on the ground and what causes objects to fall.

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter (or stuff) in an object. Mass is measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Mass is constant in all circumstances. Objects with more mass exert more gravitational pull.

Weight is the measurement of the pull of gravity on an object. Weight can change. An object weighs the same in China or the US, but take that object to the moon, and it will have a different weight! Why, because the moon places a different force of gravity on that object than the Earth does, this is due to the differences in the moon and the Earth’s mass.

Directions

· Start by watching the introductory video to this lesson on the video tab above.

· Now weigh yourself on a scale, or just guess your weight.

· Now start touring several places in the solar system to see how much your weight changes in different locations.

Do the math with a calculator or long hand and fill out the table. A better version is located on the printable download below.

Place	Relative force of Gravity	Multiplied by	Your Weight	Equals	Your Weight In this location
Earth	1	x		=
Outer Space	0	x		=
Earth’s Moon	0.17	x		=
Mercury (the smallest planet)	0.38	x		=
Jupiter (the largest planet)	2.36	x		=

· Explain to a parent or sibling what gravity is and why your weight changes as you travel through the solar system.

· Tell them which place you would like to visit most and which place you would like to visit least.

Describe what types of activities would be fun to do on other planets? What would be challenging?

Finally, check out the super fun videos of an astronaut doing normal activities like sleeping, brushing his teeth, and washing his hands in the international space station, you'll find them on the video tab above.

Attachment	Size
GBO Printable Version	406.36 KB

View this video first, as an introduction to the lesson.

Want to get deeper into the concepts of gravity? This is a great short film to watch.

Want to really go deep? This video explains how scientists calculate the numbers we use to figure out the relative gravity of other planets to Earth.

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