Name: __________________

Lab 1 - Scaling the Solar System

Lab Partner: __________________

Pre-lab Exercises: Scaling and the Solar System

Show all of your work as well as the answers below. If you need extra
space, use the reverse side, or add scratch paper and staple it to the pre-lab
sheets.

1. Round the following numbers to three significant digits and convert

them to scientific notation:

160 =

1009 =

1,100,912 =

1,040,306,000,716,000 =

0.017309 =

0.00010145 =

123,699 =

0.0000000045682 =

2. (a) Since one mile is equal to 1.609 kilometers, how far away is the Sun in
kilometers if the average Earth-Sun distance is 93,000,000 miles? Note that
this distance (in any units) is defined to be one Astronomical Unit (1 A.U.).

(b) How many cm are in one A.U.?

(c) Imagine that you have just discovered Planet X, orbiting the Sun at a
distance of 500,000,000 kilometers. How many A.U.'s from the Sun is
Planet X? Round off your answer to two significant digits (i.e., 2.4).

-9-
3. One light-year is equal to the distance that light travels in one year.
Since light travels at a speed of 300,000 km/s, this is no small distance!

Using this information, and the facts that there are 60 seconds per
minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year,
determine the distance to the nearest star system (Alpha Centauri) in
kilometers. By the way, Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light-years away.

4. Using the given distances and diameters of objects in the solar system,
complete Table 1 of the lab. Each object in the table is listed together with
its actual diameter and actual distance from the Sun.

Obtain the Relative Diameter by dividing the diameter, D, of the

object by the diameter of the Earth. Similarly, calculate the Relative
Distance in A.U.'s by dividing the Distance from the Sun for the object by
the Earth's distance from the Sun. Recall that 1 A.U. is the average Earth-
Sun distance. Also note the following:

1 km = 1000 m = 100,000 cm
1 m = 100 cm

-10-
 Table 1. Planetary Data

Diameter Distance Relative Relative

from the Diameter Distance in
(km) Sun (D/DEarth) A.U.'s
(106 km)

Sun 1,392,000 0 0.0

Mercury 4,878 57.9

Venus 12,102 108

Earth 12,756 149 1.0 1.0

Mars 6,794 228

Jupiter 142,984 778

Saturn 120,536 1427

Uranus 51,118 2870

Neptune 49,528 4497

Pluto 2,246 5914

Show all relative diameters and distances to only two significant digits!

-11-
 Astronomy 020 —Lab 1
Scaling of the Solar System
Purpose
1. To create a scaled model of the solar system with objects from around your house.
2. To get some experience with scientific notation and large values common in astronomy.
3. To get some experience converting between metric unit order-of-magnitude prefixes.
Equipment
• Calculator
• Computer
• Measuring tape
Summary of the Lab

In this lab you will set a scale for the solar system starting with a scaled size of the Sun. This will
allow you to see first-hand how much smaller the planets are from the sun and how most of the
mass of the solar system is inside the Sun.

You then will use Goggle Maps or a similar mapping service and find out how big your scaled
solar system would be if you set the Sun down in the middle of Solano Community College. This
size of the solar system represents the orbits of the planets.
Experimental Procedure (see the accompanying directions video for more
details and guidance)

1. Before you proceed, complete the Pre-Lab on the previous pages.

2. Chose a room in your home and measure the diagonal length of the room and set that
length as the diameter of scale model of the Sun — imagine that a large spherical model
of the Sun is occupying the entire room that you have chosen.
3. Answer the questions and complete the tasks below, many of which require calculations
similar to those in the Pre-Lab.
What to Turn In

Please type or carefully handwrite your answers to the following questions or directions on a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Include diagrams and pictures where instructed.

1. Based on the diagonal room length that your measured, what is the Scale Factor (SF) of
!"#$% '()$
your model solar system. !" =
*+,-*% '()$
2. Complete the table on the last page of this lab. You should be able to find objects in your
home that are the right lengths for your models. The objects need not be spheres and just
need to be as long on one side as the diameter of the planet that you are modeling.
 3. Using the orbital distance of planets as listed in the table on the last page of this lab,
show how large each planet’s orbit would be on an overlay to a satellite image centered
on Solano Community College.
4. Based on the scale of your model, calculate how fast you would need to walk in order to
be walking at the scaled speed of light. Show your work for this calculation.
5. Based on the scale of your model, calculate how far the nearest star (Alpha Centauri)
would be. If your model was to represent our solar system and this nearest star, would
your model fit on Earth?
6. Based on the scale of your model, calculate how large you would be? Would your scled
size be larger or smaller than an atom?

Las Positas College Page 2 Physics

 Table 2. Scale Model "Solar System"

Actual Actual Scaled Scaled Measured Comments

Diameter Distance Diameter Distance to Diameter (What objects did
from of Planet Planet of Selected you use and how
the Sun Object well did they match
(km) (106 km) (cm) (m) (cm) the required scaled
size?)

Sun 1,392,000 0 0.00

Mercury 4,878 57.9

Venus 12,102 108

Earth 12,756 149

Mars 6,794 228

Jupiter 142,984 778

Saturn 120,536 1427

Uranus 51,118 2870

Neptune 49,528 4497

Pluto 2,246 5914

Show all scaled diameters and distances to only three significant digits!

-8-