Further observations later showed that the comet was in orbit around Jupiter, and had passed close to the giant planet in July 1992. During this close approach, Jupiter's gravity broke the fragile comet into the many pieces seen in this image. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 had orbited Jupiter for dozens of years. Gravity wells, found at many science and technology museums, are circular basins with a steeply curved hole in the middle. Marbles or coins, rolled across the basin, will orbit the hole for many seconds before dropping through the middle.
Gravity wells are ideal tools for modeling comet motions in our solar system.
The gravity well described below employs a stretched plastic sheet upon which small marbles, representing comets, are rolled. Drill a hole through the center of the bottom of the bowl. Cut a circle out of the plastic bag slightly larger than the bowl's diameter. Punch a small hole through the center of the plastic circle. Tie a knot in one end of the string and slip the other end through the bead.