Gravity Mass and Distance

8th GradeScience90 min

aligned to 3) Construct An Argument Using Evidence To Support The Claim That Gravitational Interactions In A Large-scale System (e.g., Galaxies And Solar System) Are Attractive And Depend On The Masses Of And Distance Between Interacting Objects.

Learning Objective

I can argue that gravity's pull depends on the mass and distance of objects in space.

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

11 min

The Mysterious Force of Gravity Explained by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Science Time

Guided Notes

18 min

Key concepts students will learn:

  • Galileo showed that gravitational acceleration is the same for all objects, which went against Aristotle's belief that heavier objects have higher gravitational acceleration.

  • Newton's theory enjoyed its greatest success when it was used to predict the existence of Neptune based on motions of Uranus.

  • According to general relativity, gravity is not a force but instead is caused by the curvature of space-time caused by matter.

Practice

27 min

12 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer

Exit Ticket

5 min

Explain how both mass and distance affect the gravitational force between two objects in space. Provide an example.

Teacher Guide

Get the complete package:

  • Answer keys for all questions
  • Differentiation strategies
  • Extension activities
  • Printable student handouts