Forces in Space Flashcards
What is gravity?
The force of attraction between any two objects.
What is Law of Universal Gravitation?
The scientific law that states that every object in the universe attracts every other object.
What are the 2 things that the Law of Universal Gravitation depends on?
- Mass of the object
- Distance between the two objects
If the distance between two objects increases, what happens to gravity?
decreases
If the distance between two objects decreases, what happens to gravity?
increases
If the mass of an object increases, what happens to gravity?
increases
If the mass of an object decreases, what happens to gravity?
decreases
If you were on the moon, would you weigh MORE or LESS?
less
Why would you weigh less on the moon?
Because gravity affects your weight. Weight is the force exerted on a mass by gravity.
What is Newton’s First Law of Inertia?
An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force (friction, etc.)
Example: You push a ball. It will keep rolling until you or friction stops it.
What does inertia have to do with gravity?
gravity and inertia combine to keep Earth in orbit around the sun, and the moon in orbit around Earth.
What keeps planets in orbit around the sun?
gravity
What keeps planets moving in orbit around the sun?
inertia
You travel to the moon. It is smaller than the earth ( has a smaller mass), therefore gravity decreases. What happens to your weight?
Decrease
You are standing up on the bus and the bus suddenly stops. Your body continues in motion forward and you fall. Why did you fall?
Gravity
