Exploring Our Cosmic Home: Gravity

Understanding the Force that Shapes Our Universe Grade 7 Science 60-Minute Exploration

What Happens When We Drop Things?

Think about dropping a feather and a rock Which hits the ground first? What force is at work here? Let's investigate together!

What is Gravity?

A force of attraction between all objects with mass Works at a distance - no contact needed Always pulls objects toward each other Stronger with more massive objects Weaker as objects get farther apart Isaac Newton identified gravity by observing falling objects, including the famous apple story. Understanding gravity helps us predict planetary motion, design safe buildings and bridges, develop space technology, and explain everyday phenomena like why things fall down.

Hands-On Gravity Experiments

Experiment A: Measure gravitational force with spring scales Experiment B: Drop test with different masses Record data in your science journal Work in groups of 3 students Follow procedures carefully and time accurately

Analyzing Our Results

{"left":"Objects of different masses fall at the same rate (ignoring air resistance)\nGravitational force is stronger on more massive objects\nBut acceleration due to gravity is constant for all objects","right":"Air resistance affects lighter objects more\nThis explains why a feather falls slower than a rock on Earth\nIn a vacuum, they would fall together!"}

Gravity in Space: Planetary Motion

Interactive Gravity Simulation

Explore planetary motion using digital models Change mass, velocity, and distance Predict what happens before testing Work in pairs with tablets or laptops Record observations about orbital changes

Understanding Our Cosmic Home

Gravity is the architect of the universe, shaping everything from falling apples to dancing galaxies It connects us to the cosmos and keeps our feet on the ground