Name. Date What causes one solar system object to move around another one? Part A: Why do the planets in our solar system stay in a predictable pattern and not fly off into space chaotically? Part B: Explain how mass and distance affect gravity. 1. How would increasing the mass of the Moon affect the force of gravity? 2. How would decreasing the mass of the Moon affect the force of gravity? 3. How would increasing the distance between Earth and the Moon affect the force of gravity? 4. How would decreasing the distance between Earth to the Moon affect the force of gravity? Part C: Based on this idea, why do you think the solar system is set up the way it is?

Name. Date What causes one solar system object to move around another one? Part A: Why do the planets in our solar system stay in a predictable pattern and not fly off into space chaotically? Part B: Explain how mass and distance affect gravity. 1. How would increasing the mass of the Moon affect the force of gravity? 2. How would decreasing the mass of the Moon affect the force of gravity? 3. How would increasing the distance between Earth and the Moon affect the force of gravity? 4. How would decreasing the distance between Earth to the Moon affect the force of gravity? Part C: Based on this idea, why do you think the solar system is set up the way it is?