Comparing our Planets

Comparing Size and Distance in the Solar System by Bill Nye
Go to OMG science link and play around to get more information about each planet.

Science Activity

Pick a partner(s) and get your assigned planet. Use the information below, plus the diameter of the model Sun chosen by the class, to determine the size of their planet and orbit radius for the model.

Below is an example calculation to determine the size of the model Earth, when using a 12-inch diameter Sun:

(Earth’s diameter / Sun’s diameter) * x inch model Sun diameter =
(12,742 km / 1,391,900 km) * 12-inches =
Answer: The diameter of the model Earth will be 0.1099 inches.

After finding your calculations for your model, fill in the chart on the Science board.
Challenge: As a class determine the distance between each planet in your models.



Research your planets, including their composition, atmosphere, orbit length, presence (or absence) of moons and any additional information, and prepare to present what you've learned during the final building of the model.


Solar System Model