Gravity, Inertia, and Orbits

Front

What would happen to stars and planets without gravity?

Back

They would move in a straight line.

Front

What is the term for the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion?

Back

Inertia.

Front

What does inertia cause an object that is not moving to do?

Back

Stay still.

Front

What force prevents planets from crashing into the Sun?

Back

Inertia.

Front

Why can a person jump higher on the Moon than on Earth?

Back

The Moon has less mass and therefore less gravity.

Front

Define gravity.

Back

Gravity is the force that attracts two bodies toward each other, proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

Front

What is the relationship between mass and gravity?

Back

The greater the mass of an object, the stronger its gravitational pull.

Front

How does inertia affect a moving object when a force is applied?

Back

A moving object will continue to move in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

Front

What is the effect of gravity on objects in orbit?

Back

Gravity pulls objects toward the center of the planet, while their inertia keeps them moving forward, resulting in a stable orbit.

Front

What happens to an object in free fall?

Back

It accelerates downward due to gravity, with no other forces acting on it.