Solar System Distances Quick Check
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Question
Use this paragraph: In a scale model of the solar system, the sun is placed at the center and the planets are shown orbiting in circles around it. Mars is 1.5 AU away from the sun and in the model, it appears at 30 cm from it which means that 1 AU = 20 cm. Likewise, Neptune is 30 AU away from the sun.
What is the maximum possible distance that can be drawn between Mars and Neptune in the scale model? Hint: Two planets are as far apart as possible when they are on directly opposite sides of the sun from each other. Draw a picture with the planets as far apart as possible.
(1 point)
570 cm
1.5 cm
28.5 cm
630 cm
To find the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune in the scale model, we can use the given information that 1 AU is equal to 20 cm.
Mars is 1.5 AU away from the sun, so in the scale model, it appears at 1.5 AU * 20 cm/AU = 30 cm from the sun.
Neptune is 30 AU away from the sun, so in the scale model, it appears at 30 AU * 20 cm/AU = 600 cm from the sun.
To find the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune in the scale model, we can subtract their distances from the sun:
600 cm - 30 cm = 570 cm
Therefore, the maximum possible distance that can be drawn between Mars and Neptune in the scale model is 570 cm. Answer: \boxed{570 \text{ cm}}.
Solar System Scale Quick Check
1 of 41 of 4 Items
Question
A student uses a diagram to show the scale sizes of the planets. Which planet’s diameter would be approximately the distance across the United States?(1 point)
Responses
Mercury
Mercury
Neptune
Neptune
Jupiter
Jupiter
Uranus
To find the maximum possible distance that can be drawn between Mars and Neptune in the scale model, we need to determine the distance between them when they are on directly opposite sides of the sun.
In the scale model, Mars appears 30 cm away from the sun, which corresponds to 1.5 AU. Similarly, Neptune is 30 AU away from the sun.
Since 1 AU is represented by 20 cm in the model, the distance between Mars and the sun can be calculated as 1.5 AU * 20 cm/AU = 30 cm.
Likewise, the distance between Neptune and the sun can be calculated as 30 AU * 20 cm/AU = 600 cm.
To find the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune, we add the distances from the sun to each planet.
30 cm (distance from Mars to sun) + 600 cm (distance from sun to Neptune) = 630 cm.
Therefore, the maximum possible distance that can be drawn between Mars and Neptune in the scale model is 630 cm.
The correct answer is: 630 cm.
To answer this question, we need to determine the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune in the scale model of the solar system.
According to the information given, 1 AU is represented as 20 cm in the scale model.
Mars is located at 1.5 AU from the sun, which corresponds to 1.5 x 20 = 30 cm in the scale model.
Neptune is located at 30 AU from the sun in the scale model, which translates to 30 x 20 = 600 cm.
To find the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune, we need to consider that they are as far apart as possible when they are on directly opposite sides of the sun from each other.
In the scale model, the distance between two planets is equal to the sum of their distances from the sun.
Thus, the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune would be 30 cm (the distance of Mars from the sun) + 600 cm (the distance of Neptune from the sun) = 630 cm.
Therefore, the correct answer is 630 cm.