Earth's Patterns and Movement, Lesson 1: The role of gravity

If you threw a ball up on the Moon, it would go up 6 times higher than on Earth. Explain how this is possible.

On Earth, a ball doesn't remain in the air for long as the planet's gravity quickly pulls it back down. On the moon, a ball will travel 6 times higher because the gravity is 1/6 of what it is on Earth.

Juanita is standing on the ground located at the North Pole. Clara is standing on the ground located at the South Pole. Explain how both can stand with their feet on the ground.

They are standing on the ground because of gravitational pull, which is the attraction between an object/person and Earth. No matter the location on Earth's surface, gravity pulls objects/people on all sides down toward the center.

Clayton and Brianna are getting ready to watch a meteor shower. Clayton wonders how space rocks become meteors and meteorites. How can Brianna explain this phenomenon to Clayton?

When space rocks enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or "shooting stars" are called meteors. When a space rock or meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it's called a meteorite.

Which would be the most likely outcome of a meteorite's encounter with Earth? a. The meteorite orbits around Earth. b. The meteorite flies past Earth. c. The meteorite hits Earth and makes a crater d. The meteorite burns in Earth's atmosphere.

c. The meteorite hits Earth and makes a crater

Which explains how gravity works to assist the flight of an airplane? a. It pushes up on the wings of the airplane to create lift. b. It helps to propel the plane forward as its speed increases. c. It pushes the airplane from all directions to help it stay in the air. d. It pulls the airplane downward when the pilot slows the engine's speed.

d. It pulls the airplane downward when the pilot slows the engine's speed.

Things we drop fall to the ground because ______________ pulls them down

gravity

What force makes an apple fall to the ground?

gravity

On the Moon, craters are formed when ____________________ hit the surface.

meteoroids

Earth's water levels ______________on the side of Earth facing the moon.

rise

In science class, Simon learned that he weighs 90 lb on Earth and 15 lb on the Moon. Explain why there is a difference in Simon's weight in the two different locations

The difference in his weight is due to the fact that moon's gravity is 1/6 less that of Earth's gravity.