Year 5 Magritte Science - The Gravity Well

Last week we investigated why the planets orbit the sun. Using a sheet of spandex stretched over a hoop we were able to demonstrate how gravity pulls planets towards the sun and, because of their orbital velocity, they go around the sun in a circle.

We were even able to demonstrate the creation of the solar system and explain why all the planets spin in the same direction.

Out on the playground we made our own human solar systems and explored how long it takes for different planets to move around the Sun. Do you know how long it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun? Do you know how long it takes Neptune to go around the Sun?