Solar System Bead Distance Activity Spreadsheet Page 3
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4Solar System Bead Distance Activity
| STUDENT SHEET |
Introduction: Our Solar System is immense in size by normal standards. We think of the
planets as revolving around the Sun, but rarely consider how far each planet is from the
Sun. Furthermore, we fail to appreciate the even greater distances to the other stars.
Astronomers use the distance from the Sun to the Earth as one “astronomical unit”. This
unit provides an easy way to calculate the distances of the other planets from the Sun.
Vocabulary: Astronomical Unit - 1 AU = approximately 150 million kilometers (93 million
miles)
Activity: We will construct a distance model of the Solar System to scale, using colored
beads as planets. The chart below shows the planets and asteroid belt in order along with
their distance from the Sun in astronomical units. First, complete the chart by multiplying
each AU distance by our scale factor of 10 cm per astronomical unit. Next, use the new
distance to construct a scale model of our Solar System. Start your model by cutting a 4.5
m piece of string. Use the distances in cm that you have calculated in the chart below to
measure the distance from the Sun on the string to the appropriate planet and tie the
colored bead in place. When you are finished, wrap your string Solar System around the
cardboard holder.
Planet
AU
Scale value (cm)
Color
Sun
0.0 AU
cm
BELL
Mercury
0.4 AU
cm
SMALL BLACK
Venus
0.7 AU
cm
ORANGE
Earth
1.0 AU
cm
DARK BLUE
Mars
1.5 AU
cm
RED
Asteroid belt
2.8 AU
cm
TRI-SHAPED
Jupiter
5.0 AU
cm
GOLD
Saturn
10.0 AU
cm
YELLOW
Uranus
19.0 AU
cm
LIGHT BLUE
Neptune
30.0 AU
cm
CLEAR GREEN
Pluto
39.0 AU
cm
SMALL PURPLE
Consider that if you were traveling at the speed of light, it would take 8 minutes to travel
from the Sun to the Earth (1 AU). It would take 4.3 years (traveling at the speed of light -
300,000 kilometers per second) to reach the next nearest star, Alpha Centauri!
Show the model to your teacher for a grade. You may keep the model!
Credits: Tom Gates - NASA Educator, NASA Ames Research Center.
Adapted by Steve Klug, Fees Middle School and Sheri Klug, ASU Mars K-12 Education Program,
Tempe, AZ.
Adapted for students with special needs by Cassandra Runyon, Southeast Regional Clearinghouse
(SERCH), Charleston, SC.
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