Mass Distance Effects of Gravity

What force causes objects falling near Earth's surface to slow down?

• Gravity

• force

• air resistance

• Newtons

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

According to the law of universal gravitation, any two objects are attracted to each other. The strength of the gravitational force depends on the masses of the objects and their distance from each other. Many stars have planets around them. If there were no gravity attracting a planet to its star, the planet's motion would carry it away from the star. However, when this motion is balanced by the gravitational attraction to the star, the planet orbits the star. Two solar systems each have a planet the same distance from the star. The planets have the same mass, but Planet A orbits a more massive star than Planet B. Which of the following statements is true about the planets?

• Planet A orbits its star faster than Planet B.

• Planet A has a longer year than Planet B.

• Planet B is more attracted to its star than Planet A.

• Planet B will keep orbiting its star longer than Planet A

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following exists around every object that has mass?

• magnetic poles

• electric charges

• a magnetic field

• a gravitational field

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

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-PS2-4

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

When a scale is used to weigh an object on Earth, it measures the gravitational force that pulls on the object. The unit for the force of gravity pulling on an object is the newton (N). A student uses a scale to measure the force of gravity on 5 different objects, each with a mass of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 grams. She plotted her data on the graph shown above. What does the data show?

• The greater the mass of an object, the greater the gravitational pull exerted on it by Earth.

• An object gains mass when the gravitational force on Earth remains the same.

• The smaller the mass of an object, the greater the gravitational pull exerted on it by Earth.

• An object loses mass when the gravitational force on Earth remains the same.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following statements is true?

• Only objects that are very close together exert gravitational forces on each other.

• Objects can only exert gravitational forces if they are at least as dense as water.

• Any object with mass exerts a gravitational force on all other objects.

• Only objects that are as large as planets exert gravitational forces on other objects.

Tags

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-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following exerts gravity?

• only planets, moons, and stars

• any object with mass

• only objects on Earth

• only the Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

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-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4