Download click here for scale model worksheet

Building a Model of our Solar System
Name ________________________________
General Science 8
Period __________
Scale Model of Solar System: If the Sun was the size of a basketball, then….
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First, use a search engine and find the diameter of a basketball.
Go to the website http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/. You can use Mr.
Earle’s General Science Website to get there by clicking on the link in Friday’s Lesson Plans.
Plug that number into the appropriate space on the website.
Record the rest of the values below.
Body in Space
Diameter (inches)
Diameter
(mm)
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
How far away would the nearest star (Alpha Centauri) be?
How far away would the center of the galaxy be?
How big would a Red Giant be?
How big would a white dwarf be?
Orbit Radius
(feet and
inches)
Orbit Radius
(meters)
Use the website to figure out the following information. You will have to keep plugging different
numbers in for the sun to figure it out.
If the Earth was the size of a basketball……
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How big would the sun be?
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How far away would the sun be?
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How far would it be from the sun to Pluto?
If the Earth was a football field (300 ft) away from the sun……
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How far away would Earth be from Mars?
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How far away would Jupiter be from the Sun?
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How far away would the star “Sirius” be?
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How far away would the galactic center be? (round and use scientific notation if you want)
**** When this Worksheet is completely filled out, please investigate some of the other links at the
bottom of the webpage. Write down or note any websites you think are interesting and could be
worthwhile to use in class.