Lesson Overview Activity video available at edu.zspace.com. Objectives

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1 Gravitational Force Evidence Lesson Overview Activity video available at edu.zspace.com Students will plan and build a structure in Newton's Park to demonstrate the concept of gravity pulling objects "down." They will take a screenshot of their demonstration before launching, and then they will provide written evidence to show that their structure demonstrated the concept of gravitational force. Objectives Build a demonstration of the concept that gravity pulls objects "down" Test and redesign their structures to evaluate and improve effectiveness Experiment with various different gravitational forces from other planets and solar system bodies Present structures to the entire class in order to demonstrate understanding of gravitational force Standards (NGSS and Common Core) For state specific standards visit edu.zspace.com Next Generation Science Standards Physical Science Motion and Stability o 5- PS2-1 Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. Common Core Connections Language Arts Differentiation Grade Level: 4 th 6 th Lesson Time: 30 Minutes Key Terms: Evidence Gravitational Force Gravity Resources: Answer Key Design Process Flow Chart Gravitational Force Evidence worksheet Materials needed: USB drive o W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. Students may be grouped heterogeneously to allow students with a strong command of the English language to assist in reading or interpreting questions Provide paper copies of diagrams to students to use as a reference Provide a handout with a list of vocabulary terms & definitions that will appear in their activity Allow students to provide answers that are handwritten, typed, or verbal Give students a variety of presentation styles to choose from (using charts/graphs, PowerPoint, making 3D presentations, creating videos/movies, making posters) Work in partners or small groups (younger children could partner with older buddies) Enrichment: Students could find real- world problems involving the concept and design solutions to those problems Enrichment: Students could work on the discussion questions and lead the class discussion Enrichment: Students could research similar topics and create presentations Specific differentiations are indicated in this document with a symbol Gravitational Force Evidence 1

2 Introduction Students will need strong background knowledge of gravity as a force that pulls objects toward the center of Earth before beginning this activity. Additionally, students should be comfortable with the design process and the associated steps. Ask the students to share a time in which they ve seen gravity in action. Discuss the motion they noticed on the object from the pull of gravity. the students to visualize Earth from afar their part of the world is on one side, and another country (chosen at the teacher s discretion) is on the opposite side of the world. (An example of this might be comparing the placement of the United States of America with China.) Ask the students to describe the direction of a falling object in America, and have them compare it with the motion of a falling object in China. In which direction do all the falling objects on Earth seem to fall? Guide the students toward recognizing that gravity pulls all objects down, which is more accurately toward the center of Earth. Break the students into groups and tell them that they will be designing their own demonstration of the force of gravity in Newton s Park on the zspace stations. Have students open the Gravitational Force Evidence activity in Newton s Park. Activity Gravitational Force Evidence 1. Using only the materials in your inventory, design a demonstration that will give evidence to support the concept that gravity pulls everything down. 2. Take a screenshot of your design. 3. Now, change the gravity in your Sandbox to Jupiter s gravity. 4. Run an experiment to test the difference between Earth s and Jupiter s force of gravity. 5. How did the motion of your chosen object change when you dropped it in Jupiter s gravity? 6. Now, change the gravity to Moon gravity and run another experiment. 7. Compare the motion of your chosen object when dropped on Moon gravity to its motion when dropped in Jupiter s gravity. 8. Finally, change your gravity to no gravity. Run another experiment. 9. How did the object move when you dropped it in no gravity? Have students explore with other gravities. Have students take measurements of the rate of downward motion (velocity), and compare the data they collect between trials Have students research the force of gravity on each planet in Newton s Park, and have them use calculations to predict the velocity difference between the motion of objects with different gravity Teacher Note Student designs should show objects falling downward, toward the surface of Earth when a force is applied. Gravitational Force Evidence 2

3 Closing After the students create, test, and redesign their solutions, they will present their solutions to the whole class. The teacher will use zview and a USB disk to show chosen student demonstrations to the class. During this presentation, the students will be expected to describe the way(s) in which gravity acts on objects. The following Questions for Discussion that are associated with the "Gravitational Force Evidence" activity can be used at the teacher s discretion. Questions for Discussion 1. How does your plan give evidence to support the concept that gravity pulls objects "down"? Answers will vary. 2. During which steps of your demonstration was gravitational force in action? Give evidence to support your answer. Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Gravitational force was in action during every step of my activity. I know this to be true because my object was never floating in the air at any point during my demonstration. My object was always being pulled toward the ground, which shows gravitational force in action. 3. Why do you think your object moved the way that it did (or did not!) when dropped in no gravity? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: I think my object did not fall to the ground when it was dropped in no gravity because gravity is the force that pulls things down. Without gravity, objects do not naturally fall downward. Investigate Further Extension Activity: Explore Newton s Laws of Motion with the class. Discuss if and how any of the laws were demonstrated by any of the objects in the activity. Answer Key Gravitational Force Evidence Activity Questions Provided in Newton s Park 1. Using only the materials in your inventory, design a demonstration that will give evidence to support the concept that gravity pulls everything down. 2. Take a screenshot of your design. Answers will vary. Screenshot 3. Now, change the gravity in your Sandbox to Jupiter s gravity. 4. Run an experiment to test the difference between Earth s and Jupiter s force of gravity. 5. How did the motion of your chosen object change when you dropped it in Jupiter's gravity? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: When I dropped my ball in Jupiter's gravity, I noticed that it seemed to fall much more quickly than it did when it was dropped in Earth's gravity. 6. Now, change the gravity to Moon gravity and run another experiment. Gravitational Force Evidence 3

4 7. Compare the motion of your chosen object when dropped on Moon gravity to its motion when dropped in Jupiter's gravity. Answers will vary. Sample Answer: When I dropped my ball with Moon gravity, it fell much more slowly than it did when I dropped it in Jupiter's gravity. 8. Finally, change your gravity to no gravity. Run another experiment. 9. How did the object move when you dropped it in no gravity? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: When I dropped my ball in no gravity, it did not fall to the ground at all. It stayed in the air until I touched it or moved it again. Gravitational Force Evidence 4

5 Gravitational Force Evidence Gravity Earth s Gravity Observations Jupiter s Gravity Moon s Gravity Zero Gravity Gravitational Force Evidence 5

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