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Fictitious Gravitation Activity Name:
_________________________________
Period: _____________ Date: _____________
Purpose: 1. To understand how gravitational forces affect
orbits
Procedure I:1. Go to phet.colorado.edu2. earch !gravit" .#.
elect the !Gravit" and $rbits% simulation.&. 'lic( !)un Now.%*.
$nce the simulation has loaded+ chec( the following options on the
right hand side:
a. un and ,arth b. Gravit" onc. how Gravit" -orced. how
elocit"e. how Path
/. 'lic( the pla" button at the bottom and watch the
simulation.
Questions I:1. Does the force due to gravit" ever change
magnitude 0does the length of the arrow change between the
sun and the ,arth 34NT: 4t5s easier to see if the sun5s arrow is
changing. 6atch a whole revolution.
2. Describe the relationship between the velocit" vector and the
force vector between the sun and the,arth. 7re the" parallel or
perpendicular
#. 4ncrease the si8e of the sun. 6hat happens to the magnitude
of the force
Procedure II:1. )eset the simulation.2. $nce the simulation has
loaded+ chec( the following options on the right hand side:
a. un+ ,arth+ and 9oon b. Gravit" off c. how Gravit" -orced. how
elocit"
e. how Path#. 'lic( the start button at the bottom and watch the
simulation.
Questions II:1. Describe the path of the ,arth with no gravit".
0 se the velocit" vector as a reference.
2. Describe the path of the moon with no gravit". 0 se the
velocit" vector as a reference.
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Fictitious Gravitation Activity Name:
_________________________________
Period: _____________ Date: _____________
Procedure III:1. 'lose the simulation.2. $n the Ph,T website+
search !gravit" .#. elect the !9" olar "stem% simulation.&.
'lic( !)un Now.%*. $nce the simulation has loaded+ chec( the
following options on the right hand side:
a. "stem centered b. how Tracesc. 9a;imum 7ccurac"
/. 'hec( 2 bod" s"stem on the left hand side.
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Fictitious Gravitation Activity Name:
_________________________________
Period: _____________ Date: _____________
Procedure IV:1. )eset the simulation.2. 'hec( the following
options on the right hand side:
a. "stem centered b. how Tracesc. 9a;imum 7ccurac"
#. 'hec( # bod" s"stem on the left hand side.&. 'lic( the
start button at the bottom and watch the simulation.
Questions IV:1. (etch a complete c"cle 0orbit .
2. 6atch the #rd bod" ob>ect closel". 6hat is it doing
Describe and e;plain.
#. 'ould this be the ,arthA9oonA un s"stem 0Tr" unchec(ing Show
Traces .
Procedure V:1. )eset the simulation.2. 'hec( the following
options on the right hand side:
a. "stem centered b. how Tracesc. 9a;imum 7ccurac"
#. 'hec( & bod" s"stem on the left hand side.&. 'lic(
the start button at the bottom and watch the simulation.
Questions V:1. Boo( at the inner planet. 4s its orbit the same
ever" time 6h" or wh" not
