A student uses a diagram to show the scale sizes of planets. Which planets diameter would be approximately the distance across the United States?
The approximate distance across the United States is about 2,800 miles. The scale sizes of planets vary, but if we assume that the diagram uses a scale where 1 inch represents 1,000 miles, we can calculate the diameter of a planet that would be approximately the distance across the United States.
Since 1 inch represents 1,000 miles, we can set up a proportion to find the diameter:
1 inch / 1,000 miles = x inches / 2,800 miles
Cross-multiplying, we get:
1,000 miles * x inches = 2,800 miles * 1 inch
Simplifying, we find:
x = (2,800 miles * 1 inch) / 1,000 miles
x = 2.8 inches
Therefore, in the diagram, a planet with a diameter of approximately 2.8 inches would represent the distance across the United States.
To determine which planet's diameter would be approximately the distance across the United States, we need to consider the scale and actual sizes of both.
1. Determine the approximate diameter of the United States: The approximate distance across the United States is about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers).
2. Find the actual sizes of the planets: The diameter of each planet in miles is as follows:
- Mercury: 3,032 miles
- Venus: 7,521 miles
- Earth: 7,918 miles
- Mars: 4,212 miles
- Jupiter: 86,881 miles
- Saturn: 72,367 miles
- Uranus: 31,518 miles
- Neptune: 30,599 miles
3. Compare the diameter of the United States with the diameter of each planet:
- Mercury: United States is smaller
- Venus: United States is smaller
- Earth: United States is smaller
- Mars: United States is smaller
- Jupiter: United States is smaller
- Saturn: United States is smaller
- Uranus: United States is smaller
- Neptune: United States is smaller
Based on this comparison, none of the planets have a diameter that matches the distance across the United States (2,800 miles or 4,500 kilometers).
1.Mercury
To determine which planet's diameter would be approximately the distance across the United States, we need to find the size of the United States and compare it to the diameters of the planets.
To begin, we need to know the diameter of the United States. The United States is about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) wide from east coast to west coast.
Next, we can compare this distance to the diameters of the planets. Here are the approximate diameters of some commonly known planets:
- Mercury: 3,032 miles (4,879 kilometers)
- Venus: 7,521 miles (12,104 kilometers)
- Earth: 7,918 miles (12,742 kilometers)
- Mars: 4,223 miles (6,779 kilometers)
- Jupiter: 86,881 miles (139,820 kilometers)
- Saturn: 72,367 miles (116,464 kilometers)
- Uranus: 31,518 miles (50,724 kilometers)
- Neptune: 30,599 miles (49,244 kilometers)
Comparing these numbers, we can see that the planet with a diameter closest to the distance across the United States is Earth, with a diameter of approximately 7,918 miles. Therefore, the planet closest in size to the distance across the United States is Earth.