Isaac Newton and the Apple Tree
The discovery of GRAVITY
Gravitational Force
Here on Earth things fall down. We use this fundamental truth to our advantage in many ways and we have learned to live with this force constantly on us.
WE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE UNLESS GRAVITY KEPT US AND THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE EARTH.
However, gravity in all its aspects can be difficult .to understand..why do things fall down!
The interesting thing is that things that are not very light all fall down at the same rate. For very small things the air resistance (friction) is enough to slow them down. Everything else falls at the same rate, be it a 10 gram steel ball or a 100 kg rock.
The sun and the earth both attract each other and this keeps the earth in orbit around the sun. Gravity is the force that keeps the earth in orbit around the sun and the moon in orbit around the earth. It is also the force that keeps satellites in orbit around the earth.
When the moon orbits the earth it spins at the same time, one spin every time it orbits. This keeps one side facing the earth all the time.
Do a simple experiment in class to show that the moon must be spinning when it orbits the earth.
WE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE UNLESS GRAVITY KEPT US AND THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE EARTH.
However, gravity in all its aspects can be difficult .to understand..why do things fall down!
The interesting thing is that things that are not very light all fall down at the same rate. For very small things the air resistance (friction) is enough to slow them down. Everything else falls at the same rate, be it a 10 gram steel ball or a 100 kg rock.
The sun and the earth both attract each other and this keeps the earth in orbit around the sun. Gravity is the force that keeps the earth in orbit around the sun and the moon in orbit around the earth. It is also the force that keeps satellites in orbit around the earth.
When the moon orbits the earth it spins at the same time, one spin every time it orbits. This keeps one side facing the earth all the time.
Do a simple experiment in class to show that the moon must be spinning when it orbits the earth.