Intergalactic Planetary

Evidence of Work

Description:

For this project we were asked to make five models of the solar system. Each model we added more information and understanding of the solar system. Every model kept on getting more difficult to make as we had to really critical think in models four and five. The first model we got into groups and drew out the solar system from previous knowledge. Our first model wasn't accurate and included minimal detail because my group and I only knew the order of the planets. For the second model we looked at links provided by Mr. Williams that showed pictures of the planets in orbit. We needed to include the planets to scale, distance between the planets and color. In the third model we had to pick two planets, one a rocky planet and the other a gas giant. My partner and I chose to do Mercury and Jupiter. This model was more in depth because this time we needed to include the mass of planet, radius of planet, calculate ‘g’ for the planet (equation is 6.67x10^-11(m1)/radius of planet), distance from the sun and calculate the force of gravity between the planet and the sun and drawing of the planet in color. The main goal of model three was to prove that we knew how to use the equations to find g for the planet and force of gravity. In model four we were focusing on the phenomenon and patterns of planets. This one I had to really critical think because we had to look at a set of data and find a phenomenon that went will with the data. We needed to include evidence, explanations, limitations, modifications and unanswered questions. Then we had to predict something about a new dwarf planet which is called planet x. For planet x we predicted what the escape velocity of the planet is. We found this by using the equation 2GM/R square rooted. After we calculated we found that the escape velocity of planet x would be 1.38 km/s. To make our model more clear we added a data table to show data for the three planets we chose which is Venus, Saturn and Uranus. Lastly for model five we had to predict four pieces of information on planets x, y and earth. We were given a table full of information on x, y and Earth that included obliquity to orbit, radius of planet, mass, orbital speed and distance from the sun. Then the second part of model five was to calculate the orbital period using T = 2d/v and calculate your weight on the planet using F = Gm1m2/r2. After completing all of the models I now have a better understanding of the solar system.

Model One:

Model Two:

Model Three:

Model Four:

Model Five A and B:

Content

Law of Universal Gravitation: Issac Newton states that every object attracts every other object with a force that for any two objects is directly proportional to the mass of each object. This law can be shown in the equation such as F~M1M2/d^2.

Universal Gravitational Constant, G: Equation is F=M1M2/d^2. So this means that that the force of gravity would be found by multiplying two objects masses, dividing by the square of the distance between their centers, and then multiplying this result by the constant G.

Gravitational Force: The force of attraction between all objects in the universe.

Inverse square law: It is a law that talks about the intensity of an effect such as illumination or gravitational force changes in inverse proportion to the square of the distance from the source.

Orbital Period: The amount of time/rotation it takes to travel around the sun.

Orbital velocity: The average speed or velocity it takes the planet to orbit around the sun.

Distance to the Sun: Average distance from the planet to the sun in millions of kilometers.

Radius: Distance from the earths surface to the core of the planet.

Density: The average density of the entire planet.

Obliquity to Orbit: The angle in degrees the axis of a planet is tilted relative to a line perpendicular to the planet's orbit around the Sun, north pole defined by right hand rule.

Crust: The outer most layer of the Earth.

Mantle: a planetary body bounded below a core and above a crust.

Rotation: The action of a planet to move around the axis.

Revolution: The movement of a object around a center or another object.

Gravity: The gravitational acceleration on the surface at the equator.

Length of Day: Average time in hours for the sun to move from the noon position in the sky at a point on the equator back to the same position.

Reflection

Two things I did well on in this project was being able to collaborate and be a good conscientious learner. I knew my teammate so it was very easy for us to get along and cooperate together. We had a strong work ethic and always made sure to split up the work evenly. Their was never any disputes between us because we agreed to share out our ideas and make a decision together. We timed out our project to make sure that we always finished each model during class time so we didn't have to do it for homework or make it late. One person would draw the models and look up information while the other partner would do some of the calculations. This way everyone was doing something that contributes to the team. The next skill for being a conscientious learner is setting goals. Our goals for the five models was to put in all of our focus to making sure we are trying our best while making each model. We asked questions when we needed help and doubled checked our work with others students to make sure it was right.

Two things I did not do so well on was being a critical thinker and taking initiative. For model four I should have done a better job at justifying and explaining in depth what the modifications and limitations are. We only meet approaching expectations when I would have liked to receive the grade that said we meet expectations. I did not look up enough information to really describe what we were trying to predict for model four and five. We should have not only checked our calculations with other groups but with the teachers to ensure our answers were right instead of trusting someone else the same age as us. For this project I was not the leader and I stayed more reserved. This however did not work well for me because I was scared that my idea would be incorrect. Also I didn't have that much of a voice because this was one of the harder projects in my opinion. I trusted my teammate with doing some of the calculations while we both should have been doing it together. In the next project I will make sure to be the leader of the group and not stay back and be quite.

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