Gravity Basics
What is gravity?
A force that pulls objects toward Earth
What happens to an object’s speed as it falls?
It increases (speeds up)
A ball is thrown up. What happens next and why?
It comes back down because gravity pulls i
What would happen if gravity on Earth suddenly became stronger?
Objects would fall faster and feel heavier
Two objects with different mass fall at the same time. What does this show?
Gravity affects them equally
In which direction does gravity pull objects on Earth?
Down toward the center of Earth
What two forces can act on a falling object?
Gravity and air resistance
A heavier object and a lighter object are dropped together. Predict what happens
They hit at the same time
What would happen if gravity on Earth became weaker?
Objects would fall slower and weigh less
A feather takes longer to fall than a rock. What is the best explanation?
Air resistance
What force keeps us on the ground instead of floating away?
Gravity
How does air resistance affect motion?
It slows objects down as they fall
A student says, “Heavier objects fall faster.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
No, gravity pulls objects equally; air resistance causes differences
What would happen if there were no air resistance on Earth?
All objects would fall at the same rate
What pattern would you expect to see if you dropped many objects of different masses?
They would fall at the same rate (without air resistance)
Does gravity push or pull objects?
Pull
What is the force that slows down falling objects like feathers?
Air resistance
What would happen if gravity suddenly became weaker
Objects would fall more slowly / weigh less
What would happen to a ball thrown up if gravity did not exist?
It would keep moving up (or float) instead of coming back down
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FREE SPACE
Name one thing gravity affects.
Motion / falling objects / weight
Why do objects speed up as they fall?
Because gravity is pulling them downward
Compare what happens when objects fall on Earth vs. the Moon.
Both fall due to gravity, but slower on the Moon because gravity is weaker
What would happen to humans and objects if gravity slowly disappeared over time?
Everything would begin to float away because there would be no force pulling objects to Earth
Why is the feather an exception in many experiments?
Because air resistance affects it more than other objects