ALETHEA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - DEHIWELA

STUDY PACK 4

SCIENCE - GRADE 8I
Issued on:20/06/2021 Due by:
10/07/2021 Set By Ms. Shakya Wickramasuriya

8La Changing Ideas

Sun: the star that the Earth orbits.

Moon: The Moon (with a capital M) is the moon that orbits the Earth.

Stars: a huge ball of gas that gives out energy. We see some of the energy as light.

Earth: the planet we live on.

Model: a way of showing or representing something that helps you to think about it or
find out about it.

Solar system: a solar system is a star and the bodies that orbit it. The Solar System (with
capitals) is Sun and the bodies that orbit it.

Planets: a large body in space that orbits a star. The Earth is a planet.

Orbits: the path that one body in space takes around another.
 8La Gathering the Evidence

Elliptical: shaped like an oval.

Models of the solar system

Moons: a natural satellite of a planet.

Modern model of the Solar system

Luna 2 Space probe

Video: https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/big-history-project/big-bang/how-did-big-bang-
change/v/bhp-view-of-the-universe-change

Questions: Answer Questions on pages 181- 185

8Lb Seasons
Questions: Answer Questions on pages 186- 187
 8Lc Magnetic Earth

The Earth's magnetism

The outer core of the Earth contains a lot of iron in a molten state. As the Earth
spins this molten iron moves and creates the Earth's magnetic field. The Earth
behaves as if there is a huge bar magnet at its centre.

The switching of the poles

A compass needle is a very small, thin magnet. Today, the north pole of a
compass needle points towards the 'top' of the Earth. This means that the top of
the Earth must be acting as a South magnetic pole (unlike poles attract).
Changing temperatures and the liquid iron flowing around the core cause the
strength of the magnetic field to change but also cause the poles to switch places.
Today, the top of the Earth is a South pole but in the past it has been a North pole.
Questions: Answer Questions on pages 188- 189
8Ld Gravity in Space
What is gravity?
Gravity is a force that pulls all objects together. The greater the mass of an object
the more gravity it has. Gravity is also stronger when objects are closer together.
Although every object (including you!) has a gravitational pull, it is only really seen
in action if one of the objects is really, really big. The Earth, for example, is
massive enough to have sufficient gravity to pull you down.
Gravity on Earth
When an object falls toward the Earth it gets faster and faster.
As it falls another force, air resistance, builds up to stop it moving as quickly. Air
resistance is also increased if the object’s surface area is greater.
Some objects fall differently depending on how gravity and air resistance interact.
A feather, for example, is light and has a large surface area, meaning it will fall to
the ground slowly.
Sky divers know gravity will make them fall to the ground quickly. Opening a
parachute increases their surface area and air resistance, allowing them to slow
down enough to land safely.
Where else do we find gravity?
Gravity is everywhere. Just as a stone, feather or skydiver fall to the Earth
because of gravity, so the Earth is pulled towards the Sun by gravity. Gravity also
keeps the Earth and all the planets in orbit about the Sun.

Questions: Answer Questions on pages 190- 193

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Video: https://youtu.be/b25g4nZTHvM

https://youtu.be/WgHmqv_-UbQ

Questions: Answer Questions on pages 186 and 187

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