A student wants to draw a scale model of the Solar System in 3 or 4 sentences or bullet points. Explain what steps should be taken to create this model
1. Start by determining the scale of your model. Decide how much smaller you want to make the solar system to fit within a reasonable space. For example, you could choose a scale where one centimeter represents 1 million kilometers or one inch represents 10 million kilometers.
2. Research the sizes and distances of the planets and other objects in the solar system. Use accurate measurements to calculate the scaled down sizes of each planet. For example, if the Earth has a diameter of 12,742 kilometers, you would need to make it about 1.27 centimeters in your model with the chosen scale.
3. Once you have all the scaled down sizes for the planets and their distances from the Sun, mark these positions on a long strip or a large circular poster board. Ensure the distances between planets are also to scale. You may need to leave out some of the smaller objects or represent them with mere dots to fit the model.
4. Finally, use different materials and colors to portray the planets and other celestial bodies accurately. For instance, you can use modeling clay or foam balls to create the planets, paint them according to their actual appearance, and attach them to the appropriate spots on your model.