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Space Models
By JohnV

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My favorite model of the solar system is one in which the sun is represented by a golf ball. The terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) and Pluto are represented by grains of salt. The gas giants are represented
by a BB for Jupiter and 2mm cake decorations for Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

You have to have a place where you can lay these things out in a straight line about 200 m long. I take my classes outside and use one entire side of our campus. The distances between the planets at this scale can be calculated using the online calculator at the URL below. This calculator can be used to

set up a solar system at any scale. You enter the size you want the Sun to be and the calculator tells you everything else. This site has lots of links to other sites with model suggestions as well.

This URL takes you to the Exploratorium's "Build a Solar System" page:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

Have fun!

John


 


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