Download Solar System Scale Activity

Solar System Scale Activity
Today we are going to make a scale model of the solar system using a strip of paper
and a pencil.
1. Write “Sun” on one end of the strip of paper and “Pluto” on the other. Then orient
your strip so that the Sun is at the top and Pluto is on the bottom.
2. Fold the strip in half and open the strip.
a. What is the middle of our Solar System? Is there a planet there?
b. What are the planets of our Solar System?
3. Write the name of the object in the crease, if there is one?
4. Write the name of the planets in order and in their relative distances from each
other down the strip of paper.
5. Go on-line to see the relative distances from one planet to the next.
6. Using ratios calculate the compression ratio from the actual solar system to the
strip of paper.
7. Redo the strip using your ratio measurements.
8. How would you add our newest planet, 2003UB313, which is 120 AU away.
Answer Key
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SNC 1P
Turn strip over and refold halfway between Sun and Pluto. Write
Uranus.
Fold Pluto to Uranus. Write Neptune.
Fold Sun to Uranus. Write Saturn.
Fold Sun to Saturn. Write Jupiter.
Fold Sun to Jupiter. Write No Planet or Asteroid Belt
Fold Sun to Asteroid Belt. Write Mars.
Fold Sun to Mars. Write Venus.
Write in Mercury in between Sun and Venus.
Ask students which planet is missing. Write in Earth in between Venus
and Mars.
Werhun, 2008
How would you add our newest planet? It is approximately three times as far from the
Sun as Pluto, so add two more strips. (120 AUs) 2003UB313 is the name of our newest
planet so far.
SNC 1P
Werhun, 2008