The sheet never remains horizontal, or with a zero slope, even if extended to infinity. The slope of the sheet at the same distance from the object always has the same magnitude. This observation relates to the investigation of weight versus mass of objects (Activity 1). Since all the measurements were taken at virtually the same distance from the object (the earth), the slope of the sheet, and therefore the strength of the gravitational field, is the same value, approximately 10 N/kg. The weight of an object is the product of the gravitational strength and the mass of the object where is the slope of the sheet at that point. Students can then determine the weight of an object with a known mass if they knew the value of the field strength at any point around the object. Universal gravitation with Lycra sheet [after energy model and commonly during CFPM] Review of LSFM demonstration Set up the Lycra® sheet as before with students holding the outside of the sheet and a ball in the field to represent an object, i.e. the earth. Guide the students in a review of the gravitational field concepts developed so far. Specifically students should be able to relate: An object deforms the field surrounding it, the more mass it has the more the deformation. The of the sheet represents and it is smaller at greater distances from the object. Near the earth, and points towards the center of the earth. The weight of an object is calculated by the approximation.
The sheet never remains horizontal, or with a zero slope, even if extended to infinity. The slope of the sheet at the same distance from the object always has the same magnitude. This observation relates to the investigation of weight versus mass of objects (Activity 1). Since all the measurements were taken at virtually the same distance from the object (the earth), the slope of the sheet, and therefore the strength of the gravitational field, is the same value, approximately 10 N/kg. The weight of an object is the product of the gravitational strength and the mass of the object where is the slope of the sheet at that point. Students can then determine the weight of an object with a known mass if they knew the value of the field strength at any point around the object. Universal gravitation with Lycra sheet [after energy model and commonly during CFPM] Review of LSFM demonstration Set up the Lycra® sheet as before with students holding the outside of the sheet and a ball in the field to represent an object, i.e. the earth. Guide the students in a review of the gravitational field concepts developed so far. Specifically students should be able to relate: An object deforms the field surrounding it, the more mass it has the more the deformation. The of the sheet represents and it is smaller at greater distances from the object. Near the earth, and points towards the center of the earth. The weight of an object is calculated by the approximation.