1. Exploring the Solar System

2. Bellwork Open your science notebook to a fresh page.
Draw a model of what you think our solar system looks like.
Things to think about in your model:
Name of Planets
Number of Planets
Position of Planets

3. We are the planets! While listening highlight ALL the planets
While listening highlight ALL the planets
Underline the most interesting fact you learned for each planet!

4. Model & Scale
A model is a representation of ideas that scientists use to explain patterns they observe in the world.
A scale is a ratio between the actual size of an object and its size on a model.
Lets take a look at a model of our solar system…

6. The Earth is not the center of the universe.
Size
The Earth is not the center of the universe.
Distance

7. observing solar system models
Number of planets: There should be eight planets visible
Order of Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Have students write 1-5 in notebook and have them circle it if they had it. Make sure they do not add it in.

8. The order of the planets
Mercury My
Many
Mother
Venus
Very
Vicious
Veronica
Earth
Educated
Elderly
Earthworm
Enjoyed
Mars
Men
Might
Jupiter
Just
Jam
Saturn
Served
Snooze
Swallow
Sandwich
Uranus Us
Under
Neptune
Nachos / Noodles
Newspapers
Now

9. Observing solar system models
Number of planets: There should be eight planets visible
Order of Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
3. Planets’ Distances:
Close together--Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars’ distance from the Sun
Farther apart--Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
4. Planet’s Size: : Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars should be smaller than
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
5. Planets’ Orbital Path: All should revolve around the sun in a circular path

10. Observing solar system models
Number of planets: There should be eight planets visible
Order of Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
3. Planets’ Distances:
Close together--Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars’ distance from the Sun
Farther apart--Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
4. Planet’s Size: : Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars should be smaller than
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
5. Planets’ Orbital Path: All should revolve around the sun in a circular path

11. Problem:
How can we use this criteria to create an accurate model of our solar system?
How far apart are the planets?

12. Hypothesis:
If we create a linear model of our solar system (where 1cm = 5,000,000 km), then we will be able to clearly see the distances between each planet and apply this information to our knowledge of the solar system.
Time to CREATE!

13. Draw Conclusions: Number Order Size Distance Orbital Path
Is this model similar to how you picture our solar system? Why or why not?
What surprises you about this model?
What do you like about this model? Does it help you better comprehend our solar system?
Looking back to the criteria for a great solar system model, how does this one compare?
What are the pros and cons of our model?
How could we make this model more accurate?
Number
Order
Size
Distance
Orbital Path

14. Look Back to your own Model
Number
Order
Size
Distance
Orbital Path
- At the bottom of your model, write the number for each criteria your model met.

15. Your Challenge…
Create a linear, scaled model of the solar system in your science notebook.
Draw a line diagonally across your paper…like this
Use a ruler and the distances marked on your handout to measure where each planet should be placed.
In order to find the final distance to Neptune, you will need to use a calculator to solve the problem 4,498,396,441 / 80,000,000 = ________ This will give you the scaled distance in cm.
For this model, 1cm = 80,000,000 km. (It will be 16x smaller than the model we created in class.)

16. When you are finished…
Look in your textbook for other models of the solar system.
See if you can identify any weaknesses using the criteria we discussed.