Video
Supplements: Space
How Much Do You Weigh on Other Planets?
Overview
Students discuss the difference between mass and weight
and find what various weights would be on different planets.
Outcome
Students will understand the concepts of mass and gravity.
They also will practice measurement conversion.
Standards
Addressed — Mathematics
Grade 5
Use Measurement Techniques and
Tools, Benchmark B
05. Make conversions within the same measurement
system while performing computations.
Materials
Procedure
-
Review the concepts of mass
and weight. This explanation is on the student handout:
The
mass of an object is a fundamental
property of the object; a numerical measure of
its
inertia; a
fundamental measure of the amount
of matter in the object.
The weight of an object
is the force of gravity on an object.
If you had
a mass of 100 pounds on earth, your mass would
not
change on any of
the planets.
But your
weight would
change because weight is the
result of the pull of gravity. The greater
the gravity, the
more the
object
weighs.
Each planet has more or less
gravity than Earth.
-
Distribute the student handout and talk
about what a person who weighs 100 pounds
on Earth would
weigh
on the
other planets. Discuss why this is so.
Discussion could lead to the size or density of
the planet
and the effect
on the gravitational pull.
-
Make sure the
students are aware that 1 pound equals 16 ounces.
-
Have
students fill in the Gravity on the Planets graph.
Discuss if there is
an association
between
the gravity
of the planet and their weight on
that planet. (The more gravitational pull,
the greater the
weight.)
-
Have the students compute
their weight on each planet and convert the
pounds
to ounces.
Don’t give specific
directions, such as “multiply
by the number given in the table.” Let
the students figure out how to
do this. The sights listed below
will calculate
weights
on the other planets for you.
You can
have the students check their
work online.
How Much Would You Weigh
on Another Planet? — www.solarviews.com/eng/edu/weight.htm
What Do You Weigh on Other
Planets? — www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/weight.shtml
Your Weight on Other Worlds
www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html
A
word of caution: Some students may be very sensitive
about
their weight.
If this
appears
to be the case,
you could have the students
work with a partner and
use one
of the weights instead
of having the students do individual
handouts.
- Have the students complete the
other weight problems.
Answers for Student Handout
-
3.15 pounds
-
844.6 pounds
-
519 pounds
-
1.08 pounds
-
17.9 pounds
Evaluation
The teacher should work through the first part
of the handout with the students. The
second part can
be checked
by the
students going online and inputting the
weights and comparing them with their answers. |
