Gravity and Mass
What is Gravity?
Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the center of the earth.
What causes day and night on Earth?
True or False: In the morning your shadow will appear shorter
False, your shadow is longer in the morning
How many seasons are in a year?
4 seasons
What is the name of the galaxy Earth is apart of?
The Milky Way
If two objects have the same mass but are on different planets, how would their weights compare?
The object on the planet with stronger gravity would weigh more. Their mass would stay the same.
How long does it take the Earth to complete one full rotation?
24 hrs
Why do we have shadows on the Earth?
Shadows appear because objects block the light of the sun. The outline of the object appears dark on the ground because the sunlight is blocked.
True or False: Earth is closer to the Sun during summer and farther away during winter.
False. Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, not by Earth's distance from the Sun.
Why does Earth have a leap year every 4 years?
Because Earth’s orbit around the Sun actually takes about 365.25 days, so we add an extra day every four years to keep the calendar aligned with Earth’s orbit.
If two objects are the same size, but one is heavier, which has more mass?
The one that is heavier has more mass
True or False: Day and night occurs at the same time for all of Earth
False, only the side of the earth facing toward s the sun will be experiencing day
Why are shadows longer in the morning and evening compared to midday?
Because the Sun is lower in the sky in the morning and evening, causing the light to hit objects at an angle.
Why is it warmer in summer and colder in winter?
In summer, your part of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun, so sunlight hits the Earth more directly, making it warmer. In winter, your part is tilted away, so sunlight is less direct.
What force keeps the planets in orbit around the sun?
Gravity
How does gravity affect an object's weight?
Gravity pulls on an object’s mass, which gives the object its weight. The stronger the gravity, the more an object weighs.
Why does the Sun appear to rise in the east and set in the west?
because the Earth rotates from west to east
Why does your shadow move throughout the day?
Because the Sun moves across the sky as the Earth rotates, changing the angle of the light
What would happen to the seasons if the Earth weren’t tilted on its axis?
There would be no seasons, and the weather would be more consistent throughout the year.
Who were the first two astronauts to land on the moon?
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
How does the mass of an object affect the gravitational pull it experiences?
The more mass an object has, the stronger the gravitational pull it experiences.
How does the Earth's rotation contribute to the changing length of days and nights throughout the year?
Earth's tilt on it's axis, combined with its rotation, affects how much sunlight different parts of the Earth receive throughout the year, which changes the length of days and nights.
True or False: The Sun’s position changes as it moves from east to west, so shadows change direction as the angle of the light shifts.
True
How does the tilt of Earth’s axis affect the intensity of sunlight in different parts of the world?
The tilt causes sunlight to hit different parts of Earth at varying angles. Areas tilted toward the Sun get more direct, intense sunlight, leading to warmer temperatures.
Why do planets farther from the Sun have longer years than Earth?
Because they have to travel a greater distance in their orbits and move more slowly due to weaker gravitational pull from the Sun.