Gravity, Inertia, and Orbits

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the property of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force.

Front

How does gravity affect objects with mass?

Back

Gravity is a force that attracts two bodies with mass towards each other. The strength of this force depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them.

Front

What would happen to a planet without inertia?

Back

Without inertia, a planet would not maintain its orbit and could crash into the sun or another celestial body due to the lack of resistance to changes in motion.

Front

What is the relationship between gravity and orbits?

Back

Gravity is the force that keeps planets, moons, and other celestial bodies in orbit around larger bodies, such as stars or planets. The balance between the gravitational pull and the object's inertia determines the shape and stability of the orbit.

Front

What is the formula for gravitational force?

Back

The gravitational force (F) between two masses (m1 and m2) is given by Newton's law of universal gravitation: F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, where G is the gravitational constant and r is the distance between the centers of the two masses.

Front

What is the effect of mass on gravitational force?

Back

The gravitational force between two objects increases with the mass of either object. More massive objects exert a stronger gravitational pull on each other.

Front

What is the role of inertia in everyday life?

Back

Inertia affects how we move and interact with objects. For example, when a car suddenly stops, passengers lurch forward due to inertia, as their bodies want to continue moving at the same speed.

Front

How does inertia relate to the motion of planets?

Back

Inertia allows planets to maintain their orbits around the sun. They continue moving in a straight line due to inertia, while gravity pulls them towards the sun, creating a stable orbit.

Front

What happens to an object in free fall?

Back

An object in free fall experiences only the force of gravity acting on it, leading to a constant acceleration towards the Earth, regardless of its mass.

Front

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Back

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms, while weight is the force exerted by gravity on that mass, measured in newtons.