The Solar System to Scale

General Instructions:
You may work with a partner or alone on the following activities. This exploration is to help you conceptualize the relative size of the
planets and the solar system. You are to compare the sizes of the planets with that of the sun and their relative location on a map using
scale factors. This activity will test your ability to accurately use and interpret scale factors.

Part A
Instructions:
You will create a scale drawing of the relative sizes of the planets.
1) The diameter of the earth is 12 756 km. The diameters of the other planets are given in (Earth Diameters). You will need to
convert the diameter from Earth diameters to diameters in km. (See table below)

2) The suns diameter is 1 390 500 km the scale model of the sun had a diameter of 309cm. Using this information, determine the
scale factor used. (Double-check your calculation with Ms. Shillington before moving on. This calculation will determine your
accuracy for both part A and B)

Scale: _______________________________

3) Using the same scale factor calculate the diameter in cm of the scale drawings of the planets. (See table below)

4) Once you have determined the diameters of the scale plants create scale drawings of the planets. Cut the planets out and label
them (Even though the plants are not perfectly circular create circular scale drawings )

5) Clean up all scrap paper. Put your name on your planets and attach them together using a paper clip and Ziploc bag. If you
have time at the end of the activities colour in your planets and the best looking planets will win a prize and get their planets on
the wall.
 Table of Scale Calculations

Planet Part A Part A Part A Part B Part B Part B

Earth Actual Diameter Scale Diameter Astronomical Actual Distance From Sun Scale Distance on map
Diameters (km) (cm) Units (AU) (km) (map km)
Mercury 0.38 0.39

Venus 0.95 0.72

Earth 1 12 756 km 1 149600000 (1 AU)

Mars 0.53 1.52

Jupiter 11.25 5.20

Saturn 9.45 9.56

Uranus 4.01 19.22

Neptune 3.88 30.11

Pluto 0.18 39.5

Part B

Instructions:
Now that you have created your scale drawings, we are going to arrange the plants around the city using the same scale. In our map
of Calgary we will say that the sun is located at Harold Panabaker. The other planets will be arranged the appropriate distance from
the sun using our scale (for simplicity we will pretend that the planets orbits are circular ).

1) In your table using the scale of Astronomical Units (AU), one AU being the distance from earth to the sun in km, convert the
units from AUs into km.

2) There is 100cm/m and 1000m/km therefore there is 100 000cm/km. Using your scale from part A determines how many km
will be represented in our scale by 1km represented on the map.

1km = ____________cm on the map

3) Using the map, mark the approximate locations that your drawings would need to be positioned to be an accurate scale of our
solar system. Your markings should be coloured so that they clearly stand out on the map and labeled so that it is clear what
planet is located where.
Part C: Fill in the table.

Celestial
Minimum Maximum
Object Description of the
Temp on the Temp on Can it support life? Explain
(Gas or Atmosphere
surface the surface
Terrestrial)
Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto