Unit 1.2 Our Solar System

AIM: How far away is the Earth from the Moon?

IntroductionDeciding that the larger sphere represents the Earth, we have also determined a distance scale, in which the diameter of the Playdoh Earth is equivalent to the diameter of the Earth.

A good ratio to keep in mind is that the Moon is approximately 30 Earth diameters away from us. This means that if we place the Playdoh Moon at a distance equal to 30 times the diameter of the Playdoh Earth, we will have them at the proper relative distance. Let’s try to model this concept in our classroom setting.

GOAL

To determine the distances between the celestial bodies in our solar system

Celestial: natural objects visible in the sky

RESULTS TABLE 1Celestial Body

# of Playdoh Spheres

Circumference Diameter Radius

   

          

    

          

    

          

Table 1