GRAVITATION AND

WEIGHTLESSNESS
BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, the students should be
able to;
1.Define gravitation
2.Define gravitational pull
3.Explain weightlessness
Gravitation
• Gravitation is the force of attraction which makes an
object fall to the ground if not supported.
• Sir Isaac Newton was the first to proposed the
principles of gravity. The centre of gravity of an object
is the point where the weight of the object appears to
be acting.
Gravitational pull
The force pulling down objects towards the centre of
the earth is called the gravitational pull.
This force depends on;
1.The mass of the earth
2.The mass of the object
3.The distance between the centre of the object and
the earth
GRAVITATIONAL PULL
Gravitational pull causes objects to;
1. Have weight
2. Fall back to the earth when thrown up
3. Feel heavy
Weightlessness
• Weightlessness is the state of not experiencing the
effects of gravity.
• Astronauts in orbit do not feel the effects of
(gravitational pull). The gravitational pull on the moon
is about one sixth of that of the earth (it is less than
that on the earth) that is why astronauts seem lighter
and need special boots and clothes to walk on the
moon.
Vocabulary review
• Weight
• Mass
• Gravity
• Force
• Rotate
• Attract
• Repel
Thank you
Questions?