Science 4.5 Gravity and Earth

Where is Earth's gravity always pulling towards?

• toward the center of the Earth

• toward either the North Pole or the South Pole

• toward the sun

• toward the moon

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1

A soccer ball is at rest at the edge of a tall cliff. Then the ball is kicked forward off the cliff.

How does the ball move?

• The ball keeps moving forward and falls downward at the same time, making an arc.

• The ball's forward motion continues briefly beyond the edge of the cliff, and then it falls straight down.

• The ball's forward motion ends at the edge of the cliff, where it falls straight down.

• The ball falls downward in a spiral-shaped path.

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1

Match the following

• sphere

• [Greek Root]

  ball

• hydro

• [Greek Root]

  earth

• geo

• [Greek Root]

  water

A drawing shows the arch-shaped path of a basketball as it travels from a player to the basketball hoop. A student wants to revise the drawing to show how gravity affects the ball.

Where should the student add a downward arrow, labeled gravity?

• anywhere along the path, because gravity always acts on the ball

• only at the beginning of the path, where the player releases the ball

• only at the end of the path, where the ball falls through the hoop

• only at the highest point of the path, where gravity begins to have its effect

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1

A helicopter is hovering at a constant height above the ground.

Which statement best explains this observation?

• The upward force on the helicopter is balanced by the downward force of gravity.

• The helicopter is light enough so that it is not affected by gravity.

• The rapid motion of the blades of a helicopter allows gravity to pass through them.

• The force of gravity does not apply to objects above the surface.

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1

Match the following

• weight

• n. a measure of the force of gravity on an object

• non-contact force

• n. on Earth, a force that always pulls things down

• gravity

• n. a force that acts even when objects aren't touching

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

The speed of an object when it strikes the ground is called the impact speed. This table shows the impact speed of a metal disk when it is dropped from various heights. What conclusion do the data support about impact speed and the height that an object is dropped?

• Impact speed increases with height, but only up to a certain maximum speed.

• Impact speed increases by 4.9 m/s for every 1 m increase in height.

• Impact speed is not affected by height.

• Impact speed decreases with height, but never reaches 0 m/s.

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1

An airplane flies due east from an airport. How could the airplane provide evidence that the shape of Earth is a sphere?

With enough fuel, flying east will eventually bring the airplane to the ​​​ (a)   . The longest possible eastward journey would be at the ​ (b)   . Very short journeys would occur near the ​ (c)   .

• same place it started
• equator
• North or South pole

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which three observations provide the strongest evidence that the shape of Earth is a sphere?

Select the FOUR correct answers.

Groups:

(a) Strong Evidence

,

(b) Irrelevant

• During a lunar eclipse, Earth casts a circular shadow on the moon.

• Constellations appear in different positions in the sky at different locations on Earth.

• Some regions of Earth's surface receive more rain and snow than other regions.

• Sunset and sunrise are always occurring somewhere on Earth's surface

• South America and Africa have matching coastlines.

• Ocean ships appear to pass across the horizon.

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1

Does Earth's gravity pull on a pencil while you hold it?

Earth's gravity pulls on objects​ (a)   they are falling. When you hold a pencil, the downward force of gravity is ​ (b)   by an upward force from your hand. Let go of the pencil, and the force of gravity on the pencil becomes ​ (c)   . So, the pencil falls.

• whether or not
• balanced
• unbalanced

Tags

NGSS.5-PS2-1