Question

procedure b: relative distances between the planets

1. complete data table 2 using a scale of 1 cm = 10,000,000 km.
2. convert all answers greater than 100 cm to meters.
3. data table 1: size comparisons of planets

planet	distance from sun (km)	scale distance (cm)	scale distance (m)	distance in astronomical units (au)
venus	108,200,000
earth	149,600,000
mars	227,900,000
jupiter	778,300,000
saturn	1,427,000,000
uranus	2,869,000,000
neptune	4,496,000,000

1. measure 6 meters of cash register tape/paper. at one end, list the names of all students in your group. draw a line across the tape near one end and label it “sun”. measure all planet distances from this line.
2. after measuring the distance of each planet and labeling them, attach the planets you cut out in procedure a.

conclusion questions for procedure b:

1. how do the distances between the inner planets compare to the outer planets?
2. which two planets are closest to earth?
3. how far away would neptune be if you used the scale from procedure a?
4. the star closest to our sun is alpha centauri. it is 4.3 light years (41,000,000,000,000 km) away from earth. using the scale from procedure b (1mm = 10,000,000 km), calculate the distance it is from earth.
5. the large mangelanic cloud is a galaxy near our milky way galaxy. it is 160,000 light - years from earth. using the scale from procedure b, calculate how far away it is from earth. (note: 160,000 light years = 1.5×10^18 km)
6. create a t - chart that highlights the differences between the gas giant planets and the...

Answer:

To solve the problems related to the relative distances between the planets, we'll follow the given scale and perform the necessary calculations. Let's tackle each part step by step.

Step 1: Complete Data Table 2 (Scale Distance in cm and m)

The scale is \( 1 \, \text{cm} = 10,000,000 \, \text{km} \). To find the scale distance in cm, we use the formula:
\[
\text{Scale Distance (cm)} = \frac{\text{Distance from Sun (km)}}{10,000,000}
\]
Then, convert cm to meters (if \( > 100 \, \text{cm} \)) using \( 1 \, \text{m} = 100 \, \text{cm} \).

Venus:

• Distance from Sun: \( 108,200,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{108,200,000}{10,000,000} = 10.82 \, \text{cm} \approx 10.8 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{10.82}{100} = 0.1082 \, \text{m} \approx 0.11 \, \text{m} \)

Earth:

• Distance from Sun: \( 149,600,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{149,600,000}{10,000,000} = 14.96 \, \text{cm} \approx 15.0 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{14.96}{100} = 0.1496 \, \text{m} \approx 0.15 \, \text{m} \)

Mars:

• Distance from Sun: \( 227,900,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{227,900,000}{10,000,000} = 22.79 \, \text{cm} \approx 22.8 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{22.79}{100} = 0.2279 \, \text{m} \approx 0.23 \, \text{m} \)

Jupiter:

• Distance from Sun: \( 778,300,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{778,300,000}{10,000,000} = 77.83 \, \text{cm} \approx 77.8 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{77.83}{100} = 0.7783 \, \text{m} \approx 0.78 \, \text{m} \)

Saturn:

• Distance from Sun: \( 1,427,000,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{1,427,000,000}{10,000,000} = 142.7 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{142.7}{100} = 1.427 \, \text{m} \approx 1.43 \, \text{m} \)

Uranus:

• Distance from Sun: \( 2,869,000,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{2,869,000,000}{10,000,000} = 286.9 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{286.9}{100} = 2.869 \, \text{m} \approx 2.87 \, \text{m} \)

Neptune:

• Distance from Sun: \( 4,496,000,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale Distance (cm): \( \frac{4,496,000,000}{10,000,000} = 449.6 \, \text{cm} \)
• Scale Distance (m): \( \frac{449.6}{100} = 4.496 \, \text{m} \approx 4.50 \, \text{m} \)

Step 2: Conclusion Questions (Selected Examples)

Question 6: Distances Between Inner and Outer Planets

Inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) have smaller, more closely spaced distances between them. Outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) have larger, more widely spaced distances (e.g., Jupiter to Saturn is ~65 cm, while Venus to Earth is ~4 cm).

Question 7: Closest Planets to Earth

Venus (distance ~41,400,000 km) and Mars (distance ~78,300,000 km) are closest to Earth.

Question 9: Distance to Alpha Centauri (Scale: \( 1 \, \text{mm} = 10,000,000 \, \text{km} \))

• Distance: \( 41,000,000,000,000 \, \text{km} \)
• Scale: \( 1 \, \text{mm} = 10^7 \, \text{km} \), so \( \text{Distance (mm)} = \frac{4.1 \times 10^{13}}{10^7} = 4.1 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm} \)
• Convert to meters: \( 4.1 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm} = 4.1 \times 10^3 \, \text{m} = 4100 \, \text{m} \)

Question 10: Distance to Large Magellanic Cloud

• Distance: \( 160,000 \, \text{light - years} = 1.5 \times 10^{18} \, \text{km} \)
• Scale: \( 1 \, \text{mm} = 10^7 \, \text{km} \), so \( \text{Distance (mm)} = \frac{1.5 \times 10^{18}}{10^7} = 1.5 \times 10^{11} \, \text{mm} \)
• Convert to meters: \( 1.5 \times 10^{11} \, \text{mm} = 1.5 \times 10^8 \, \text{m} \)

Final Table (Summary)

Planet	Distance from Sun (km)	Scale Distance (cm)	Scale Distance (m)
Venus	108,200,000	10.82 (≈10.8)	0.1082 (≈0.11)
Earth	149,600,000	14.96 (≈15.0)	0.1496 (≈0.15)
Mars	227,900,000	22.79 (≈22.8)	0.2279 (≈0.23)
Jupiter	778,300,000	77.83 (≈77.8)	0.7783 (≈0.78)
Saturn	1,427,000,000	142.7	1.427 (≈1.43)
Uranus	2,869,000,000	286.9	2.869 (≈2.87)
Neptune	4,496,000,000	449.6	4.496 (≈4.50)

For specific conclusion questions, refer to the step - by - step explanations above.