Download Do you want to make a scale model of the solar system where both

Name: _______________________________________________
Period: ___________________
Problem
How can we make a solar system scale model?
We want out model to reflect the relative distances and sizes of the planets.
Part 1Materials:
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Metric ruler
White poster board
Pencil
Drafting compass (the kind you draw circles with)
Scissors
Marker
Procedure: Scale Model of Relative Diameters of Planets
First, we need to compare the diameter of the Earth to that of the other planets. Remember that
diameter is the length of a straight line going through the middle of a circle. The Earth’s diameter
is 12,760 km. We can divide the diameter of the Earth into the diameters of all the planets, to get
a relative comparison.
Relative Diameter
Radius in
Diameter in
Planet
Diameter in kilometers
cm
cm
Compared to Earth
Mercury
4800
.376
.4 cm
.8 cm
Venus
12100
.949
.9 cm
1.8 cm
Earth
12750
1.00
1 cm
2 cm
Mars
6800
.533
.5 cm
1 cm
Jupiter
142800
11.2
11 cm
22 cm
Saturn
120660
9.46
9 cm
18 cm
Uranus
51800
4.06
4 cm
8 cm
Neptune
49500
3.88
3 cm
6 cm
2. Use the ruler to draw a line for the diameter. Start with drawing the relative diameters of Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
3. Using the compass, draw circles around the diameters.
4. Fit in the smaller planets (Earth, Mercury, Venus, and Mars) around where you drew the bigger
planets.
5. Label the planets with a marker, so you don’t forget which is which when you are cutting them
out. For tiny planets, you might have to use an abbreviation.
6. Cut your planets out.
Name: _______________________________________________
Period: ___________________
Part 2
Materials:
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Meter stick (this project is much easier if you use the metric system—besides, scientists always
use this system!)
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Big outdoor space, at least 33 meters long.
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Paper
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Eight classmates to hold your planets as you measure the distance from the Sun.
Procedure: Scale Model of Distances from Sun
1. Use the planet cut outs you made from part 1 of this activity.
2. Label the circles Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
3. Position yourself as the Sun.
4. Give each of your friends a cut-out planet to hold.
5. Have your classmates position themselves the following distances from you. (Note that some of
the measurements are in centimeters rather than meters. A centimeter is 1/100 of a meter, just
like a cent is 1/100 of a dollar).
Planet
Distance AU
Model Distance from “Sun”
Mercury
.38
38 centimeters
Venus
.72
72 centimeters
Earth
1.0
1.0 meter
Mars
1.5
1.5 meters
Jupiter
5.2
5.2 meters
Saturn
9.5
9.5 meters
Uranus
19.2
19.2 meters
Neptune
30.1
30.1 meters
Name: _______________________________________________
Period: ___________________
Results
When you compare the sizes of the planets, what did you notice? At least 2 good sentences.
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When you built the scale model of solar system distances, what did you notice about the inner
planets?
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When you built the scale model of solar system distances, what did you notice about the outer
planets?
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When completing this activity, what was most surprising to you? Please explain why. (At least 2
good sentences)
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Name: _______________________________________________
Period: ___________________
Going Further
Do you want to make a scale model of the solar system where both the distances and diameters
are proportional to reality? This table expresses the diameters in A.U, so the size of the planet is
correct proportion to its distance from the sun. Remember we set 1 AU, the distance between the
Earth and Sun, as equal to 1 meter.
Relative Diameter
Planet
Diameter in kilometers
Mercury
4800
3.2 x 10-5
Venus
12100
8.1 x 10-5
Earth
12750
8.5 x 10-5
Mars
6800
4.5 x 10-5
Jupiter
142800
9.5 x 10-4
Saturn
120660
8.0 x 10-4
Uranus
51800
3.5 x 10-4
Neptune
49500
3.3 x 10-4
In AU (meters)
As you can see, all the planets would be too tiny to trace and out using equipment you have at
home. What this table does remind you of is that space is, as the name suggests, mostly empty,
and even big planets make up a tiny part of our solar system.