Explain how you could model a year on Earth and a day on Earth using two foam balls lone for the earth and one for the sun).
To model a year on Earth and a day on Earth using two foam balls, one for the Earth and one for the Sun, follow these steps:
1. Gather the materials needed: two foam balls (one larger for the Sun and one smaller for the Earth), a thin wooden or metal stick, paint, markers or stickers (optional), and a sturdy base to hold the model (e.g., a wooden board or clay).
2. Paint the larger foam ball (representing the Sun) with yellow or orange to resemble the Sun's color. You can also add surface details like sunspots if desired.
3. Paint or decorate the smaller foam ball (representing the Earth) according to how you want it to look. Use blue and green paint to showcase landmasses and oceans, add stickers or markers to depict continents, or paint polar ice caps if preferred.
4. Attach the wooden or metal stick vertically to the base to act as a support for the Sun foam ball (make sure it is securely fastened).
5. Carefully pierce the larger foam ball in the center (the painted side) with the lower end of the stick, ensuring it is stable and held in place. This represents the Sun anchored in space.
6. Use the other end of the stick to connect it through the smaller foam ball (representing the Earth). Ensure it is secured firmly to mimic Earth's orbit around the Sun.
7. Adjust the position of the Earth foam ball along the stick to represent various points in Earth's orbit around the Sun. It's important to note that Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular but slightly elliptical, so adjust the distance accordingly.
8. Now, you can use the model to depict Earth's motion around the Sun to show both a year and a day on Earth. For a year, rotate the Earth foam ball around the Sun once, taking care to maintain an imaginary tilted axis (about 23.5 degrees) as you do so to represent Earth's seasons.
9. To simulate a day on Earth, rotate the Earth foam ball around its axis (the stick) once. This rotation represents one full day on Earth, taking approximately 24 hours.
By manipulating the position of the smaller foam ball around the stick, you can demonstrate different periods of Earth's orbit, showing the changing seasons. Similarly, rotating the smaller foam ball around its axis will help you showcase the Earth's rotation, causing day and night cycles.