What Is Gravity? Printable (6th - 12th Grade) - TeacherVision - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to solve each question.

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Question 1: Which body probably has the greatest mass?

Look at the diagram. The Sun is shown as the largest object — way bigger than any planet or moon. In our solar system, the Sun contains over 99% of all the mass. So even without numbers, we know the Sun is the most massive.

✔ Answer: Sun

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Question 2: Which body probably has the smallest mass?

Now look for the smallest object in the diagram. Pluto is drawn very small — smaller than Earth’s Moon and even some moons like Titan or Ganymede. Among the labeled bodies (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto), Pluto is the tiniest.

Note: Even though some moons are small, they’re not listed as “bodies” in this context — the question refers to the main objects shown: planets + Sun + Pluto.

✔ Answer: Pluto

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Question 3: Based on your answers to questions 1 and 2, which body has the strongest force of gravity?

Gravity depends on mass — more mass = stronger gravity. Since the Sun has the greatest mass, it also has the strongest gravitational pull.

✔ Answer: Sun

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Question 4: Based on your answers to questions 1 and 2, which body has the weakest force of gravity?

Again, gravity depends on mass. Pluto has the least mass among the listed bodies → so it has the weakest gravity.

✔ Answer: Pluto

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Question 5: On which body would you weigh the most?

Weight = how hard gravity pulls on you. Stronger gravity = heavier you feel. Since the Sun has the strongest gravity, you’d weigh the most there.

⚠️ But wait — you can’t actually stand on the Sun! It’s a ball of fire. However, the question is theoretical — based on gravity strength alone.

So yes — if you could stand on it, you’d weigh the most on the Sun.

✔ Answer: Sun

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Question 6: On which body would you weigh the least?

Weakest gravity = lightest you feel. That’s Pluto.

✔ Answer: Pluto

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Skill Challenge Table:

We’re told:
> The table shows how the distance of an object from the center of Earth changes, and how that affects the force of gravity on the object.

The pattern? As distance increases, gravity gets weaker — and it follows an inverse square law (but we don’t need to say that). We just need to fill in the missing values using the pattern.

Given:

| Distance (d) | Force of Gravity (f) |
|---------------------|----------------------|
| 1. Times as far | 1/9 |
| 2. ? | 1/25 |
| 3. 54 times as far | ? |
| 4. ? | 1/1,849 |
| 5. 10 times as far | ? |
| 6. ? | 1/625 |

Let’s find the pattern.

When distance = 1 × original → force = 1/9? Wait — that doesn’t make sense unless “1 times as far” means something else.

Wait — let’s re-read: “Times as far” probably means “multiplied by X compared to original distance”.

But when distance is multiplied by 3, gravity becomes 1/9 → because 3² = 9 → so force = 1/(distance multiplier)²

Check:

- If distance = 3× → force = 1/9 → matches row 1? No — row 1 says “1. Times as far” → force 1/9? That would mean 1× distance → 1/9 force? That breaks the pattern.

Wait — maybe the first row is mislabeled? Let’s look again.

Actually, looking at the table:

Row 1: “1. Times as far” → force 1/9 → that must be a typo or misnumbering. Probably it should be “3 times as far” → 1/9.

Because:

- 3² = 9 → force = 1/9
- 5² = 25 → force = 1/25 → so row 2: distance = 5 times as far
- 43² = 1849 → so row 4: distance = 43 times as far
- 25² = 625 → row 6: distance = 25 times as far

And row 3: 54 times as far → force = 1/(54)² = 1/2916

Row 5: 10 times as far → force = 1/100

So let’s fix the labeling.

Probably the “1.”, “2.” etc. are just row numbers, not part of the distance description.

So reinterpret:

Row 1: Distance = ? → Force = 1/9 → so distance multiplier = √9 = 3 → so “3 times as far”

Row 2: Force = 1/25 → distance = √25 = 5 → “5 times as far”

Row 3: Distance = 54 times → force = 1/(54)^2 = 1/2916

Row 4: Force = 1/1849 → what number squared is 1849? Let’s calculate: 43 × 43 = 1849 → so distance = 43 times as far

Row 5: Distance = 10 times → force = 1/100

Row 6: Force = 1/625 → √625 = 25 → distance = 25 times as far

So now fill the table correctly:

| Distance (d) | Force of Gravity (f) |
|---------------------|----------------------|
| 3 times as far | 1/9 |
| 5 times as far | 1/25 |
| 54 times as far | 1/2916 |
| 43 times as far | 1/1,849 |
| 10 times as far | 1/100 |
| 25 times as far | 1/625 |

But the original table had “1. Times as far” for first row — that must be a mistake. Probably it was meant to be “3 times as far”. Since the problem says “Fill in the blanks”, we assume the given forces are correct and we compute distances or forces accordingly.

So for blank rows:

Row 2: Given force 1/25 → distance = 5 times as far

Row 3: Given distance 54 → force = 1/(54*54) = 1/2916

Row 4: Given force 1/1849 → distance = 43 times as far (since 43²=1849)

Row 5: Given distance 10 → force = 1/100

Row 6: Given force 1/625 → distance = 25 times as far

So final filled table:

| Distance (d) | Force of Gravity (f) |
|---------------------|----------------------|
| 3 times as far | 1/9 |
| 5 times as far | 1/25 |
| 54 times as far | 1/2916 |
| 43 times as far | 1/1,849 |
| 10 times as far | 1/100 |
| 25 times as far | 1/625 |

But since the original table had “1. Times as far” for first row, perhaps it's a numbering error. We’ll go with the math.

In the answer, we just need to fill the blanks as per calculation.

So for the Skill Challenge:

Blank 2 (row 2): distance = 5 times as far

Blank 3 (row 3): force = 1/2916

Blank 4 (row 4): distance = 43 times as far

Blank 5 (row 5): force = 1/100

Blank 6 (row 6): distance = 25 times as far

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Final Answers Summary:

1. Sun
2. Pluto
3. Sun
4. Pluto
5. Sun
6. Pluto

Skill Challenge:

2. 5 times as far
3. 1/2916
4. 43 times as far
5. 1/100
6. 25 times as far

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Final Answer:
1. Sun
2. Pluto
3. Sun
4. Pluto
5. Sun
6. Pluto
Skill Challenge:
2. 5 times as far
3. 1/2916
4. 43 times as far
5. 1/100
6. 25 times as far