Scale Model of the Solar System
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
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. Pictures don’t help much. Although we could print the planet sizes to scale, the paper would need to be way too large to show the scaled distances. Instead, to help understand the sizes and distances of our solar system, we’ve created a scale model. This particular model uses a 2.5m vinyl balloon to represent the Sun. Various marbles and balls generate models of the 8 planets, asteroids, and Kuiper belt objects.
Two versions of the activity are provided. One is extensive and designed for school or informal science settings and perhaps permanent displays. The other is a briefer version of the activity, designed for public science events.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | 2015 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Scherrer, Deborah K. |
|---|
Subjects
| Subject | scale model |
|---|---|
| Subject | sun |
| Subject | planets |
| Subject | asteroids |
| Subject | Kuiper Belt |
| Subject | science teaching |
| Subject | science learning |
| Genre | Article |
Bibliographic information
| Related item | |
|---|---|
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/tk894mv0261 |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Scherrer, Deborah K.. (2015). Scale Model of the Solar System. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/tk894mv0261
Collection
Stanford Solar Center
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- Contact
- dscherrer@solar.stanford.edu
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