Pocket Solar System to Scale
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You have probably seen pictures of all eight planets lined up in a neat row. But how far apart are they really? This project uses a strip of paper to mark the position of each planet at the right scale.
You fold and measure the strip to place the Sun and each planet in order. The inner planets cluster near one end. The outer planets spread out over most of the remaining space. The result fits in your pocket but shows the true layout of the solar system.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis for this project is that the relative distances between the planets and the sun can be accurately represented in a model.
Method & Materials
With the register tape and stickers, make a mark on each end of the tape for the Sun and Pluto. Fold the tape in half and labeling the halfway point as Uranus, folding the tape in quarters and labeling the quarter marks as Saturn and Neptune, folding the tape into eighths and labeling the 1/8th mark as Jupiter, folding the tape so that the Sun meets Jupiter to mark the 1/16th spot and labeling it as Ceres to represent the Asteroid Belt, placing small stickers for Earth and Mars just inside and outside the 1/32nd spot, respectively, and placing small stickers for Mercury and Venus between the Earth and the Sun, labeling Mercury as closest to the Sun and Venus as closest to the Earth.
You will need one meter of register tape, round stickers (5 large & 5 small) and pencils.
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Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it helps you visualize the distance between each planet and the Sun, allowing you to better understand the scale of the solar system. What makes it unique is that you can also create a solar system poster to draw out the orbits of the planets around the Sun.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include illustrating the planets and their orbits around the Sun on a poster.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related videos
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Follow along with the Katie from the National Space Centre, UK to make your own pocket solar system with an introduction to each planet!
Discover the distances between the Sun and planets with this easy-to-follow Pocket Solar System project! Simply mark the distances between the Sun and the planets, and bring the solar system to life with stickers, drawings, or even styrofoam balls.
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