Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
Gravity is a force that causes all objects to be attracted to each other.
About Gravity
- Gravity is a non-contact force.
- Gravity affects all objects.
- Gravity pulls us down towards the centre of the Earth.
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| If person A drops the cog it will fall towards the centre of the Earth. If person B drops the spanner it will fall towards the centre of the Earth. |
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| The planets are pulled towards the sun by gravity. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Gravity is a force that causes all objects with mass to be attracted to each other.
About Gravity
- Gravity is a force so it is measured in Newtons.
- Gravity is a non-contact force because it can act without objects touching.
- All objects are affected by gravity.
- Gravity is the force that pulls objects to the ground.
- Isaac Newton was the first to realise that gravity is the force that holds the planets in orbit around the Sun.
Falling
Energy Transfers
Accelerating
- When an object accelerates towards the ground energy is transferred from the gravitational potential energy store of the object to the kinetic energy store of the object.
Decelerating
- When an object decelerates away from the ground energy is transferred from the kinetic energy store of the object to the gravitational potential energy store of the object.
Forces
Accelerating
- When an object accelerates towards the ground gravity is causing a mechanical energy transfer.
Decelerating
- When an object decelerates away from the ground gravity is causing a mechanical energy transfer.