Lesson Plans and Worksheets
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- 08-06-11
Gravity Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Gravity educational resource ideas and activities
Students calculate effects of gravitational force on planets, discuss the effects of weightlessness on the human body and describe and demonstrate how objects in a state of free fall are accelerated by gravity at an equal rate.
Can you feel the weight of the world? After viewing this PowerPoint, your physics class will. They learn that because of the gravitational pull of the sun, Earth does not go flying off into space. They also learn how to use the universal law of gravitation to calculate Earth's mass and the inverse-square law to relate intensity and distance. This is a descriptive demonstration of these physics concepts for your high schoolers.
Fifth graders record at least four hypotheses concerning what happens when they drop an egg from a high spot. They record at least five observations or supporting ideas about the egg drop. Students test gravity by dropping an egg from a ladder and record their results with 100% accuracy. They complete the experiment and create a KWL chart and write an entry in their journal.
Through a series of experiments and demonstrations, fifth graders will learn about gravity. They will make predictions, drop various objects, write down their observations, and try to understand gravity through balance. This lesson seems as though it is intended for a summer or after school program. However, the experiments are sound and would compliment any lesson on gravity.
Eighth graders participate in several game like activities. The first, Planetary Orbit Race," involves two students holding a 12 meter rope. One member remains in their spot while the other races around in a circle. The rope represents gravity, the runner is a planet. The second activity, "Comet Time Trials," simulates a comets' orbit about the sun, and the third, "Weightless Ball," they simulate anti-gravity by keeping a beach ball aloft.
Pupils identify Newton's Laws of Motion. They students explore Newton's Laws of Motion and apply the second law with a classroom activity. The videos will provide visual examples of the effects of gravity while riding on a roller coaster.
Fourth graders discuss the myth of Galileo's experiments in which he threw items out the leaning Tower of Pisa to find out how fast they fell and predict what they think could happen when the two items listed on the same line are dropped at the same time.
Ninth graders identify the factors that affect gravitational attraction. In this physics lesson, calculate gravitational force between masses using a mathematical formula. They describe how mass and distance affect this force.
Students investigate gravity. They use water balloons and a length of string to demonstrate how gravity and the velocity of a spacecraft balance to form an orbit, and record the results on a worksheet.
Students work with boxes and weights to find the center of gravity. In this simple center of gravity experiment, students find success in using weights to move the center of gravity. Students will be assessed at the end of the lesson as to how the center of gravity changes.