Lesson 5 of 7 · Gravity
Experiment⭐ 30 XPGravity Reaches Across Space
Gravity Reaches Across Space.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
Gravity does not stop at the ground. It reaches out from Earth far enough to hold the Moon in orbit, and out from the Sun far enough to hold every planet. The further away you go, the weaker it gets.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- soft ball
- strong string
- large open space
Safety First
- Do this outdoors, well away from people and windows, and check the string before each swing.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Swing a ball on a string in a circle above your head, then let go and mark where it flies. Explain what the string was doing and what gravity does for the Moon.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2What keeps the Moon circling the Earth?
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Gravity Reaches Across Space
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
Full screen — no distractions
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