Make a model of the solar system … and get a hike to boot!
Deb sent a cool link over to me on the weekend on building a scale model of the solar system from things like balls, peppercorns (that would be Earth, Venus, and Mars) and other easily found household objects.
Visit the site for the details, but the big lesson here (pun intended) is the scale of the solar system. Even at the the size of this solar system (the Sun as an 8-in/20 cm ball) Pluto is a half a mile (.8 km) from the starting point!
This is totally an outside, maybe part of a fun summer party, thing. a little walk in the neighborhood or in a large park.
Scale is one of those really important things about science. For example, if I’m taking a picture for this blog of as cool bug or fossil (note to self … do the make fossils at home experiment) I’ll put a ruler, dime, or other object that we all recognize for scale.
Okay … start getting your pins, peppercorns, balls, and acorns ready … let’s take a solar walk!
Tags: solar system, scale model
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