TEKS:P.5H Gravitation Vocab

Front

Gravitational Field

Back

A vector quantity that relates the mass of an object to the gravitational force it experiences at a given location; represented by the symbol g.

Front

Field Forces

Back

The region of space surrounding a body, such as a charged particle or a magnet, within which it can exert a force on another similar body, not in contact with it.

Front

Mass

Back

A measure of the amount of matter an object contains.

Front

Weight

Back

The gravitational force experienced by an object.

Front

Circular Motion

Back

The motion of an object in a circle at a constant speed.

Front

Geocentric Model

Back

Earth-centric model of the solar system.

Front

Heliocentric Model

Back

Sun-centered model of the solar system.

Front

Planet

Back

Must orbit a star, be big enough to have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape, and be big enough that its gravity has cleared away any other objects of a similar size near its orbit around the Sun.

Front

Kepler’s 1st Law

Back

States that the planets move in elliptical paths with the Sun at one focus.

Front

Kepler’s 2nd Law

Back

States that an imaginary line from the Sun to a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals.