Solar system model video

How do you make a scale model of a solar system?

Make a Solar System on a String (scale distance model) Tie colored beads onto a string to make a scale model of the distances between planets in the solar system. You can wear your model or even display it on a wall. Measure and cut a piece of string about 30 cm longer than the distance you calculated from the Sun to Neptune.

How do I set up a solar system?

Pick a place to set up your solar system model. This could be across a bedroom wall, along the floor of a hallway or large room, outside in a yard, or down a sidewalk. Keep your choice in mind as you calculate the size of planets and distances between them in the next steps.

How do I represent the Solar System?

If you are interested in a more accurate way to represent the solar system and have a lot of space (at least half a mile!) to work with, try making a model of the solar system that displays distance and planet size at the same scale. Otherwise, skip this step.

How did the Solar System form?

Credit: NASA Planetary Photojournal Our solar system formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a dense cloud of interstellar gas and dust. The cloud collapsed, possibly due to the shockwave of a nearby exploding star, called a supernova. When this dust cloud collapsed, it formed a solar nebula – a spinning, swirling disk of material.

What would a solar system tour look like without a stopover?

The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it’s been the subject of numerous space missions, most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life. Here’s a quick tabular overview: From the asteroid belt to Jupiter’s turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story.

Can a planet-size model be combined with a distance model?

You can combine a planet-size model of one scale with a distance model of another scale. But if you want size and distance to be the same scale, you’ll need to spread your model across at least half a mile! See Step 6 for instructions on building a combined size-and-distance model.