The second part of this lab is to determine the distance of objects from the Sun in our Solar System. To help us build our scale model of the Solar System we will be converting Astronomical Units (AU) and converting it to inches. (2 pts)

Question

Our Scale will be 1 AU = 1.5”

Fill out the “AU Converted into inches” column below to get the distance of your objects from the Sun.

Example: Mercury is 0.4 AU and we will multiply it by 1.5.

0.4 X 1.5 = 0.6 which gives us 0.6 inches, this is the distance that Mercury will be away from the Sun in your model of the Solar System.

Approximate Distances from the Sun to the Planets
Solar System Object
Distance from the sun (km)
Distance from the sun (AU)
AU Converted into inches
Mercury
58,000,000
0.4
0.4 x 1.5 = 0.6 inches
Venus
108,000,000
0.7
0.7 x 1.5 = 1.05 inches
Earth
150,000,000
1.0
1.0 x 1.5 = 1.5
Mars
228,000,000
1.5
1.5 x 1.5 = 2.25
Jupiter
778,000,000
5.2
5.2 x 1.5 = 7.8
Saturn
1,433,000,000
9.5
9.5 x 1.5 = 14.25
Uranus
2,872,000,000
19
19 x 1.5 = 28.5
Neptune
4,495,000,000
30
30 x 1.5 = 45

Answer 1

Here is the table filled out with the distances from the Sun to the planets converted into inches based on your scale of 1 AU = 1.5 inches:

| Solar System Object | Distance from the Sun (km) | Distance from the Sun (AU) | AU Converted into inches | |---------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------| | Mercury | 58,000,000 | 0.4 | 0.4 x 1.5 = 0.6 inches | | Venus | 108,000,000 | 0.7 | 0.7 x 1.5 = 1.05 inches | | Earth | 150,000,000 | 1.0 | 1.0 x 1.5 = 1.5 inches | | Mars | 228,000,000 | 1.5 | 1.5 x 1.5 = 2.25 inches | | Jupiter | 778,000,000 | 5.2 | 5.2 x 1.5 = 7.8 inches | | Saturn | 1,433,000,000 | 9.5 | 9.5 x 1.5 = 14.25 inches | | Uranus | 2,872,000,000 | 19.0 | 19 x 1.5 = 28.5 inches | | Neptune | 4,495,000,000 | 30.0 | 30 x 1.5 = 45 inches |

Make sure to follow the calculations shown for each planet to get consistent results for your scale model.