831Determine the relationship

among the mass of objects, the distance

between these objects, and the amount of

gravitational attraction.

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attraction

Key concepts/skills: Level 1: Define key vocabulary. Level 2: Understand how gravity changes as mass changes. Understand how gravity changes as distance changes. Level 3: Know and understand the equation and mathematical relationship between gravity, mass, and weight.

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attraction

Key vocabularyMassGravityDistanceGramsMetersNewtons

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attraction

I. HistoryA. Sir Isaac Newton

1. In the 1600’s, Newton realized that the force that kept things on the Earth existed throughout the universe

2. The Law of Universal Gravitation states that gravity is a force of attraction between all objects in the universe.

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attractionII. Gravity

A. Newton also discovered that gravity is not constant but changes.

B. Gravity changes as MASS and DISTANCE changeC. Mass is the amount of matter in an object and for most

objects mass is constantD. The larger the mass the more gravity it has. This is why

you notice the Earth’s gravity but do not notice your gravity.

E. Objects must be very large before you notice their gravity affecting objects around them.

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attractionA. Distance between objects in the universe

also determines how much gravity is between the objects.

B. As distance decreases gravity increases

C. As distance increases gravity decreases

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attraction

• Determine the relationship among the mass of objects, the distance between these objects, and the amount of gravitational attraction