Name ______
Directions: Use the above web address to access today’s simulation. You will need to click play. If you need help installing the simulation, then please notify your teacher.
1. Select “To Scale”
2. Select Sun and Earth as the system. Click Path. Select Grid. Press Play. Describe the shape of the orbit of Earth.
3. Press Pause. Select Sun, Earth, and Moon as the system. Press Play. Observe an entire year and then press pause. That is how many Earth days according to this simulation? ______
4. Select Earth and Moon as the system. Count how many times the moon orbits the Earth in the same number of Earth days. How many times was it? ______
5. Select to show the Gravity and Velocity vectors be pressing Gravity and Velocity. Which has a larger influence on the moon’s motion? ______Explain your answer fully.
6. Does the Moon’s gravity affect the Earth? Justify your answer.
7. Press Pause. Select the Sun, Earth, and Moon as the system. Reset the simulation using the icon. Press Play and observe. Which force of gravity is the highest? Sun to Earth or Earth to Moon? Justify your answer.
Use the attached data table and Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation Equation to determine the answer for the following scenarios. After calculating each scenario, create it using the simulation and describe the phenomenon.
Object / Mass (kg) / Distance from Earth (m)Sun / 1.98 x 1030 / 150,000,000,000
Moon / 734.9 x 1020 / 384,401,000
Earth / 5.97 x 1024 / ------
1. What is the force of gravity acting between the Sun and Earth if the Earth was twice as massive? Show all work and units here:
Describe how this may have changed the orbit:
2. What is the force of gravity acting between the Sun and Earth if the Sun was twice as massive and the Earth was its original mass? Show all work and units here:
Describe how this may have changed the orbit:
3. What is the force of gravity acting between the Moon and Earth if the Earth was twice as massive? Show all work and units here:
Describe how it may have changed the orbit here:
4. What is the force of gravity acting between the Moon and Earth if the Moon was twice as massive? Show all work and units here:
Describe how it may have changed the orbit here:
5. What is the force of gravity acting between the Moon and Earth if the Earth was twice as far away? Show all work and units here:
Describe how it may have changed the orbit here:
6. What is the force of gravity acting between the Sun and Earth if the Sun was twice as far away? Show all work and units here:
Describe how it may have changed the orbit here:
Challenge!: How does the velocity affect the orbit of the satellite? Write a full response that explains the role of velocity and orbits.