Solar System Scale Diagram

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🌟 Part 1: Understanding Scale

1. What does "scale" mean when making a model?

Making everything the same size

Making things smaller but keeping the same proportions

Drawing things any size you want

2. If 1 inch on your diagram represents 10 million miles in space, how many miles does 5 inches represent?

Answer: _________________ million miles

3. Why is it important to use a scale when making a solar system model?

4. Put the planets in order from the Sun (1 = closest to Sun):

____ Venus ____ Mars ____ Earth ____ Mercury

📏 Part 2: Creating Your Scale Diagram

Materials: Receipt tape, meter stick, colored pencils

Scale: 1 inch = 10 million miles

5. Follow these steps to create your diagram. Record your measurements:

Step 1: Mark the Sun at the left end of your tape.

Step 2: Measure and mark each planet's distance from the Sun:

Mercury: 0.4 inches from Sun = _______ inches on your tape

Venus: 0.7 inches from Sun = _______ inches on your tape

Earth: 0.9 inches from Sun = _______ inches on your tape

Mars: 1.4 inches from Sun = _______ inches on your tape

6. After measuring, what do you notice about the spacing between planets?

All planets are equally spaced

Some planets are closer together than others

The planets get farther apart as you move from the Sun

🎨 Part 3: Drawing and Analysis

7. Draw your scale diagram in the space below. Label each planet and the Sun:

8. If you wanted to include Jupiter on your diagram, and Jupiter is 48 million miles from the Sun, how many inches from the Sun would you place it?

9. What would happen to your diagram if you used a different scale (like 1 inch = 20 million miles)?

10. Why do you think scientists use scale models to study the solar system?

Solar System Scale Diagram

Solar System Scale Diagram

🌟 Part 1: Understanding Scale

📏 Part 2: Creating Your Scale Diagram

🎨 Part 3: Drawing and Analysis

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