Exploring the Universe: Orbiting Objects

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 4 - Adult
TOPIC: Physical Sciences
In this activity, learners experiment with different sized and weighted balls on a stretchy fabric gravity well.
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DESCRIPTION

"Exploring the Universe: Orbiting Objects" is a hands-on activity that invites visitors to experiment with different sized and weighted balls on a stretchy fabric gravity well. The activity models gravitational attraction in space. Participants investigate how changing conditions can cause phenomena like stellar wobble and planet formation.

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  • A learner and facilitator place a heavy ball in the middle of a fabric stretched well
  • A group of learners release ping pong balls into a "gravity well"
  • Two young learners with a facilitator place marbles on the "Gravity Well"
  • a family of learners watch spheres "orbit" in a "gravity well"
  • A learner and facilitator place a heavy ball in the middle of a fabric stretched well
  • A group of learners release ping pong balls into a "gravity well"
  • Two young learners with a facilitator place marbles on the "Gravity Well"
  • a family of learners watch spheres "orbit" in a "gravity well"

DESCRIPTION

"Exploring the Universe: Orbiting Objects" is a hands-on activity that invites visitors to experiment with different sized and weighted balls on a stretchy fabric gravity well. The activity models gravitational attraction in space. Participants investigate how changing conditions can cause phenomena like stellar wobble and planet formation.

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES

TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

Weighted objects on a stretchy sheet can model gravitational attraction in space. Changing conditions in this model can explain phenomena like stellar wobble and planet formation.

LEARNING GOALS

  • The force of gravity influences everything (with mass) in space.

  • Every object in space exerts a gravitational pull on every other object.

  • Gravity keeps objects orbiting other objects, and prevents them from flying off into space.

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TYPE:
Educational Resources
AUDIENCE:
Ages 4 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Earth and Space Science Astronomy Earth, Moon and Sun Solar System Physical Sciences Motion and Forces
KIT: Explore Science: Earth & space logo Browse kit
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2017
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

The Science Museum of Minnesota

FUNDING

This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC67A. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.