Size and Distance Models
Introduction My December blog (The Headless Angels and the Four Science Concepts) dealt with science concepts in general, and concluded with a brief discussion of size and distance models of the Solar System. Larry and I developed the models many years ago for use in teacher in-service training workshops. The updated activities described below are now being used for Girl Scout Adult Leadership Workshops under the auspices of a NASA-funded program, Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts. SIZE MODEL 1: The Diameters of the Planets Background: Planetary scientists sometimes use the Earth as a reference point in making measurements. For example, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is called an Astronomical Unit, or AU, and is used to describe distances in the Solar System. Another example is Earth’s atmospheric pressure (14.7 lb per square inch); it is referred to as one atmosphere (1 atm), and the atmospheric pressures of the other planets are sometimes expressed … Continue reading →