Gravity and Space Exploration

The data above were collected by scientists testing the force of gravity between two objects. What does the data in the table support?

• The force of gravity only depends on the object with less mass.

• The force of gravity only depends on the distance between the objects interacting.

• The force of gravity depends on the masses of the objects interacting.

• The force of gravity only depends on the object with more mass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following statements explains why the Earth has a gravitational field?

• It is revolving around the Sun.

• It is rotating on its axis.

• It has mass.

• It has an electric charge.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

In which situation is the gravitational force between two objects hard to detect?

• if the mass of each object is very small

• if the mass of both objects is very great

• if the mass of one of the objects is very great

• if the objects are very close together

Why does the Sun gravitationally dominate all other objects in the Solar System?

• The Sun is by far the brightest object in the Solar System.

• The Sun is by far the most massive object in the Solar System.

• The Sun moves at a greater speed than any of the other objects in the Solar System.

• The Sun is the closest object to planet Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Scientists are observing and recording data for two different planets, planet X and planet Y. Each planet orbits a different star. The planets have the same mass. The scientists record the following data. Which of the following statements is most likely true?

• The star close to planet Y has less mass.

• The star close to planet Y is hotter.

• The star close to planet Y is cooler.

• The star close to planet Y has more mass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Emma hits a baseball into the air. While the ball is flying through the air, which of the following objects is pulling on it with a gravitational force?

• the Sun

• the bat

• the Earth

• all of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Gravity keeps

• the planet Mars in orbit around the Sun.

• moons in orbit around the planet Saturn.

• the Moon in orbit around Earth.

• all of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which statement best describes two objects experiencing a gravitational interaction?

• The objects can only attract each other and the force depends on their masses.

• The objects can attract and repel each other and the force does not depend on their masses.

• The objects can attract and repel each other and the force depends on their masses.

• The objects can only repel each other and the force does not depend on their masses.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following best describes a gravitational force?

• It can attract or repel two objects.

• It only repels two objects.

• It does not require objects to have mass.

• It only attracts two objects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A scientist observes and records data for the force of gravity between the Sun and a few different-sized planets. The different-sized planets are placed at the same distance from the Sun. Based on the above scenario, which graph best represents the gravity between the different-sized planets and the Sun?

• Z

• Y

• X

• W

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4