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Lesson Plan Gravity Lab

This document provides lesson plans for two activities using the Gravity Force Lab simulation. Activity 1 introduces how gravitational force changes with mass and distance and compares planetary and everyday forces. Activity 2 has students design experiments to derive the equation for gravitational force and determine the gravitational constant. The document provides learning goals and background on using the activities as homework later in the semester after experiment design opportunities.

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LAURA PATRICIA PERDOMO IZQUIERDO
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© © All Rights Reserved
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148 views

Lesson Plan Gravity Lab

This document provides lesson plans for two activities using the Gravity Force Lab simulation. Activity 1 introduces how gravitational force changes with mass and distance and compares planetary and everyday forces. Activity 2 has students design experiments to derive the equation for gravitational force and determine the gravitational constant. The document provides learning goals and background on using the activities as homework later in the semester after experiment design opportunities.

Uploaded by

LAURA PATRICIA PERDOMO IZQUIERDO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson plans for Gravity Force Lab Activities 1 and 2 :

Homework
Learning Goals:
Students will be able to:

Activity 1a- Introduction This was designed after the sim was reduced to one tab. I used it in
November 2009

Activity 1- Introduction
 Describe how force between two masses changes with mass and distance.
 Describe how the force on a small mass compares to the force on a larger mass. “Identify
action-reaction pairs” is what this is called in my text
 Compare the force of gravity between planets to the force of gravity between objects like rocks
or people.

The following goal could be addressed, but I chose not to put it on the homework because I didn’t
want this assignment to take too long. I plan to use the sim to do a textbook problem in a class
discussion
 Use the simulation to check textbook problems that ask to find the gravitational force
between two masses. I had “applies Universal Law of Gravity”, but I decided that was too
much help with other goals.

There are other learning goals for the unit under “Lab Skills”, but are not explicitly included in all
activities. See my webpage for unit learning goals.
http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/high/evergreen/science/loeblein/learninggoals/physics_lg.html

Activity 2- Advanced
 Design experiments that allow you to derive an equation that relates mass, distance, and
gravitational force.
 Use measurements to determine the universal gravitational constant.

Background:
I am assigning this during the last unit of the semester. My students will have had many opportunities to
design experiments and evaluate curve fit. If you would like to see how this fits in the scope of my
course, see http://phet.colorado.edu/teacher_ideas/view-contribution.php?contribution_id=358

Activity 2 could be used anytime during the year when you are trying to help students with experimental
design. I have other activities scheduled that use other sims during this unit, so I do not plan to use
Activity 2 this year:
Pendulum Homework http://phet/teacher_ideas/view-contribution.php?contribution_id=563
Pendulum 2 Find g on Planet X Homework
http://phet/teacher_ideas/view-contribution.php?contribution_id=564
Masses and Springs: Determine Mass of unknown Homework
http://phet.colorado.edu/teacher_ideas/view-contribution.php?contribution_id=4

Gravity Force Lab Introduction:


You may want to check out the Teaching Tips.

Lesson:
6/6/2020 Loeblein http://phet.colorado.edu
Lesson plans for Gravity Force Lab Activities 1 and 2 :
Homework
These are designed for homework assignments.

6/6/2020 Loeblein http://phet.colorado.edu

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