Gravity Force Lab: Basics
Gravity Force Lab: Basics is an interactive sim. It changes as you play with it. It has a Play Area and a Control Area.
The Play Area has two mass spheres, a blue sphere labeled mass 1 and a red sphere labeled mass 2. A force arrow starts at the center of each sphere and points directly at the opposite sphere.
Spheres can be moved closer or farther from each other along a track. The mass of each sphere can be increased or decreased. Each sphere is held in place by a robot.
In the Control Area, checkboxes change what things are shown and how they behave, and a button resets the sim.
Currently, force on mass 1 by mass 2 is of equal size and pointing directly opposite to the force on mass 2 by mass 1.
- Force arrows are tiny at 33.4 newtons.
- mass 1 and mass 2 are close to each other, centers exactly 4 kilometers apart.
- Mass of mass 1 is 2 billion kilograms, half the size of mass 2 at 4 billion kilograms.
- Robots pull very little keeping spheres in place.
Change position, and mass of spheres to explore.
If needed, check out keyboard shortcuts under Sim Resources.
Play Area
mass 1, Blue Sphere
- Force arrow is tiny, and points directly at mass 2.
- Size of force on mass 1 by mass 2 is 33.4 newtons.
- mass 1 is 2 billion kilograms, half the size of mass 2, and also 4 kilometers from mass 2.
mass 2, Red Sphere
- Force arrow is tiny, and points directly at mass 1.
- Size of force on mass 2 by mass 1 is 33.4 newtons.
- mass 2 is 4 billion kilograms, twice the size of mass 1, and also 4 kilometers from mass 1.
Sphere Positions
Centers of spheres, 4 kilometers apart. Move spheres, closer or farther from each other.
Mass Controls
Change mass of spheres in billions of kilograms.
Control Area
Explore value of forces in newtons.
Measure distance between spheres in kilometers.
Keep size of spheres constant while changing mass.