Science KS 3 Unit 9J Gravity and Space

In this unit pupils:

• learn about the gravitational pull between bodies; how it depends on the masses of bodies and the distance between them.
• relate the movement of planets around the Sun, and that of satellites around the Earth, to gravitation.
• study how artificial satellites are used to observe the Earth and provide information about the solar system and the universe.
• find out about space exploration.

In scientific enquiry pupils:

• consider different views of the nature of the solar system and evaluate them against relevant evidence.
• discover how scientists work together to gather and interpret evidence from space.
• make predictions from patterns in data.
• consider and evaluate conflicting evidence.

This unit is expected to take approximately 7.5 hours.

OTHER RESOURCES

• secondary sources on aspects of the solar system, space travel and satellites, eg CD-ROMs, video clips, internet
• a water rocket
• food packs labelled with the weight they would have on other planets
• information on early ideas and alternative models of the solar system and the universe from a range of cultures