Physics: Gravity and Atmosphere

On a planet the same size as Earth, where the atmosphere is thinner than it is on Earth, objects will:

• A. fall faster

• B. float indefinitely

• C. fall slower

• D. remain stationary

If a parachute is falling in a thicker atmosphere, will it fall slower or faster?

• Slower

• Faster

• At the same speed

• It depends on the weight of the parachute

There is a planet with a very dense (thick) atmosphere. The atmosphere will damage a parachute if the parachute is exposed to it for too long, so the parachute needs to travel faster. Write two ways to make the parachute travel faster.

• Smaller canopy

• Longer suspension lines

• Canopy with no holes

• Heavier load

How do we know that objects fall to the center of earth?

• The object falls to the ground

• Objects are attracted to the sun

• Objects float in water

• Objects are pushed away from the earth

A boy designed and created the parachute. When he tested it, he found that it fell too slowly. What could he do to make his parachute fall more quickly?

• make the canopy smaller

• use a lighter load

• make the canopy out of a thicker material

• use a heavier load

Will a canopy with holes fall slower or faster?

• Slower because the holes create more drag.

• Faster because the holes in the canopy allow air to pass through, reducing the amount of air resistance the parachute experiences.

• It will fall at the same speed regardless of the holes.

• It depends on the size of the holes in the canopy.

Ms. Palmieri dropped a golf ball in a jar full of water and then another jar with just air, which golf ball fell quicker? And why?

• The golf ball falls quicker in the air atmosphere than in the water.

• The golf ball falls slower in the water than in the air atmosphere.

• Both golf balls fall at the same speed regardless of the medium.

• The golf ball falls quicker in the water than in the air atmosphere.

Rachel and Kelly were building a small windmill together. The two of them attached the blades to the rotor and it began to spin. Which step of the Engineering Design Process
do you think Dana and Leif were working on?

• CREATE

• DEFINE

• EVALUATE

• RESEARCH

Ms. Palmieri designed an experiment. She made a parachute and dropped it from 10 feet in the air. She wanted the parachute to fall SLOWER. What modification could she make to the parachute to get it to fall SLOWER?

• Shorter suspension lines

• Small canopy

• Canopy with holes

• Large canopy

True or false:

Humans and objects fall to the center of earth

• TRUE

• FALSE

• SOMETIMES

• NEVER