Orbital Motion Worksheet
Explore the principles of orbital motion, gravity, and the forces that keep planets in orbit around the sun.
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Orbital Motion Exploration
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use the provided image to help you answer questions where applicable.
Observe the diagram of our solar system below:
1. What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun?
Magnetic force
Friction
Gravity
Air resistance
2. Which of the following is NOT an example of orbital motion?
The Moon orbiting Earth
A car driving around a race track
Earth orbiting the Sun
A satellite orbiting Earth
3. The path an object takes as it revolves around another object is called its .
4. The force of depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them.
5. Planets orbit the Sun in perfect circles.
True
False
6. The bigger the mass of an object, the stronger its gravitational pull.
True
False
7. Explain in your own words how gravity affects orbital motion.