My Solar System PhET

In the simulation, adjust the mass of a planet and observe the effects on its orbit. What happens to the orbit of a planet when its mass is increased?

• The planet moves faster.

• The planet moves slower.

• The planet’s orbit becomes more elliptical.

• The orbit stays the same.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

In the simulation, change the distance between the planet and the star (sun) and observe the changes in the planet’s motion. What happens to the speed of a planet when the distance from the star is increased?

• The speed of the planet increases.

• The speed of the planet decreases.

• The speed stays the same.

• The planet becomes stationary.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

In the simulation, set the mass of the sun to a larger value and observe the effect on the planet’s orbit. What happens to the planet’s orbit when the mass of the sun is increased?

• The orbit becomes larger.

• The orbit becomes smaller.

• The orbit stays the same.

• The planet’s orbit becomes more circular.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

In the simulation, adjust the initial speed of a planet and observe the changes in its orbit. What happens to the orbit of a planet when its initial speed is increased?

• The orbit becomes more elliptical.

• The orbit becomes circular.

• The planet escapes the star’s gravitational pull.

• The orbit remains the same.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

In the simulation, decrease the mass of the star and observe the effect on the planets. What happens to the planets when the mass of the star is decreased?

• The planets orbit faster.

• The planets orbit slower.

• The planets may leave their orbits.

• The planets remain unaffected.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

In the simulation, observe the path of a comet and its interaction with the sun’s gravity. What happens to the comet’s path as it gets closer to the sun?

• The comet’s path becomes more circular.

• The comet’s speed decreases.

• The comet accelerates and its path becomes more elliptical.

• The comet moves in a straight line.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

In the simulation, increase the number of planets in the system and observe the effects. What happens to the orbits of the planets when more planets are added to the simulation?

• The orbits remain unchanged.

• The orbits may become disturbed or altered.

• The planets collide.

• The gravitational forces become weaker.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

In the simulation, change the shape of a planet’s orbit from circular to elliptical and observe the changes. What happens to the speed of a planet as it moves along an elliptical orbit?

• The speed stays constant throughout the orbit.

• The speed increases as the planet moves closer to the sun.

• The speed decreases as the planet moves farther from the sun.

• The speed fluctuates randomly.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

In the simulation, observe the gravitational force between a planet and a star. How does the gravitational force between a planet and a star change when the distance between them increases?

• The gravitational force increases.

• The gravitational force decreases.

• The gravitational force stays the same.

• The force becomes zero.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

What factors affect the strength of the gravitational pull between a planet and its star? Explain how changing each factor (distance, mass) influences the gravitational force.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4