Year 7 - Science
Gravity
Our solar system and beyond
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores gravity as the force between masses, including weight calculation using gravitational field strength. It covers the relationship between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, the concept of light years, and seasonal changes due to Earth's tilt.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the effects of gravity acting towards the centre of a nearby planet, moon or star.
Key Notes
- Gravitational forces pull (attract) objects towards the centre of large objects like planets, moons and stars.
- The greater the mass of an object, the stronger its gravity.
- The gravity of a planet, moon or star extends far into space, but gets weaker with distance.
- Earth's gravity pulls the Moon towards the centre of Earth, changing the Moon's direction, making it orbit around Earth.
- The Sun's gravity pulls Earth towards the centre of the Sun, changing Earth's direction, making it orbit around the Sun.
Vocabulary To Learn
- gravitational force: Gravitational forces pull objects towards large objects like planets, moons and stars.
- attraction: An attraction is a force that acts to pull one object towards another.
- orbit: An orbit is the movement of one object in a loop around another object.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- There is no gravity in space, even a short distance from the Earth.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Gravitational forces pull (attract) objects towards the centre of large objects like planets, moons and stars. The greater the mass of an object, the stronger its gravity.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'gravitational force'
Gravitational forces pull objects towards large objects like planets, moons and stars. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: There is no gravity in space, even a short distance from the Earth. Correction: Carefully whirl a rubber bung around your head on a length of string to show how force of a string keeps it orbiting in a circle, just as the force of gravity keeps the Moon orbiting the Earth and the planets orbiting the Sun.
More Lessons In This Unit
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