Scale and Size of the Solar System

Scale and Size of the Solar System

Let's figure out what our solar system really looks like in real life.

Multiple Choice

What is the center of our solar system?

• The sun

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Saturn

Multiple Choice

Which of the following orders the planets correctly from the Sun?

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus

• Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury

• Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus

Multiple Choice

Which planet in our solar system is closest to the Sun?

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Mercury

• Saturn

Models of the Solar System

Some model are accurate and others are not.

Accurate meaning they are proportional and scaled to the actual size of the planets in real life.

This model, all the planets look about the same size.

This one is accurate, in terms of size. The size of each represents the actual size. It is proportional or scaled correctly! The distance is NOT accurate though.

Multiple Choice

True or False

The planets are all equally distanced from each other.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which planet is the smallest in the solar system?

• Earth

• Mercury

• Saturn

• Jupiter

Multiple Choice

Which planet the solar system has the greatest mass?

• Earth

• Venus

• Saturn

• Jupiter

Multiple Choice

This shows

• Size difference between the planets accurately

• Distance between the planets accurately

• Both size and distance accurately

Multiple Choice

How do the sizes of the inner planets (4 closest to the sun) compare to the sizes of the outer planets (4 farthest from the sun)?

• The inner planets are larger.

• The outer planets are smaller.

• There is no size difference between the inner and outer planets.

• The inner planets are smaller.

This image has distance drawn to scale but it is very hard to see any details. The size however, is NOT drawn to scale.

Video Time

Let's watch this video: https://youtu.be/DMZ5WFRbSTc

Multiple Choice

Describe how the distances between the orbits of the inner planets (1st four from the sun) compare to the distances between the orbits of the outer planets (four farthest from the sun).

• The distances between orbits of the outer planets are much smaller.

• The distances between orbits of the outer planets are much larger.

• The distances between orbits of the inner planets are much larger.

• There is no difference between the distances of the orbits of the inner planets and the outer planets.

Multiple Choice

Why is making a model of the solar system difficult?

• Don't have the right materials

• The solar system is so big and the objects in it are so small in comparison

• There are too many parts in a model

• Because the science concepts are too difficult

Multiple Choice

Does this show a correct scale model of the Solar System size differences

• Yes

• No

Explore NASA's website

Use the link in the chat to learn more about the size and scale of our solar system.