Gravity Basics
What force pulls objects toward each other?
Gravity
If the mass of the Sun increased, what would happen to its gravitational pull?
It would increase.
What is the curved path of an object around another object?
An orbit
Which planet orbits faster: Mercury or Neptune?
Mercury
If two planets are the same size but one is farther from the Sun, which feels weaker gravity?
The one farther away.
Which object has the strongest gravitational pull in out solar system?
The Sun
If a planet moves farther from the Sun, what happened to gravity?
It decreases.
What keeps planet moving in a curved path around the Sun?
Gravity
If Earth were moved closer to the Sun, what would happen to its orbital speed?
If a planet slows down too much, what might happen?
Gravity could pull it inward
What two factors determine the strength of gravity between objects?
Mass and distance
Why do inner planets move faster than outer planets?
They are closer to the Sun and experience stronger gravity.
What would happen if the Sun's gravity disappeared?
Planets would move in stright lines.
What keeps Earth in orbit around the Sun?
The Sun's gravity
If a planet moves too fast, what might happen?
It could move farther away from the Sun.
Does gravity get stringer or weaker as distance increases?
Weaker
Which has stronger gravity: a small moon or a large planet? Why?
a large planet, because it has more mass.
Why don't planets fall into the Sun?
Their forward motion balances gravity.
What keeps the Earth's Moon in orbit around Earth?
Earth's Gravity
Why is gravity considered the force that "governs" motion in the solar system?
Because it controls how planets and moons move and orbit.
Why does a more massve object have stronger gravity?
Because more mass creates a stronger gravitational force.
If gravity increases, does a planet need to move fater or slower to stay in orbit?
Faster
What two forces work together to create an orbit?
Gravity and inertia (forward motion)
Why does Venus orbit faster than Saturn?
It is closer to the Sun and experiences stronger gravity.
Explain how mass and istance together control motions in the solar system.
More mass increases gravity, less distance increases gravity, and gravity controls orbital motion.