Download Scale Model of the Solar System

Scale Model of the Solar System
This assignment is the most important
assignment that I will give out during the
entire course. It is my best effort to give you a
sense of the sheer immensity of space and
the vast distances between things like planets
and stars. I wish that I could be there with you
to teach this myself. I wish that the teaching
life of Mrs. DeHaven could be easier than it
probably is becoming. I also wish that the
things that the newest technology has
developed would work better than it does
here. However, these are only wishes, and
the reality is that creating lessons here in
China is difficult because the internet
continues to work one minute and the next
minute it doesn’t.
Scale Model of the Solar System
Every student in the 14 years of
my teaching has done this project,
and it is the best plan that I have
seen to help students get an
understanding of where the Earth
is compared to the Sun and
planets, and where the Earth is
compared to other stars.
Scale Model of the Solar System
In this project, you are going to
create a model of the solar system
using a round circle to represent
the Sun, and then figuring out how
big or small the planets are in
comparison, and how far away
those planets are compared to
that “sun.”
The project is not difficult, and can
be a lot of fun.
Scale Model of the Solar System
First … you will need to divide the
class into 3 groups. Since there
are 6 rows in the class, divide the
class into 3 groups of 2 rows
each.
One person is the recorder. One
person is the emailer. One person
helps everyone figure out how the
calculations are made … meaing
that you need a calculator.
Scale Model of the Solar System
Second … you need access to the computer,
either now, or at the end of the class, or at
some time later in the day. This is so you can
send your final results to me.
Third … you will need the handout that Mrs.
DeHaven has. This is what you are going to
fill out in your groups, and later transfer
information from that worksheet onto the
computer at this address:
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/cou
rses/online/astro/forms/scale_model/scale_m
odel.html
Okay … it is a long address, but it gives you
the place to officially turn in your numbers.
Scale Model of the Solar System
You are going to cut out a piece of
paper and make a circle that is 20 cm
in diameter. This 20 cm circle
represents the Sun. (pictures are
coming later … so be patient).
Now, that 20 cm diameter represents
the actual Sun which has a diameter of
1,392,000 km. So, in this scale model,
everytime you move 20 cm, you are
moving a representative 1,392,000 km
in space.
Scale Model of the Solar System
This ratio of 1 cm = 1,392,000 km
is used for every planet whose
diameter you will determine and
whose distance from the Sun you
will determine.
I have given a help sheet to Mrs.
DeHaven, so that she is able to
help you. Here are two examples
to simplify your lives today .
Scale Model of the Solar System
Earth Scale Diameter & Distance
20 cm/1,329,000 km = ? cm/12,756 km
So … the formula is
(20 cm x 12,756 km)/1,392,000 km = scale diameter of Earth.
(20 cm x 12,756 km)/1,392,000 km = 0.18 cm … which is 1.8 mm
20 cm/1,329,000 km = ? cm/149,600,000 km
So … the formula is
(20 cm x 149,600,000 km)/1,392,000 km = scale distance of Earth.
(20 cm x 149,600,000 km)/1,392,000 km = 2149 cm which is 21.49 m
So the scale model Earth is a 1.8 millimeter BB that is 21.49 meters away
from a 20 centimeter ball that represents the Sun
Scale Model of the Solar System
So … you use the same ratio of:
20 cm/1,329,000 km = scale value cm/known value
For every planet diameter and every planet
distance.
By the time you are done, you will have a
mental picture of where the planets are
compared to the Sun, and how big the planets
are compared to each other and compared to
the Sun!
Scale Model of the Solar System
The challenge is to determine where the Sun is
relative to other stars up in the sky.
Remember from a day or so ago, that the Milky
Way is an immense collection of 200 billion
stars. The Sun is just one of these stars.
Scale Model of the Solar System
The challenge is to determine
where the Sun is relative to
other stars up in the sky.
Remember from a day or so
ago, that the Milky Way is an
immense collection of 200
billion stars. The Sun is just
one of these stars. The
image to your left gives to a
perspective of where the Sun
is within the galaxy.
Scale Model of the Solar System
The Sun is estimated to
be 25,000 light years from
the center of the galaxy.
So, the Sun is just one of
200 billion, and these
stars are all light years of
distance apart from each
other!
Scale Model of the Solar System
The closest star to the Sun, among the 200
billion Milky Way stars, is Proxima Centauri. It
is a red star that is very small, and is only
visible in the southern hemisphere sky. This
little star, whose picture you will see later, is
4.3 light years away from the Sun. 4.3 light
YEARS!
Scale Model of the Solar System
Do the math for the scale model
300,000 km/sec, 60 sec/minute, 60 minutes/hour, 24 hours/day, and
365.25 days/year means that light travels 9,467,280,000,000 km in one
year. This is very far, but Proxima Centauri is 4.3 of these “light years”
away from here.
You use the light year distance times the 4.3 years to determine the
actual distance to this star, and then plug that value into the formula to
figure out the scale distance that Proxima Centauri is from the 20 cm
circle!
Do the same for Andromeda, except this galaxy is 2,650,000 light year
away, so instead of multiplying by 4.3, you multiply by 2,650,000.
Scale Model of the Solar System
Once the math is done, plug the numbers from the
worksheet into the computer. I will need two
things from you here.
1) I need an email to me at: [email protected]
with the names of the students in your group.
2) I need the recorder to put the values into the
appropriate worksheet space on my online
program at:
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/cours
es/online/astro/forms/scale_model/scale_model
.html
Scale Model of the Solar System
Now … look at the presentation on the next
page …
Scale Model of the Solar System
The link included in this box will give you a
look at the planets in our Solar System so that
when you are on your walk, you have a better
picture of what things look like. Look at the link
as a class … AFTER you finished the math,
but BEFORE you go outside!
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/cour
ses/online/astro/forms/scale_model_presentati
on/scale_model_present.htm
Scale Model of the Solar System
Finally, go outside and take a walk! That’s
right … go outside and walk the Solar System!
Stick the circle on the school and pace out to
as many planets as you can without crossing
over Cedar Lake Road.
While you are out there, get a sense of where
the Earth is, where Uranus is, and where
Proxima Centauri might be.
Try to stay together in a group!
Scale Model of the Solar System
THANKS to you students, and also to you Mrs.
DeHaven. This cannot be easy … both sitting
in my class while I am in China, or teaching in
my absence. I am so thankful for your
patience!
The email to me is worth 25 points for each
student on the list, and the completed online
scale model form is worth 75 more points for
each student on the list.
Scale Model of the Solar System
It is Friday here in Beijing as I write this.
Tomorrow evening is Opening Ceremonies.
Sunday morning, Anna Swims her first race of
the meet. By Monday morning in class, you
will get to know how she did 
Have a GREAT WEEKEND,
Tom