Notes

Formation of the Solar System Lab Report
Instructions: In this virtual lab, you will investigate the law of universal gravitation by manipulating the size of the star and the positions of planets within Solar System X. Record your hypothesis and results in the lab report below. You will submit your completed report.

Name and Title:
Include your name, instructor's name, date, and name of lab.



Objectives(s):
In your own words, what is the purpose of this lab?

Hypothesis:
In this section, please include the if/then statements you developed during your lab activity. These statements reflect your predicted outcomes for the experiment.
If the mass of the sun is 1x, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone if I place a planet in orbits___, ____, ____, and ____, and all planets will orbit the sun successfully.

If the mass of the sun is 2x, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone if I place a planet in orbits___, ____, ____, and ____, and all planets will orbit the sun successfully.

If the mass of the sun is 3x, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone if I place a planet in orbits___, ____, ____, and ____, and all planets will orbit the sun successfully.

Procedure:
The materials and procedures are listed in your virtual lab. You do not need to repeat them here. However, you should note if you experienced any errors or other factors that might affect your outcome.
Using the summary questions at the end of your virtual lab activity, please clearly define the dependent and independent variables of the experiment.
Data:
Record your observation statements from Space Academy.
When the mass of the sun is larger, Earth moves around the sun at a ______ (faster, slower) pace.
When the mass of the sun is smaller, Earth moves around the sun at a ______ (faster, slower) pace.
When Earth is closer to the sun, its orbit becomes _____ (faster, slower).
When Earth is farther from the sun, its orbit becomes _____ (faster, slower).

For each trial, record the orbit number of each planet from the sun. Be sure to indicate the number of planets in the habitable zone after each trial. Create a different configuration of planets for each trial. An example has been supplied for you.
Orbit Number
Planet One
Orbit Number
Planet Two Orbit Number
Planet Three Orbit Number
Planet Four Number of planets in the habitable zone Number of planets left in successful orbit
Example: sun's mass 1x 1 3 5 6 1 2
sun's mass 1x—Trial One
sun's mass 1x—Trial Two
sun's mass 2x—Trial One
sun's mass 2x—Trial Two
sun's mass 3x—Trial One
sun's mass 3x—Trial Two

Conclusion:
Your conclusion will include a summary of the lab results and an interpretation of the results. Please answer all questions in complete sentences using your own words.
1. Using two to three sentences, summarize what you investigated and observed in this lab.
2. You completed three terra forming trials. Describe the how the sun's mass affects planets in a solar system. Use data you recorded to support your conclusions.
3. In this simulation, the masses of the planets were all the same. Do you think if the masses of the planets were different, it would affect the results? Why or why not?
4. How does this simulation demonstrate the law of universal gravitation?
5. It is the year 2085, and the world population has grown at an alarming rate. As a space explorer, you have been sent on a terraforming mission into space. Your mission to search for a habitable planet for humans to colonize in addition to planet Earth. You found a planet you believe would be habitable, and now need to report back your findings. Describe the new planet, and why it would be perfect for maintaining human life.