The pull of gravity on all objects

Gravity is a force that attracts all objects towards each other – every object with mass pulls on every other object with mass. When a person jumps off a chair, the person is attracted to the Earth and the Earth is attracted to the person. The Earth moves a tiny distance towards the person as the person moves towards the Earth. However, the forces are quite small, and it takes a great deal of mass to exert an easily detectable force.

Related resources:

• Gravity and satellite motion – article

• Alternative conceptions about gravity – article

• Gravity and satellites: true or false? – activity

• Gravity concept cartoon – image

• Using concept cartoons – article

• Using concept cartoons to explore students’ scientific thinking – activity

Transcript

Gravity is a force that attracts all objects towards each other.

Demonstrate the pull of gravity on two objects by placing a heavy ball onto the gravity well. Roll another heavy ball onto the gravity well.

Observe the movement of the two balls as they get closer to each other.