Topic # 5.5
GPS: 8b,c,d
Gravity and Weight
Funsheet
Name: ______________________
Date: ___/____/____ Per: ___
Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes on Gravity & Weight (5.5).
1. Define gravity. ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The two factors that affect the force of gravity are ______________________ and _______________________.
3. The force of gravity between most everyday objects is barely noticeable because ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. In order to feel the force of gravity, you have to have _________________ differences between the masses of your two
objects AND a ________________ distance between them.
5. True or False?
ALL objects are exerting gravitational forces on all other objects. _______________
6. When an object is dropped, it falls to Earth due to _______________________________________________
7. True or False?
The acceleration of gravity if different for all objects, depending on their mass. _________________
8. In the picture to the top right, explain why the feather is falling at the same rate as the apple. ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. True or False?
Even if you are not falling, the force of Earth’s gravity is still pulling you downwards. _________________
10. True or False?
The weight of an object varies from one planet to another. _________________
11. True or False?
If you travelled to the moon, your mass would be different from what it is on Earth. _______________
SPS8. Students will determine
relationships among force, mass,
and motion. b. Apply Newton’s
three laws to everyday situations
by explaining the following:
inertia, relationship between
force, mass and acceleration,
equal and opposite forces c.
Relate falling objects to
gravitational force. d. Explain the
difference in mass and weight.
Directions: In the blank at the left, write the letter of the term that correctly completes each statement.
12. Every object in the universe exerts a force on every other
object. This force is called __.
a. friction
B. gravity
13.
The measure of the gravitational force exerted by Earth on an
object is the object’s __.
a. weight
B. mass
14.
The amount of gravitational force between two objects
depends on their __.
a. color and density B. mass and distance
15.
Weight is measured in units called __.
a. newtons
B. kilograms
16.
A weight reading on a scale shows the __ exerted by the scale.
a. upward force
B. downward force
17.
The greater an object’s __, the stronger the gravitational force
on it.
a. mass
B. velocity
18.
Mass is measured in units called __.
a. newtons and kilonewtons
B. grams and kilograms
19.
Earth exerts a stronger gravitational force than the moon
because Earth has more __.
a. mass
B. density
20.
The masses of your hand and your notebook are quite small,
so the force of attraction between them is __.
a. zero
B. weak
21.
An object transported from the surface of Earth to the surface
of the Moon has its weight __.
a. decreased
B. stay the same
Calculations: Calculate using the 3-step method and the weight equation. Remember, the acceleration of gravity on Earth:
22. A box of crayons has a mass of 0.56 kg. What is the weight of this box?
23. A linebacker has a mass of 150 kg. What is the weight of this linebacker?
24. Suppose you place a 35.0 kg object on a scale that reads in Newtons. What weight would the scale read for this object?
25. What is the weight, at sea level on Earth, of an object whose mass is 10.0 kg?
g = 9.8 m/s2
PS
26. An astronaut had a mass of 67 kg on Earth. He travelled to another planet where its gravitational acceleration is 5.77 m/s2. What did the
astronaut weigh on this other planet?
27. A pig has a mass of 55 kg while on the farm. If this pig were taken to the moon where the gravity is 1/6th that of the earth, what would it weigh
there?
28. What force is needed to give a mass of 5.00 kg an acceleration of 10.0 m/s2?
29. A force strikes an object with a mass of 20.0 kg such that it has an acceleration of 30.0 m/s2? How large was this force?
30. What force will provide an acceleration of 6.50 m/s2 to a mass of 4.80 kg?
31. What force would be acting on a 30 kg object that accelerates at 10 m/s2?
Looping Questions
32. A wagon's velocity increases from rest to 6.0 m/s over 3.0 seconds. Which represents the acceleration of the wagon?
33. What is the velocity of a train that is headed from Oregon to California and travels 1200 meters in 60 seconds?
Directions: Refer to the equation for weight (w=m∙g) to assist you in answering the following questions.
34. A small bug and a large truck both have the same acceleration. Which would produce a greater force? Explain.
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35. Why are astronauts considered to be “weightless” in outer space?
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36. Gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s2 at sea level on earth. As you leave the surface of the earth gravitational acceleration decreases.
Would you weigh more while standing on the beach or 50,000 ft above the ground in an airplane? Explain.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
37. What is wrong with the statement, “you weigh 100 kg”?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
38. Planet A has a gravitational acceleration of 2.25 m/s2. Planet B has a gravitational acceleration of 7.77 m/s2. On which planet would you
weigh more?
Planet A Planet B
What about your mass?
Planet A Planet B
39. Explain why/how weight is a force. Hint: look at the 2 equations ( F = m∙a ) and ( w =m∙g ) for assistance.
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What is the mass of an object if a force of 40.0 N will give that mass an acceleration of 5.00 m/sec2?
An object is struck with a force of 300 N and gains an acceleration of 15.0 m/sec2. What is the mass of this object?
When pulled by a force of 295 N an object accelerates at 16.0 m/sec2. What is the mass of this object?
What acceleration will an object whose mass is 3.00 kg have when struck by a force of 12.0 N?
An object whose mass is 15.0 kg is acted upon by a force of 120 N. What acceleration does this force give to the object?
A student exerts a force of 8.00 N on an object whose mass is 40.0 kg and measures an acceleration of 4.00 m/sec2 for that object. Was the
acceleration measurement correct or not? If not, what is the correct acceleration?
Directions: Refer the Newton’s 2nd law equation ( F=m∙a ) to assist you in answering the following questions.
40. For a given object, how can the force it produces be increased?
41. If an insect and a bird produced the same force, what must be true of their accelerations? Explain
42. If 2 identical vehicles produced different amounts of force, What can you conclude about their accelerations?
Directions: Solve the following calculations using the 3-step method.
A prized pig has a mass of 55 kg while on the farm. If the same pig were taken to the moon where the gravity is 1/6 th that of the earth, what would
it weigh there?
An astronaut weighed 1005 N on earth. This same astronaut travelled to a planet where he weighed 1250 N. What was the planet’s gravitational
acceleration ( “g” )?