Download LAB: “Plotting Planets”

Name:________________________________
Lab #:____
DUE DATE: __________________________
Period:____
LAB: “Plotting Planets”
Introduction:
When you look at pictures or diagrams of our solar system and nine planets,
you are usually looking at a sketch or drawing that is not drawn to scale. Usually
the planets are too close to each other in their orbit around the sun, or some planets
are not matched to size with the rest of the planets in the solar system. In this
activity, you will be plotting out the distances of each planet from the sun to make
a scale model of our solar system. A scale model is a way to draw or represent a
very large size object into a smaller visual model. An example of a scale model
would be a road map; it would be quite ridiculous to have an exact copy to size of
all the roads in the country. In this case, we make a smaller version on paper that
may use centimeters for miles or millimeters for feet. Just think! If we didn’t use
scale models, no one could fit a map in their pocket – it would be too big!
Purpose:
To construct a scale model showing the distances from the sun for
each of the planets in our solar system.
Materials:
3-m of adding machine paper
Scissors
Masking tape
Procedure A:
Meter stick
Sun cut-out
Colored Pencils
Ruler
Pencil
Calculator
The Set-up
1. Have one person cut out the yellow sun diagram.
Our Solar System
2. Unroll 3 meters of adding machine paper and cut
it with scissors at the 3-meter mark.
3. Use masking tape to tape the adding machine
paper to the sun from the back. Make sure the
edge of the adding tape is at the start line on the sun.
4. Fold your solar system strip in half lengthwise.
See dotted line on Diagram 1.2 on the next page.
Points for solar system strip: ____________ / 5 points
Procedure B:
Planet
Name
Plotting the planets.
1. Make a clearing on the floor by your desk.
Using only 2 pieces of tape, tape each end of
the adding paper to the floor.
2. Using the chart to the right and a ruler,
measure the distance Mercury is from the sun
and mark it with a small dot on the fold you made.
3. Continue measuring each planet’s distance
from the sun. Always start measuring at the
Start, where the adding machine tape meets
the sun.
Diagram 1.2
Tape #1
Distance from Sun
(in centimeters-cm)
Mercury
3 cm
Venus
6 cm
Earth
8 cm
Mars
12 cm
Jupiter
39 cm
Saturn
72 cm
Uranus
144 cm
Neptune
225 cm
Pluto (dwarf)
290 cm
Tape #2
SUN
.
M
Procedure C:
1.
2.
3.
4.
.
V
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
E
m
J
S
U
N
P
Drawing your planets.
The dot you made on the fold for each planet in
Procedure B is the center of each planet
you will draw your planets using those dots.
Use the diameters of each planet in the
data table to the right to calculate the radius
from the center of each planet. [r = ½d]
Using the radius you calculated, measure that
distance from the planet center in many directions.
See arrows in diagram 1.3 below. Be careful, the
smaller planets may only need their dots enlarged.
Color your planets. Use a book for reference!
planet
Diagram 1.3
Planet
Name
Diameter
of planet
Mercury
2 mm
Venus
5 mm
Earth
5 mm
Mars
3 mm
Jupiter
57 mm
Saturn
48 mm
Uranus
20 mm
Neptune
19 mm
Pluto (dwarf)
1 mm
Radius
of planet
[1 point]
dot
20 mm
Adding tape
Name: ___________________________________
Lab #: _____
DUE DATE: ______________________________
Complete the data tables below for each planet.
Period: _____
If 1 cm = 20 million km, calculate the actual distances of each planet from the sun.
To do this simply multiply the scale distance by the scale amount. An example has
been done for you. *You MAY use a calculator to help!
TABLE 1.1 Calculate the distance from the sun for each planet. [1 point]
Planet
Scale Dis.
Scale Amount
Actual Distance
60 million km
Mercury
3 cm
x 20 mil. km
Venus
6 cm
x 20 mil. km
Earth
8 cm
x 20 mil. km
Mars
12 cm
x 20 mil. km
Jupiter
39 cm
x 20 mil. km
Saturn
72 cm
x 20 mil. km
Uranus
144 cm
x 20 mil. km
Neptune
225 cm
x 20 mil. km
Pluto (dwarf)
295 cm
x 20 mil. km
TABLE 1.2 Calculate the estimated diameters of each planet. [1 point]
Planet
Scale Dis.
Scale Amount
Mercury
2 mm
x 2500 km
Venus
5 mm
x 2500 km
Earth
5 mm
x 2500 km
Mars
3 mm
x 2500 km
Jupiter
57 mm
x 2500 km
Saturn
48 mm
x 2500 km
Uranus
20 mm
x 2500 km
Neptune
19 mm
x 2500 km
1 mm
x 2500 km
Pluto (dwarf)
Estimated Diameter
5,000 kilometers
Conclusion Questions:
Use this lab to help you answer the following questions:
1. What does it mean to make a scale model of something? [1 point]________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. List the planets in order. Start with the closest to the sun. [1 point] _______________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Compare the size of the Inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) to that of the
outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). [1 point]
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. According to the data you collected, which planet is the smallest? Explain how you
know this. [1 point]
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Use your notebook to help you answer the following questions:
5. Give two similarities between all the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars). [2 points]
1)__________________________________________________________________
2)__________________________________________________________________
6. Give two similarities between all the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). [2 points]
1)___________________________________________________________________
2)___________________________________________________________________
7. Compare Mars to that of the Earth. (Use size, and main characteristics from your
notes to answer.) [2 points]
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
8. Using this lab and your notebook, use two observed facts or main characteristics to
explain why Pluto is part of a group of planets called dwarf planets. [2 points]
1) _________________________________________________________________
2) _________________________________________________________________