Tides and Gravity Quiz

Force

A push of pull.

Gravity

An attractive force that exists between all objects that have mass.

Neap Tide

During the first and third quarter moons, the gravitational pull of the Moon is perpendicular to the gravitational pull of the sun. HIgh tides are lower than usual, and low tides are higher than usual.

Explain how the motion of a planet in orbit would change if gravity "disappeared"

If gravity "disappeared" the motion of a planet in orbit would just keep spinning. The people on Earth would float.

What happens to the gravitational force if two objects become closer together? Farther apart?

If two objects become closer together, they become stronger. If two objects become further apart, they become weaker. The force depends on the distance of the objects.

Identify the objects in our solar system with the most gravity. Why do they have the most gravity?

Jupiter has the most gravity in our solar system. Jupiter is the biggest planet. Jupiter is more massive. Although Jupiter is larger in size, its surface gravity is just 2.4 times that of the surface gravity of Earth.

Describe how the Earth moves in relation to the Sun, and how the moon moves in relation to the Earth.

The Earth spins around the Sun. When the Earth is spinning round the Sun, it is called rotation. As the Earth orbits the Sun, the moon orbits the Earth.

Sea Level

The average level of the ocean's surface at any given time.

Differentiate between mass and weight; explain why a person's weight would change with different gravities, but their mass would stay the same

The difference between mass and weight is that mass is how much matter is in an object. Weight is the force exerted on a mass by gravity. Your weight depends on the force of gravity. Mass never changes because the matter in an object never changes either.

Explain how gravity affects the motion of planets.

The gravity affects the motion of planets because the Sun's gravity pulls the planets in orbit around it, and some planets pull moons in orbit around them.

Why does the moon have more influence over tides than the sun?

The moon has more influence over tides than the sun because the moon is much closer to Earth.

Describe how the moon affects ocean tides.

The moon has so much gravity so, the gravitational pull of the moon pulls the water from Earth and the sides of earth become smaller so it creates low tides and on the opposite sides are high tides and creates high tides.

Tide

The periodic rise and fall of the ocean's surface caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

Identify the two factors that affect the force of gravity.

The two factors are mass and distance.

Spring Tide

When the Earth and Moon are in line with sun, spring tides occur. HIgh tides are higher than usual, and low tides are lower than usual. Occurs during New and Full moons.

Mass

an object and the amount of matter it contains.