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.
In the scale model, the distance between Mars and the sun is represented by 30 cm, and 1 AU is equal to 20 cm. Therefore, the actual distance between Mars and the sun is 1.5 AU x 20 cm/AU = 30 cm.
Similarly, the actual distance between Neptune and the sun is 30 AU x 20 cm/AU = 600 cm.
To find the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune in the scale model, we need to convert their actual distances to the same scale. Since the sun is at the center and the planets are shown orbiting in circles, this maximum distance occurs when Mars and Neptune are on directly opposite sides of the sun.
Since the distance between Mars and the sun in the scale model is 30 cm, and we want to place Neptune on the opposite side, we need to add the actual distance between Mars and the sun (30 cm) to the actual distance between Neptune and the sun (600 cm).
Therefore, the maximum possible distance that can be drawn between Mars and Neptune in the scale model is 30 cm + 600 cm = 630 cm.
To find the maximum possible distance between Mars and Neptune in the scale model, we need to determine their positions when they are directly opposite each other on either side of the sun.
In the scale model, the distance between the sun and Mars is 1.5 AU, which is represented by 30 cm. This means that 1 AU is equal to 20 cm in the model. Similarly, Neptune is 30 AU away from the sun.
Since Mars and Neptune are as far apart as possible when they are on directly opposite sides of the sun, we need to calculate the distance between them when they are in this position.
To do this, we can add the distance from the sun to Mars (30 cm) to the distance from the sun to Neptune (30 AU = 30 x 20 cm = 600 cm) to get the total distance between them.
So, the maximum possible distance that can be drawn between Mars and Neptune in the scale model is 30 cm + 600 cm = 630 cm.