Question-

SOLAR SYSTEM SCALE MODEL WALK LAB 

Name _______________
Class-Section ___________________

Exploring our place in space with the Gainesville-Hall County Scale Model Walking Tour of Our Solar System:

Discussion:

While we can memorize the large numbers that describe the distances between worlds in our solar system and quote the even more enormous values for the distances between the stars, it is almost impossible to truly understand just how vast these distances really are. One way to gain at least a little understanding is to view an accurate scale model of the solar system. The Gainesville-Hall County Scale Model Walking Tour of Our Solar System brings these numbers "down to size" so that you can explore our solar system by foot. It is a perfect way to get a little exercise and bring our place in space into perspective.

Procedure:

1. Use the Walking Tour of Our Solar System location maps attached to the lab to drive to the Gainesville square. Using the tour map attached, begin your walking tour of the solar system. (Of course you may drive from place to place in the tour, but walking will give you a much better feel for the relative distances.)

2. Use the attached sheet and make rubbings of the planet names off the plaques in the indicated boxes. You may utilize a pencil or crayon to make the rubbings. As you go from planet to planet make sure to feel the sizes of the planet models, they are to scale with the distances between the planets. Answer the questions on the following page using the information found on the plaques.