Create Models of Solar System

Overall Purpose

· Create a scale model based on the size of the sun and all planets to place in the hall outside our classroom.

· Create a scale model of the distances between the sun and each planet in the hall for each planet.

Basic Facts

· The hall is 140 feet long and that will be the base distance between the sun and Pluto.

· The sizes of the planets used in the distance diagram will be relative, but not exact. If they were exact, then Pluto would be so small it would be impossible to see.

· Part of your grade will be based on the class cooperation during this process and part of it will be based on the efforts which your team makes on your assigned portion of the project.

· If you work well together as a class, it is possible for everyone in the class to earn an A. The project is worth 200 points, so it will have a major impact on your grade.

Grading Criteria

· Time will be provided in class for both work and creation of planets and sun. Materials will also be provided.

Grouping	Criteria	Possible Score
Class	Accurate size scale for sun and all planets in size diagram	5
Class	Accurate distance scale for layout of solar system	5
Team	Power Point Presentation – Name and Title slide	5
Team	PPP – History of name of planet (i.e. star with origin – Mars is God of War)	10
Team	PPP – History of planet, including when planet was discovered and any myths or stories told about the planet (i.e. Mars and “War of the Worlds”	10
Team	PPP – Facts about planet (i.e. Distance from Sun and size	10
Team	PPP – Composition of planet and number of moons	5
Team	PPP – Summary	10
Team	PPP – Bibliography (at least three sources)	10
Team	Create two-dimensional size model of the planet with description	25
Team	Create two-dimensional model to be included in distance chart	25
Team	Presentation of Power Point and Models to Class	25
Class	Size model displayed in hall	25
Class	Distance model displayed accurately on wall	30
Team	TOTAL	200

Project Schedule

6 December 2004

· Find distance between sun and Pluto and determine distance scale.

· Find size of each planet and determine proper size scale

· Find distance from your planet to the sun and convert to distance scale

· Calculate the size of your item based on class distance scale

7 December 2004

· Do all the research for the presentations, complete the penis PPP’s

9 December 2004

· Create two-dimensional models for project

13 December 2004

· Finish off models, do any last minute research or other items as needed

14 December 2004

· Presentation of PPP’s and hanging of models in the hall

Team Assignments

Planet	Team	Distance km	Distance feet	Diameter km	Diameter cm	Distance (if same scale as Diameter, include where this would be)
Sun	Laura and Dane	0	0 feet	1,380,000	1,380	0
Mercury	Jason and Dustin	5.79 x 10^7	1.4	4,880	4.88
Venus	Chelsea and Melissa	1.08 x 10^8	2.6	12,103.6	12.1
Earth Earth 2	Joe and Chase Derek Duvall	1.50 x 10^8	3.6	12,756.3	12.76
Mars	Bivian, Pablo, Rodney, A.J.	2.28 x 10^8	5.4	6,794	6.79
Asteroid Belt	Sean F. and Adam	4.02 x 10^8	9.52	1,440	1.44
Jupiter	Scott, Carl, and Brandon	7.78 x 10^8	18.43	142,984	142.98
Jupiter’s Moons (Io Europa, Ganymede Callisto)	Distances from Jupiter These are Jupiter’s Galilean Moons (discovered by Galileo) Chelsey and Abby	422,000 670,900 1,070,000 1,883,000	.010 .015 .025 .045	3,636 3,138 5,268 4,800	3.636 3.138 5.268 4.800
Saturn	Jeff and Devin	1.43 x 10^9	33.89	120,536	120.54
Uranus	Neil, Sam, and Kevin	2.87 x 10^9	68	51,800	51.8
Neptune	Jeremy and Jim	4.50 x 10^9	106.64	49,514	49.51
Pluto	Miles and Robert	5.91 x 10^9	140 feet	2,320	2.32
Ratio			4.22 x 10^7 km/foot		1,000 km/cm	1,000 km/cm