MS-PS2-4 | Gravity · NYS standard · Grade 8 test questions
Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects and the distance between them.
Clarification statement: Examples of evidence for arguments could include data generated from simulations or digital tools; and charts displaying mass, strength of interaction, distance from the Sun, and orbital periods of objects within the solar system.
Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include Newton’s Law of Gravitation or Kepler’s Laws.
Grade 8 Science Test Questions
Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-PS2-4 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
Vocabulary
Terms from the Middle School Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 8 Science Test questions that assess it.
- argument
- attractive force
- claim
- digital tool
- distance
- evidence
- gravitational force
- gravitational interaction
- gravity
- Kepler's laws
- mass
- Newton's law of gravitation
- orbital period
- scientific reasoning
- simulation
- solar system
- system
- system model
- celestial object – Spring 2026
- computer simulation – Spring 2024
- data – Spring 2024
- data table – Spring 2025
- force of attraction – Spring 2026
- kinetic energy – Spring 2025
- magnetic field – Spring 2025
- mean distance – Spring 2025
- moon – Spring 2025
- orbit – Spring 2025
- planet – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
- rotation – Spring 2026
- speed – Spring 2025
- tilt – Spring 2026
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-PS2-4 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-PS2-4.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation MS-PS2-4 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Construct and present oral and written arguments supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support or refute an explanation or a model.
- PS2.B: Types of Interactions
- Gravitational forces are always attractive. There is a gravitational force between any two masses, but it is very small except when one or both of the objects have large mass – e.g., Earth and the sun.
- Systems and System Models
- Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy and matter flows within systems.