Gravity

How Distance and Mass

Affect Gravity
 Gravity
• Any object with mass exerts a force of gravity that pulls
on objects around it.
• The more mass an object has, the greater its pull of
gravity.
• Gravity keeps you from floating off into space. Gravity
helps keep the moon in orbit around the Earth.
• Gravity also keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun.
 Gravity
• Just as you are attracted to Earth, Earth is attracted to
you. You notice only the force that Earth exerts on you
because the force you exert on Earth is so much
smaller.

• The force of gravity depends on four factors: mass,

distance, shape and air resistance.
 Gravity
• Think about an apple falling from a
tree on Earth. Both the apple and
the Earth pull on each other because
they both have mass. But the apple’s
mass is so small, its force of gravity is
very small. It does not pull very
strongly on Earth.
 Gravity
• Earth has much more mass than the apple. That means
that Earth’s force of gravity is larger than the apple’s
force of gravity. Earth’s gravity pulls the apple down to
the ground. As the apple falls, its gravity actually pulls
Earth up a very small distance. But Earth moves only
the tiniest amount because Earth’s pull is so much
greater than that of the apple.
 Distance and Gravity
• As objects move closer together, their pull on each
other grows stronger.

• As objects move farther apart, their pull on each

other weakens.
 Gravity
• Think of a spacecraft traveling toward another planet.
As the spacecraft moves away from Earth, Earth’s pull
on it decreases. As the spacecraft moves closer to the
other planet, that planet’s pull on the spacecraft
increases.
Gravity – Distance and Mass
 Watch the video segment on Discovery
Education called: Gravity
https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/
4e9c69c5-6557-424d-9d40-23e68ab5d970?
hasLocalHost=false
 Watch: Gravity on Brain Pop
https://www.brainpop.com/science/
motionsforcesandtime/gravity/

Watch: Examining Gravity and its Pull on

Discovery Education
https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/
b8fd0aaa-0355-4617-acd9-b7c08ec61262?
hasLocalHost=false
 Exit Ticket
1.How does distance affect gravity?

2.How does mass affect gravity?