The Force of Gravity Activity for 6th-8th Grade - Twinkl - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to fill in the blanks using the word bank and what we know about gravity.

We are given a word bank:
- gravitational force
- Sir Isaac Newton
- mass
- more
- gravitational pull
- light
- warmth
- Earth
- distance
- Albert Einstein
- same
- weight
- less
- orbit
- tides

Now, let’s solve each sentence one at a time.

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1. The force of gravity, also known as ________________, pulls objects with mass toward each other.

→ Gravity is often called “gravitational force” or “gravitational pull.” Both are correct, but looking at the word bank, both terms appear. However, in science class, it’s most commonly called gravitational force. But wait — let’s check later sentences to see which fits better elsewhere. Actually, sentence 3 says “Any object with ______ exerts gravitational force,” so “gravitational force” is used there. So for #1, maybe “gravitational pull”? Let’s hold that thought.

Actually, standard definition: “The force of gravity, also known as gravitational force...” — that’s textbook language. But let’s look ahead.

Wait — sentence 8 says: “Gravity pulls on mass and also ______. This principle was discovered by ______.” That might be “weight” and “Sir Isaac Newton”.

But back to #1: Most accurate term here is gravitational force. But let’s see if “gravitational pull” is needed elsewhere.

Actually, let’s just pick based on common usage. In many worksheets, they use “gravitational pull” for #1. Hmm.

Wait — let’s read all first.

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2. The force of gravity from ________________ is stronger than the force of your body. This is why you stay on the ground.

→ Obviously, this is Earth. Earth’s gravity holds us down.

✔ Answer: Earth

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3. Any object with ________________ exerts gravitational force.

→ Everything that has mass has gravity. Even you! So this must be mass.

✔ Answer: mass

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4. Gravity gets weaker with ________________.

→ The farther apart things are, the weaker gravity is. So this is distance.

✔ Answer: distance

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5. You exert the ________________ gravitational force on Earth as it does on you. However, you are ________________ massive than Earth.

→ Newton’s Third Law: forces are equal and opposite. So you pull Earth with the same force that Earth pulls you. But Earth is way more massive.

So first blank: same

Second blank: less (you are less massive)

✔ Answers: same, less

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6. Gravity holds planets in ________________ around the sun and the moon around the Earth.

→ Planets move in paths called orbits.

✔ Answer: orbit

(Note: It says “planets in ___ around the sun” — should be plural? But word bank has “orbit”, not “orbits”. Probably acceptable.)

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7. The ________________ of the moon causes ocean ________________.

→ The moon’s gravitational pull causes tides.

Word bank has “gravitational pull” and “tides”.

So: gravitational pull → causes → tides

✔ Answers: gravitational pull, tides

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Now go back to #1.

1. The force of gravity, also known as ________________, pulls objects with mass toward each other.

We have two options: “gravitational force” or “gravitational pull”

But in #7 we used “gravitational pull”, and in #3 we used “gravitational force”.

In #1, since it’s defining the force, “gravitational force” is more precise. But let’s see if “gravitational pull” is left unused? No, we used it in #7.

Wait — actually, in #7 we need “gravitational pull” because it’s causing tides — that’s a common phrase: “the moon’s gravitational pull causes tides.”

For #1, “gravitational force” is the scientific term.

But let’s check the word bank again — both are available.

Actually, in many elementary texts, they say “gravity, also known as gravitational pull...” — so maybe #1 is “gravitational pull”?

Wait — no, let’s think logically.

Sentence 3: “Any object with mass exerts gravitational force.” → So “gravitational force” is the general term.

Sentence 1: “The force of gravity, also known as ______...” → This is defining an alternative name. Commonly, it’s called “gravitational force” — but that would be redundant? “Force of gravity, also known as gravitational force” — yes, that’s fine.

Alternatively, sometimes it’s called “gravitational attraction” — but that’s not in the word bank.

Looking at the word bank, “gravitational force” and “gravitational pull” are both there.

I think #1 should be gravitational force, and #7 uses gravitational pull — that works.

But let’s see sentence 8.

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8. Gravity pulls on mass and also ________________. This principle was discovered by ________________.

→ Gravity pulls on mass, and also affects weight? Weight is the force due to gravity on a mass.

Actually, gravity pulls on mass, and the result is weight. But the sentence says “pulls on mass and also ______” — perhaps “weight” doesn’t fit perfectly.

Wait — another idea: gravity causes tides, but we already used that.

Perhaps “motion”? Not in word bank.

Wait — think historically. Who discovered gravity? Sir Isaac Newton.

And what did he discover? That gravity acts on everything with mass, and also explains planetary motion, tides, etc.

But the sentence says: “Gravity pulls on mass and also ______.”

What else does gravity pull on? Well, technically, gravity pulls on anything with energy, but that’s too advanced.

In simple terms, gravity gives things weight.

So: “Gravity pulls on mass and also [gives] weight.” But the blank is after “and also”, so probably “weight”.

Then: “This principle was discovered by ______” → Sir Isaac Newton

Yes, that makes sense.

So #8: weight, Sir Isaac Newton

✔ Answers: weight, Sir Isaac Newton

Now back to #1.

If we use “gravitational force” in #1, then #3 uses “gravitational force” again — that’s okay, repetition is fine.

But let’s see if “gravitational pull” can go in #1.

Actually, I recall that in some curricula, they teach: “Gravity is also called gravitational pull.”

Moreover, in #7, we need “gravitational pull” for the moon’s effect.

So perhaps #1 is “gravitational pull”?

Wait — let’s list all answers we have so far:

1. ?
2. Earth
3. mass
4. distance
5. same, less
6. orbit
7. gravitational pull, tides
8. weight, Sir Isaac Newton

Leftover words from word bank:
- light
- warmth
- Albert Einstein
- more

We haven’t used: light, warmth, Albert Einstein, more

Where could “more” go? Maybe in #5? But we have “less” for second blank.

#5: “you are ______ massive than Earth” → “less” is correct.

“More” might be for something else? Not obvious.

Albert Einstein — he worked on gravity too (general relativity), but usually Newton is credited with discovering the law of universal gravitation.

Light and warmth — not directly related to basic gravity concepts here.

Perhaps #1 is “gravitational force”, and we don’t use “gravitational pull” until #7.

But let’s double-check #1.

Upon second thought, in many standardized tests and worksheets, the phrase is:

“The force of gravity, also known as gravitational pull, pulls objects...”

Because “force of gravity” and “gravitational force” are almost synonymous, so saying “also known as gravitational force” is a bit redundant, whereas “gravitational pull” is a layman’s term.

Moreover, in the word bank, “gravitational pull” is listed separately, suggesting it’s meant for a different blank.

Given that, and since #7 clearly needs “gravitational pull” for the moon’s effect, I think #1 should be gravitational force.

Wait — let’s count how many times each term appears.

Actually, let’s assign:

#1: gravitational force
#3: mass (exerts gravitational force) — so “gravitational force” is used twice — that’s fine.

#7: gravitational pull — used once.

That seems balanced.

But let’s see if there’s a better fit.

Another approach: look at the structure.

Sentence 1: defines gravity → “also known as ______” → likely “gravitational force” or “gravitational pull”

Sentence 3: “exerts gravitational force” → so “gravitational force” is the action.

So for #1, using “gravitational pull” might avoid repetition.

I found a similar worksheet online (in my knowledge base): often #1 is “gravitational pull”.

To resolve this, let’s consider that “gravitational pull” is a synonym often used in elementary education.

Moreover, in the answer key logic, if we put “gravitational pull” in #1, then #7 still works with “gravitational pull” — but that would be using it twice, and the word bank may allow reuse? The instructions don’t say words can be used only once.

Looking back at the user’s image description — it says “Cut the words that make sense into the statement.” — implying you cut out words from the bank, so probably each word is used once.

Ah! Important point: typically in such worksheets, each word in the bank is used exactly once.

Let me verify the word bank size.

Word bank has 15 items:

1. gravitational force
2. Sir Isaac Newton
3. mass
4. more
5. gravitational pull
6. light
7. warmth
8. Earth
9. distance
10. Albert Einstein
11. same
12. weight
13. less
14. orbit
15. tides

Now, how many blanks are there?

Let’s count the blanks in the sentences:

1. one blank
2. one blank
3. one blank
4. one blank
5. two blanks
6. one blank
7. two blanks
8. two blanks

Total blanks: 1+1+1+1+2+1+2+2 = 11 blanks

But word bank has 15 words — so not all words are used? Or perhaps some are distractors.

The instruction says: “Cut the words that make sense into the statement.” — so probably not all words are used; some are extra.

In that case, we can choose the best fit.

Given that, for #1, I think “gravitational force” is the most accurate scientific term.

But let’s see sentence 8: “discovered by ______” — definitely Sir Isaac Newton.

Albert Einstein is a distractor.

Light and warmth are distractors.

“More” might be for #5, but we have “less” for the second part.

In #5: “you are ______ massive than Earth” — “less” is correct.

“More” could be if it said “Earth is more massive”, but it doesn’t.

So “more” is likely a distractor.

Similarly, “light” and “warmth” are distractors.

“Albert Einstein” is a distractor for who discovered gravity — though he refined it, Newton is credited with the discovery of the law.

So, final decision:

#1: gravitational force
#2: Earth
#3: mass
#4: distance
#5: same, less
#6: orbit
#7: gravitational pull, tides
#8: weight, Sir Isaac Newton

Now, check if all make sense.

1. The force of gravity, also known as gravitational force, pulls objects with mass toward each other. → A bit redundant, but acceptable. Some might prefer "gravitational pull", but scientifically, "gravitational force" is correct.

Actually, upon reflection, I recall that in many sources, it's phrased as "gravity, or gravitational force,...". So it's fine.

To confirm, let's think about sentence 3: "Any object with mass exerts gravitational force." — so "gravitational force" is the term for the force exerted.

Therefore, for #1, calling it "gravitational force" is consistent.

If we put "gravitational pull" in #1, then #7 would have to use it again, but since words can be reused or not, but to be safe, let's assume each word is used once, and "gravitational pull" is intended for #7.

In that case, #1 should be "gravitational force".

Yes.

So final answers:

1. gravitational force
2. Earth
3. mass
4. distance
5. same, less
6. orbit
7. gravitational pull, tides
8. weight, Sir Isaac Newton

Now, write them in order.

Final Answer:
1. gravitational force
2. Earth
3. mass
4. distance
5. same, less
6. orbit
7. gravitational pull, tides
8. weight, Sir Isaac Newton