1. Sarah Bramall
3rd Grade
Gravity
Learning Objectives: Students
will learn what gravity is and
how gravity shapes our world
and universe.
Define the following vocabulary words by going to http://dictionary.reference.com/
Gravity-
Universe-
Matter-
Weight-
Orbit-
Air resistance-
1. Go to the website and read all of the
text.http://www.uen.org/core/science/sciber/sciber3/stand-4/2b.shtml
a. Complete the sentence “What goes up
_____________________”
b. What do you think will happen when:
i. A bowling ball and tennis ball are dropped at the same
time?
ii. A large rock and a small rock are dropped at the same
time?
iii. A log and a stick are dropped at the same time?

2. 2. Go to the website and read the passages. The website will ask you to predict what you
think will happen in certain situations. Click on the picture you think represents the right
answer. http://www.uen.org/core/science/sciber/sciber3/stand-4/2a.shtml#Coaster#4
a. What did you learn from this page that you didn’t know before?
3. http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season12/gravity/facts.cfmScroll down to the second
green box titled “Mass or Weight”
a. Define weight in your own words:
b. Define mass in your own words:
4. On the same website, scroll down to the green box titled “Falling Objects” (Note: on this
page if you hover your mouse over the bold and underlined words, a definition will pop
up.)
a. Who was Galileo Galilei?
b. What is wind resistance?
c. Now after you have read this bit about wind resistance, would you change your
answers for question #1a 1, 2, and 3? If so, what would you change the answers
to?
5. Still on the same site, scroll down to the green box titled “Centripetal and Centrifugal
Force”
a. What does centripetal mean in the Latin language?
b. What does centrifugal mean in the Latin language?

3. 6. Go to the website and scroll down to the middle of the page where it says “They Always
Ask About Feathers”http://www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_gravity.html
a. What would happen if a feather and a ball were dropped in a vacuum?
7. Go to the website and begin reading on the bullet point
listhttp://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/isaacnewton.html
a. Where was Isaac Newton born?
b. What did you think was interesting about Newton?
8. Go to the website and read the passages and answer these questions from the
passages:http://www.uen.org/core/science/sciber/sciber3/stand-4/2c.shtml#hint
a. What things do you do on the playground where gravity helps you move?
b. What things do you do on the playground where gravity slows you down? (Hint:
look at the pictures)
9. Answer the three questions on the bottom of the same page by clicking on the answer you
think is correct.
a. What other questions can you come up with about gravity and forces?
10. Go to the website and begin reading at the second paragraph answer the
following:http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/physics/space/gravity.htm
a. What do you think keeps the planets in orbit around the stars?

4. 11. On the same website, read the paragraph that begins with “On Earth”
a. What are two things does gravity does on Earth?
12. http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/
a. Go to the website and enter your weight in pounds:
i. What is your weight on Earth?
ii. What is your weight on the Moon?
iii. What is your weight on Jupiter?
iv. What is your weight on the Sun?
b. If you weighed less on the Moon than you did on the Earth, does that mean there
is more or less gravity on the Moon? Why?
13. Click on the link. Make sure that your sound is muted or that it is very
soft:http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/skill/gravity/
a. The object of this game is to get the alien onto the little platform. Use what you
know about gravity and its power to draw objects with smaller mass toward
objects with greater mass.
b. What surprised you about this game?
14. Click on the link. Make sure that your sound is muted or that it is very
soft:http://sciencenetlinks.com/media/filer/2011/10/13/gravity_launch26.swf
a. The object of this game is to change the thrust bar (which controls how much
power the spaceship has) and the angle (which controls the angle at which the
rocket is placed) to get the ship on the moon.
b. What did you notice about the relationship between the thrust and the angle? For
example, if the moon was far away, would you use more thrust or make the angle
greater?

5. Answer Key:
1. a. “Must come down”
b. Answers vary
2. a. Answers vary
3. a. Result of gravity pulling on mass
b. The stuff matter is made of
4. a. Italian scientist who lived in the late 16th and the early 17th century.
b. The drag or push of air against a moving object.
c. Answers vary
5. a. Towards the center
b. Fleeing from the center.
6. a. They would fall at the same time
7. a. England
b. Answers vary
8. a. Answers vary
b. Answers vary
9. a. Answers vary
10. a. Gravity
11. a. On Earth, gravity keeps the air around us (and everything else) from drifting off into
space. Gravity also causes things to fall to the ground, and causes the ocean's tides, and causes
hot air to rise while colder air falls (which in turn causes wind).
12. a. Answers vary
b. Less
13. a. Game
b. Answers vary but may include something about the relationship of how the ship moved
when the arrow keys were pressed.
14. a. Game
b. Answers vary but may include something about the trust and the angle having to be
figured out. Also, if there was an object of greater mass in the way then the ship would go
toward that object.