There are 12 paddles – one for each of the 9 planets, one for the sun, one for the moon and an information paddle. The planet is shown at its correct tilt and rotating at its relative speed. Extra information is visualised in each corner of the paddle, including planet size, mass, density, orbit and distance from the sun. When you bring any object close to another, both re-size to their relative scales.
Details
Each of the objects are shown with photo-realistic detail, rotating at its relative speed along an axis with the appropriate tilt off a vertical axis. There are also four extra areas of visual information – one in each corner of the black square:
Relative Size. If the user assumes the large (10cm diameter) planet represents the size of the sun, then they can see a small red sphere mounted in the white corner, which represents the relative size of the planet to the sun. For example, Earth is a tiny 1mm diameter sphere and Jupiter is a 1cm sphere.
Relative Distance from the Sun. The user can see a series of nine concentric rings, which represent the orbits of the nine planets around the sun. These orbits are placed at their correct distances from the sun. The orbit of the planet being viewed is coloured red, so that it can be identified and compared to the others.
Relative Mass. Ten vertical bars are shown in the green corner - one for each of the planets and one for the sun. The bar for the planet being viewed is coloured red so that it can be easily identified. The height of each bar represents the mass of that planet, with the heaviest planet (Jupiter) reaching half the height (5cm) of the 3D model of the planet. A measuring pole runs up the centre of each bar to the 5cm mark (with 5mm gradations) to assist in comparing the values for each planet. Note, the Sun has a much larger mass than any of the planets - therefore its bar is so high that the top cannot be seen.
Relative Density. Uses the same layout of ten vertical bars, with the bar for the current planet coloured red and the height of the bars representing density. The bars are arranged in the same way in both the mass corner and on the other planet cards to assist the user in making comparisons.
To aid with recognition, these corners are colour-coded as white, red, green and blue respectively. This planet data is designed to encourage active comparisons by placing one paddle beside another.
Other Resources:
Click here to view a worksheet for this module <empty, awaiting feedback>.
Click here to view the information resources for this module.
Click here to view the curriculum relevance for this module.
