Gravity Reaches Across Space

Lab Brief #10

🎯 Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

⚡ The twist

The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.

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

orbit
The curved path one object takes around another under gravity.
attraction
A pull between two objects that draws them towards each other.

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: what happens if you double the force?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

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.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "orbit" and "attraction" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

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.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

What keeps the Moon circling the Earth?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

As you move further from Earth, its gravitational pull:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Why Astronauts Float All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”

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Gravity Reaches Across Space

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