Gravity Basics
This force pulls objects toward each other and keeps planets in orbit.
What is gravity?
The path an object takes as it moves around another due to gravity.
What is an orbit?
The time it takes a planet to complete one full orbit around the Sun
Gravity pulls planets inward, while this keeps them moving forward in their orbit.
What is momentum?
The Sun and all objects orbiting it make up this system.
What is the Solar System?
The strength of gravity depends on these two factors
What is Mass and Distance?
Orbits are not perfect circles but this oval shape
What is an ellipse?
The time it takes a planet to spin once on its axis.
What is the period of rotation?
Without this force, planets would fly off into space instead of orbiting.
What is gravity?
Large objects that orbit the Sun and have cleared their orbit of other debris.
What are planets?
This term describes an object’s resistance to change in motion.
What is inertia?
This term measures how stretched out an orbit is.
What is eccentricity?
The Sun’s gravity affects this about a planet’s orbit, causing planets closer to it to move faster.
What is orbital speed?
The gravity of planets affects these natural satellites orbiting them.
What are moons?
The elliptical path of a planet around the Sun has this shape factor.
What is eccentricity?
The product of an object’s mass and velocity that keeps it moving forward.
What is momentum?
In an elliptical orbit, the Sun is located at this point, not the center.
What is a focus?
This force from the Sun keeps all planets, asteroids, and comets in the Solar System.
What is the Sun’s gravity?
Gravity and momentum together create these curved paths planets follow.
What are orbits?
The measure of how long an object takes to complete one spin on its axis.
What is the period of rotation?
This scientist formulated the Law of Universal Gravitation explaining how gravity works between objects.
Who is isaac Newton?
The more eccentric an orbit is, the more it differs from this perfect shape.
What is a circle?
Earth’s period of rotation and period of revolution are approximately this many hours and days, respectively.
What are 24 hours and 365 days?
This happens to the shape of an orbit if a planet’s speed changes during its revolution.
What is the orbit becomes more elliptical or changes eccentricity?
The time it takes an object to travel once around the sun is its..
What is period of revolution?