Gravity
As long as we are within the Earth's atmosphere, this powerful force is always present, making sure that we keep our feet firmly on the ground. Try as we might, all humans and objects are trapped against the Earth's surface (or are quickly pulled back to it) by the constant pull of gravity. Thrill seekers go out of their way to fight this ever present force, but in the end, gravity cannot be beaten.
This information about gravity may not be new to you, but reviewing these materials is a mission requirement, so you should go over these facts carefully. If you hold a basketball and then let it go, it falls to the ground. The force pulling the ball down to the ground is gravity. Gravity is the pull that all objects exert on each other. When you dropped the basketball, the Earth pulled it downward.
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Objects like Earth and the basketball don't have to be touching to exert a gravitational pull on each other. However, the force of gravity between two objects becomes weaker as the objects get farther apart. Also, the gravitational force is weaker between objects of less mass, such as you and a book, compared to objects of greater mass, such as you and the Earth.
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Watch this clip below and take notes
More on Gravity!
Game Stop!
Now that you have learned more about forces and gravity and the way that they both can change the way an object moves, we think that you are ready to try this game. Don't let your guard down. It appears easy to start off with, but it becomes more challenging as you get to higher levels. You will need to think creatively to be successful. Click on the picture when you feel ready to begin. While you are playing the game, think about how force and gravity are acting upon the shapes and how this helps you complete each level. Record your observations about this game in your science book.