How to make a scale model of the Sun and the Earth guide for KS3 physics students

Key points

The Sun is about 100 times wider than the Earth and the Earth could fit into the Sun over one million times.
It would take 500 years for the fastest person on Earth to run the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
It is difficult to imagine the difference in size between the Sun and Earth, or the distance between them. This activity will help you to visualise it.

Watch how to make a scale model of the Sun and Earth

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Have a go

Skip image gallery

Image caption,
Click to see a step-by-step slideshow
Image caption,
WHAT YOU NEED - A ruler, a football (approximately 22 cm) and some sticky tack.
Image caption,
STEP 1 - Make a 2 mm ball using the sticky tack.
Image caption,
STEP 2 - The football represents the Sun and the sticky tack is the Earth. Compare the two in size.
Image caption,
STEP 3 - Place the football 23 m away from the tack (or take 23 big strides). You've now created a model of the Sun and the Earth. Can you believe it would take the fastest person, 500 years to run between the two?

If you create this model, the Earth and Sun should be about 23 metres apart.

If you wanted to walk to the edge of the solar system (where the planet Neptune would be) you would have to walk thirty times further than you have done. That is nearly half a mile away!

Imagine trying to throw a pebble to hit your bit of sticky tack half a mile away, it would be very difficult indeed!

Rocket scientists face a similar challenge when they send spacecraft to explore these distant planets. Their calculations and models need to be very precise to achieve these ambitious goals.

Key points

Watch how to make a scale model of the Sun and Earth

Have a go

More on Space