Download How Big is the Solar System?

How Big is the Solar System?
Most people know that the solar system is “pretty big”, but still do not comprehend what “pretty big” means. This activity gives students an opportunity to truly get a feel for the expanse of our solar system by creating a model of the positions of the sun and planets. Materials
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Sun Card
Planet Cards
Scissors
Yard stick (optional)
Laminator (optional)
Rocks or other paperweights (optional)
Long stretch of space (approximately 780 yards, or 1/2 of a mile)
Directions
Print out the planet and sun cards and then cut each card out. Note the size of each object on the cards. These sizes are to scale for the distances you will be placing them apart at. You may choose to laminate these cards if desired. Find a large stretch of open space, like a long sidewalk or large field that will allow you to walk 1/2 of a mile. This distance does not necessarily need to be in a straight line, and it can even curve back on itself if need be. Begin by placing the sun card down on the ground. Then proceed to walk 10 yards and place the Mercury card on the ground. You may measure your walking distance either by using a yardstick, or counting strides (a long stride by an adult is approximately equal to one yard). Walk 9 more yards, and place Venus down. Walk 7 more yards, and place Earth down. Approximately 2 inches from Earth, you can place the moon card. Now walk 14 yards and place Mars down, then 95 yards to place Jupiter down, then 112 yards to place Saturn down, then 249 yards to place Uranus down, and finally, 281 yards to place Neptune down. Remember, this is not even the end of the solar system! Many objects, including Pluto and the Kuiper Belt objects, as well as the Oort Cloud, exist beyond Neptune. It may be helpful to place a rock or some heavy object on each card as you lay them down, to avoid them being blown away. Also, be wary of doing this activity in a crowded area where a curious passerby might pick up your planet card and move it or even take it. Neptune
281 Yards from Uranus
Actual diameter:
Actual distance
from the Sun:
Uranus
SATURN
49,000 km
(30,000 miles)
4,497,100,000 km
(2,795,000,000 miles)
249 Yards from Saturn
Actual diameter:
51,000 km
(32,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
2,871,000,000 km
(1,784,000,000 miles)
112 Yards from Jupiter
Actual diameter:
120,000 km
(75,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
1,427,000,000 km
(887,000,000 miles)
Jupiter
Mars
Moon
95 Yards from Mars
Actual diameter:
143,000 km
(90,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
778,300,000 km
(484,000,000 miles)
14 Yards from Earth
Actual diameter:
7,000 km
(4,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
227,900,000 km
(142,000,000 miles)
2 Inches from Earth
Actual diameter:
3,5000 km
(2,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Earth:
384,000 km
(240,000 miles)
Earth
Venus
Mercury
7 Yards from Venus
Actual diameter:
13,000 km
(8,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
149,600,000 km
(93,000,000 miles)
9 Yards from Mercury
Actual diameter:
12,000 km
(7,500 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
108,200,000 km
(67,000,000 miles)
10 Yards from the Sun
Actual diameter:
5,000 km
(3,000 miles)
Actual distance
from the Sun:
57,900,000 km
(36,000,000 miles)