Gravity Worksheets :: Teacher Resources and Classroom Games ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each part of the worksheet step by step. I’ll explain what’s happening in simple terms so you can understand and fill in your answers correctly.

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Roll and Toss

1. *What do you need to do differently when you throw the ball from when you roll the ball?*
→ When you throw the ball, you push it upward or forward with more force — usually into the air. When you roll it, you gently push it along the ground. So the main difference is: throwing uses more force and sends the ball up or far; rolling keeps it low and moving along the floor.

2. *When you throw the ball, do you need to push harder to get the ball to stay up in the air for longer? Why?*
→ Yes! The harder you throw (with more upward force), the higher and longer the ball stays in the air before gravity pulls it back down. Gravity always pulls things toward Earth, so to fight that pull and keep the ball up longer, you need a stronger throw.

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Straw and Water

1. *What happens to the water in the straw when you take your finger off the top?*
→ The water falls out of the bottom of the straw. Without your finger blocking the top, air pushes down on the water inside the straw, and gravity pulls the water down too — so it drains out.

2. *Why do you think this happens?*
→ Because air pressure and gravity work together. When your finger is off, air can enter the top of the straw, pushing the water down. Gravity also pulls the water downward. Both forces make the water fall out.

3. *Why do you think the water stays in the straw when you hold your finger on top?*
→ Your finger blocks air from entering the top of the straw. That means there’s no air pressure pushing down on the water from above. The only force acting is gravity pulling down, but without air pushing from the top, the water doesn’t have enough “push” to overcome the suction-like effect created by the sealed top — so it stays put until you remove your finger.

*(Note: This is actually due to atmospheric pressure holding the water up — but for now, just think: “finger = trap air = water stays.”)*

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Drop the Ball

1. *Which balls hit the ground first? Do they both hit the ground at the same time?*
→ If you drop two balls at the same time from the same height — even if one is bigger or heavier — they will hit the ground at the same time (ignoring air resistance). Gravity pulls all objects down at the same rate!

2. *Does this always happen?*
→ Almost always — as long as we’re dropping them near Earth’s surface and not in wind or vacuum conditions where air might slow one down. In real life, feathers fall slower than rocks because of air, but solid balls like these? They fall together.

3. *Why do you think this happens?*
→ Because gravity doesn’t care how heavy something is — it accelerates everything at about 9.8 meters per second squared. So unless something has wings or fluff to catch air, all balls fall at the same speed.

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Up the Hill

1. *Do you have to push harder for the ball to roll along the ground or up the hill?*
→ You have to push harder to roll the ball up the hill. Going uphill means fighting against gravity — you’re lifting the ball slightly as it moves up. On flat ground, gravity isn’t working against you sideways, so it’s easier.

2. *Why does the ball come back when you roll it up a hill?*
→ Because gravity pulls it back down! Once the ball slows down going up (because you stopped pushing and gravity is pulling it back), it stops momentarily at the top… then rolls back down the hill because gravity is still pulling it toward Earth.

3. *Why doesn’t the ball come back when you roll it along the flat ground?*
→ On flat ground, once you stop pushing, friction (the rubbing between the ball and the ground) slowly slows it down until it stops. There’s no slope for gravity to pull it back — so it just stops where it runs out of energy. It doesn’t roll backward unless something pushes it.

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Final Answer:

Here are the completed answers for each section:

Roll and Toss
- Throw = use more force, send ball up/far; Roll = gentle push along ground.
- Yes, push harder to keep ball up longer — because gravity pulls it down, so you need more force to counteract it.

Straw and Water
- Water falls out when finger is removed.
- Air pressure + gravity push/pull water down.
- Finger traps air → no downward pressure → water stays.

Drop the Ball
- Both balls hit ground at same time (if dropped together).
- Yes, almost always — gravity acts equally on all masses.
- Gravity accelerates all objects same way — mass doesn’t matter here.

Up the Hill
- Push harder to go up hill — fighting gravity.
- Ball comes back because gravity pulls it down after it stops going up.
- On flat ground, friction stops it — no slope for gravity to pull it back.

You’ve got this! Just write those ideas in your own words on the worksheet. 😊