Using online mapping software, such as Google or Bing maps, right-click on the location that represents the Sun (e.g., middle of the playground) and click “measure distance” to identify where the scale planets should go. Jupiter 5.55, and then we start really getting far away from the sun.
What's important to take from this is that even though the objects are small, the distances gets to be very very large.
In that case, have students choose a point on the map that is an accurate distance from the Sun at a location that is well known to students (e.g., a park or a neighborhood store).
For example, =B3*10 is the correct formula for Mercury’s scale distance, while =B4*10 is the correct formula for the distance to Venus, and so on. Choose one of the links below to view procedures for creating the scale solar system model of your choice: Scale Planet Diameter / Scale Earth Diameter = Actual Planet Diameter / Actual Earth Diameter | + Expand image, Scale Planet Diameter = Actual Planet Diameter (Scale Earth Diameter) / Actual Earth Diameter | + Expand image, Scale Diameter / Scale Distance = Actual Diameter / Actual Distance | + Expand image, Scale Diameter (Actual Distance) / Actual Diameter = Scale Distance | + Expand image, Scale Planet Distance / Scale Earth Diameter = Actual Planet Distance / Actual Earth Diameter | + Expand image. How does using both scale size and distance in a model differ from a model that uses only scale size or distance? In other words, how far will Earth be from the Sun in this model? See how the sizes of planets and the distances between them compare in this video. Again, the sun is just your little pinkie finger. Because the distances between planets are so great, astronomers sometimes describe distances in terms of astronomical units (au).
Keep this in mind when considering the area you have to work with. Have students repeat the process in Step 4, using Earth’s scale diameter, Earth’s actual diameter and each planet’s actual diameter to find the scale diameters of the remaining planets. endstream endobj startxref Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning.
Although we could print the planet sizes to scale, the paper would need to be way too large to show the scaled distances. The scale of our solar system is difficult to imagine when we are standing on what appears to be a large planet looking at an apparently small Sun. In the example below, the spreadsheet function calculates the product of the scale diameter of Earth (B5) and the actual diameter of Mars (C6) divided by the actual diameter of Earth (C5) using =(B5*C6)/C5. h�bbd```b``��� �����"�׀E����d��?yV�f���l-0�D��E����Iƍ�@�rk��A@��+$�]�ih� D@��2�T�$�2012�J�U20a�?��e �� Decide or allow the class to decide on the diameter of Earth in the scale model. Solve problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and reproducing a scale drawing at a different scale. So, here we've modeled the solar system on a centimeter scale. Data is provided in both Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (XLSX) and comma-separated-value (CSV) files that can be opened in spreadsheets. 7�F�Lq�r�����P�IA�9��^��r8�#�:�-˕����. If students will input the distance data themselves, have them do that now.
Example not-to-scale images of the solar system, Spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel or Sheets), Distance markers (cones, ground stakes, etc. 0 Represent proportional relationships by equations. B refers to the cell column and 3 refers to the cell row. Decide or allow the class to decide how many centimeters will represent one astronomical unit (e.g., 10 cm = 1 au). Have students create a spreadsheet function that calculates this value. For example, rearrange Ohm's law V = IR to highlight resistance R. Solve real-world and mathematical problems by writing and solving equations of the form x + p = q and px = q for cases in which p, q and x are all nonnegative rational numbers. But, they're really really far away. To calculate the scale planet sizes, discuss proportions and ratios with students. Identify a spot to represent the Sun and use rulers or measuring tape to measure how far planets would be from the Sun in the classroom or on the playground, depending on the length of your scale distances. Students can develop a permanent or semi-permanent display of their model on the school campus. Because planets are not aligned in a row stretching out from the solar system, have students place them at the proper distances at various points around the Sun. h�b```���� cc`a�8q@��7�rLa�#������V��O�>-```q�x�Ě�������=�Qd��+��l�$#y4Z A scale model – a model with sizes and distances proportionally reduced or enlarged – is a great way to correctly display the size of and distance between planets, giving students a better visual representation of the solar system than they could otherwise get from an image in a book or on a computer. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image, In this artist's rendering, the planets are shown orbiting the Sun, however, the size of the planets, their distance from each other, and the shape and inclination of their orbits are not-to-scale. In this activity, students will use scale, proportion and/or ratios to develop a scale solar system calculator and draw the Solar System to fit a page. Figure out which system of units your students will use: metric (SI) or U.S. customary units. 1482 0 obj <>stream This will give students the scale distance to each planet in centimeters. See disclaimer.
Just for reference, I put the closest star in here too approximates of the centauri of your closest star. Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system. My name is Eric Loberg, Director of the Taylor Planetarium at the Museum of the Rockies and I was going to model the solar system on a centimeter scale. To calculate the scale solar system, discuss proportions and ratios with students. Pictures don’t help much. Have students create a spreadsheet function that calculates this value. See the. Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.