Topic 4 Ex. 2 Flashcard Review: Gravity & Motion of the Solar System

Front

What keeps the moon moving in a straight line while orbiting Earth?

Back

Inertia.

Front

What pulls the moon towards Earth, allowing it to maintain its orbit?

Back

Gravity.

Front

What are large and small rocks or metallic masses orbiting the Sun called?

Back

Asteroids.

Front

What happens to the force of gravity between two objects as the distance between them increases?

Back

The force of gravity decreases.

Front

If the gravitational force between a planet and its moon decreases, what happens to the moon's orbit?

Back

The orbit becomes larger.

Front

How can gravity be defined?

Back

As the force of attraction between two or more masses.

Front

What is inertia?

Back

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

Front

What is the relationship between mass and gravitational force?

Back

The greater the mass of an object, the stronger the gravitational force it exerts.

Front

What is the effect of gravity on objects in free fall?

Back

They accelerate towards the Earth at a constant rate.

Front

What is an orbit?

Back

The path an object follows as it moves around another object in space.