Many students think that the force of gravity on an object will increase as it is moved higher, further away from the Earth’s surface
Misconception
Diagnostic Resources
The following worksheets may help to identify whether students hold this particular misconception.
For more information, see the University of York EPSE website.
These questions probe probe whether pupils appreciate that the weight of an object can change when it is moved from one place to another. The direction of this change may help to reveal whether pupils believe that the force of gravity increases or decreases when an object is moved further from the Earth's surface.
EPSE Gravity Q11This concept cartoon deals with some of the ideas probed by earlier questions. It could be used as a poster that pupils might discuss informally while this topic is being taught. Or it could be used as individual or small-group activities, using the response sheet provided with each, to make pupils think about their response to the comments of the cartoon characters.
EPSE Gravity Q19Resources that Address This
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Gravity gets stronger (11-16)
Source - SPT/ Es01TL07
This activity explores the 'right lines' idea that the force of gravity gets weaker the larger the distance between the objects.
View Resource -
Cosmic falling (5-11)
Source - SPT/ Mf01TA06
Here you can explore how the idea of down varies as you move from one planet to another, from one planetary system to another, from one star system to another, or from one galaxy to another. Down depends on the local gravity arrows.
View Resource -
Episode 401: Newton's law of universal gravitation (16-19)
Source - TAP/ Fields/ gravitational fields
This episode introduces Newton’s law of universal gravitation for point masses, and for spherical masses, and gets students practising calculations of the force between objects. The meaning of “inverse square law” is discussed.
View Resource
References
The following studies have documented this misconception:
- Watts, D. M. and Zylbersztajn, A. () A survey of some children's ideas about force. Physics Education, 16 (6),
360-365.
This study investigated the conceptions of force of a sample of 125 students aged 14. Data was collected using a multiple-choice-with-explanation questionnaire.
Review sheet - Osborne, R. () "Building on Children's Intuitive Ideas" in R. Osborne & P. Freyberg (Eds.), Learning in Science. Heinemann, Auckland.
41-51.
- Bliss, J., Ogborn, J. and Whitelock, D. () Secondary school pupils' commonsense theories of motion. International Journal of Science Education, 11 (3),
263-272.
This study aimed to expose and empirically test the 'commonsense theory of motion' developed by Jon Ogborn in a sample of 29 students aged 11-18 from two English comprehensive schools. Participants understanding of motion was tested by asking them to describe and explain a sequence of 'comics' depicting physical situations.
Review sheet