mi01000971.schoolwires.net€¦ · web viewtable 1: solar system distances: planet distance (km)...

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

Background: Currently there are 8 known major planets, plus an estimated thousand other smaller ones called “dwarf planets”. While many people can name the major planets and their order, most don’t know their relative location or distance from each other. Distances in space are tough to comprehend. To make it easier to compare distance, astronomers use the unit “AU” or “astronomical unit”.

1 AU = the average distance from Earth to the Sun = 150,000,000km

Question: How are the major and dwarf planets arranged across the solar system?

Hypothesis:

Procedure: 1) Calculate the distance in AU each planet is from the Sun.2) Calculate its football field distance from the Sun using the formula:

Yards¿Goal Line (Sun )=Distance¿ Sun(AU ) x2.563) Place the planet you are assigned, on the correct yard line away from the Sun.4) Plot all planets on the football field diagram on the back of this page.

Observations: Table 1: Solar System Distances:

Planet Distance (km) from Sun

Distance (AU) from Sun

Football field distance from Sun (yards)

Mercury 58,000,000

Venus 108,000,000

Earth 150,000,000

Mars 228,000,000

Ceres 415,500,000

Jupiter 778,500,000

Saturn 1,430,000,000

Uranus 2,880,000,000

Neptune 4,500,000,000

Orcus 5,875,500,000

Pluto 5,922,000,000

Salacia 6,328,335,000

Haumea 6,469,500,000

Quaoar 6,510,750,000

Makemake 6,868,500,000

Eris 10,150,500,000

Sedna 77,700,000,000

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

Sketch (nearly) all planets on the football field below

Analysis Questions:

1. Describe where:a. the 4 inner planets were found on the football field.

b. the 4 outer planets were found on the football field.

c. most dwarf planets were located

2. Explain why was it impossible to place Sedna on the field?

3. Why do astronomers use the measurement of an AU instead of using km?

4. Describe something NEW that you learned from this activity.

CONCLUSION:

SUN

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

MERCURY

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

VENUS

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

EARTH

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

MARS

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

CERES

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

JUPITER

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

SATURN

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

URANUS

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

NEPTUNE

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

PLUTO

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

ERIS

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

ORCUS

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

HAUMEA

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

MAKEMAKE

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

SALACIA

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

QUAOAR

Lab: Scaling the Solar System Name: ________________________Honors Earth Science Date: ________________ Hr: ____

SEDNA