Gravitational Force Lab Simulation

This lab uses the Gravity Force Lab simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations at
University of Colorado Boulder, under the CC-BY 4.0 license.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab/latest/gravity-force-lab_en.html

Learning Goal: Students will investigate the variables that affect gravitational forces.

QUESTION: How does gravitational force affect all objects?

Noah and Hannah were learning about forces in class. They learned that a force was either a push or a pull.
Noah wondered if gravity was a force. He knew that when he dropped his book it was pulled down to the
ground. Hannah knew that the moon had less gravity than the earth, but she wasn’t sure why.

Underline the statements you think are true:

o Gravitational force depends on the material of the objects.

o Gravity is not a force because it can’t move objects.
o Gravity is a force because a force is a push or a pull.
o The moon has less gravity than the Earth because it has less mass than the Earth.
o The moon has less gravity than the Earth because it has no atmosphere.

Background information:

Variable A variable is any factor that can be changed or controlled

Independent Variable – something that is changed by the scientist

● What is manipulated

Dependent Variable – something that might be affected by the change in the independent variable
● What is observed
● What is measured
● The data collected during the investigation
INSTRUCTIONS: Open up the Gravity Force Lab

1. Set up the simulation by clicking on the scientific notation button in the bottom right on the screen,
inside the yellow box. When comparing these forces remember to check the exponent value first.
2. Get familiar with the simulation by moving the figures back and forth as well as changing the mass of
the spheres.
3. Underline the different variables that can be found in this simulation.

Distance between figures Mass of the spheres

Force Size of the figures
Strength of the figures Size of spheres

4. Write down 2 values of force that you saw during your practice with moving the figures and masses
around.

5. Let’s work through changing one variable at a time (the manipulated or independent variable), to figure
out the effect it has on the gravitational force. (dependent variable).
We will start with changing the mass. For rows 4 and 5 choose your own values for m1 and m2 and
complete the table below. The mass (circle) , not the figure, should be on the meter measurement
mark.

mass 1 mass 2 location location distance Force on m1 (N) Force on m2 (N)

(kg) (kg) of mass 1 of mass 2 between
(m) (m) masses (m)

25 25 2 8 6

300 25 2 8 6

600 600 2 8 6

2 8 6

2 8 6
 6. Let’s change the other variable, distance, and see what happens. For rows 3-6 conduct your own
experiment - remember to keep the mass constant as you are looking to see what happens when the
distance changes.

mass 1 mass 2 location location distance Force on m1 (N) Force on m2 (N)

(kg) (kg) of mass 1 of mass 2 between
(m) (m) masses (m)

25 25 0 10 10

25 25 2 8 6

25 25 4 6 2

Test your understanding:

True or False If false correct the statement .

6. Gravitational force is a force that can be changed. T/F

7. The bigger an object is, the smaller the force of gravity. T/F

8. As one object gets closer to another object, the force of gravity will increase. T/F

9. The Sun has a greater gravitational force than Jupiter. T/F

10. Mass and size have an effect on the size of a gravitational force between 2 objects. T/F
10. Which of the pairs has greater gravitational force?

A B

Explain why you chose the diagram you did.

11. Which of the pairs has greater gravitational force?

A B

Explain why you chose the diagram you did.

12. Why do you think Saturn and Jupiter have more moons than the other planets in our solar system?