1 Essential Questions 1. What is the solar system? 2. How are models and scale related? 3. Can we make a solar system model that uses the same scale for diameter and distance?

2 At the center of the solar system is

3 What else is in our solar system? Planets Dwarf planets Moons Asteroids Comets Meteors

4 Definitions of Planet and Dwarf Planet CharacteristicPlanetDwarf Planet Is in orbit around the SunXX Has sufficient mass to be nearly roundXX Is not a satelliteXX Has cleared the neighborhood around its orbitX Has NOT cleared the neighborhood around its orbit X

5 Five Current Dwarf Planets

6 Planets in order from the Sun

7 Models and Scales Model NameModel Scale Rocket1 inch = 36 feet Quadrangle Map1 inch = 2,000 feet Globe1 inch = 660 miles Solar System1 inch = 100,000 miles Measured distance x Scale = Real distance Length of Rocket: 10 inches x 36 feet/inch = 360 feet Distance on globe from South Carolina to southern California 4 inches x 660 miles/inch = 2,640 miles

8 Modeling the Solar System 1.Order the major objects in solar system by size 2.Use balls in the scale of 1 inch = 100,000 miles 3.Put balls the proper distances apart Count paces or steps instead of inches If a pace = a yard, how many inches is that? Using our scale, how many miles does a pace equal? 1 step = 36 inches x 100,000 miles/inch = 3,600,000 miles! The biggest steps you’ll ever take!

9 Planet Chart Planet or Dwarf Planet Paces from previous planet Paces from Sun Miles from Sun Diameter in miles Model diameter in inches Mercury 3,000 Venus 7,500 Earth 7,900 Mars 4,200 Jupiter 89,400 Saturn 74,800 Uranus 31,800 Neptune 30,800 Pluto 1,400 Scale for Diameter and Distance: 1 in. = 100,000 mi. 1 pace = 1 yard = 3,600,000 mi. Using this scale, Sun is 8.5 inches in diameter ,000,000

10 Light Time Light travels about 186,000 mi. or 300,000 km. per sec. A "light-year" is the distance light travels in a year, and similarly, we can call the distance light travels in a second a "light second," etc. Light Time Model Distance Actual Distance (average) Moon to Earth1.3 sec.2.4 in.240,000 mi. Sun to Earth8 min.26 yd.93,000,000 mi. Sun to Saturn80 min.247 yd.890,000,000 mi. Sun to Pluto5.5 hr.1019 yd.4,000,000,000 mi. Sun to Proxima Centauri 4.2 yr.4000 mi.26,000,000,000,000 mi.

11 Planet Chart Planet or Dwarf Planet Paces from previous planet Paces from Sun Miles from Sun Diameter in miles Model diameter in inches Mercury 10 36,000,000 3,000 Venus 919 7,500 Earth 726 7,900 Mars ,200 Jupiter ,400 Saturn ,800 Uranus ,800 Neptune ,800 Pluto ,400 Scale for Diameter and Distance: 1 in. = 100,000 mi. 1 pace = 1 yard = 3,600,000 mi. Using this scale, Sun is 8.5 inches in diameter

12 Planet Chart (if creating model in smaller space) Planet or Dwarf Planet Paces from previous planet Paces from Sun Miles from Sun Diameter in miles Model diameter in inches Mercury 13,000 Venus 32 in in7,500 Earth 29 in in7,900 Mars in44,200 Jupiter ,400 Saturn ,800 Uranus ,800 Neptune ,800 Pluto ,400 Scale for Diameter: 1 in. = 100,000 mi. Scale for Distance: 1 in. = 1,000,000 mi. 1 pace = 1 yard = 36,000,000 mi. Using this scale, Sun is 8.5 inches in diameter