Ipsita Vikrantv Salve
Mr.M Mavec
Science
Date:13/05/2024
Title
Solar Striking Experiment
Purpose/Question
How does the distance from the sun affect how Earth is?
The purpose of this Solar Striking Experiment lag is to see what happens to Earth’s
temperature when its distance from the sun changes from where it is currently.
According to National Geographic, Earth’s distance from the sun doesn’t affect its
surface temperature. However, this is based on a pretty small distance change
between Earth’s aphelion and perihelion. The temperature of the sun is caused most
likely by the same reason that seasons, the tilt of the Earth. Again, however, this
is at the small scale of a 5 million km difference. The temperature and heat waves
on Earth are mainly caused by a combination of dry surface conditions, clear skies,
and "ridges" of high pressure in the atmosphere. The ridges can stay in a region
for a lot of days, warming the air and clearing away clouds. Fewer clouds mean more
sunlight reaches the ground, and if the surface is already hot and dry, the extra
heat just increases the heat. Again though, none of this takes into account large
changes in distance. For us, the distance would be changing largely, like from
Earth to Neptune. Though millions of km seem large, on a space scale it’s nothing.
The habitable zone or Goldilocks Zone is the distance or area from a star where it
is not too hot or cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of the planets in
the zone (NASA).
Hypothesis
If the Earth is moved from its current spot in space, then its temperature would
change because the sun is farther or closer to it.
Materials
* model magic
* Styrofoam balls
* wire,
* Labels
* colored paper
* paint
* sculpting tools
* spray paint
* hot glue & hot glue gun
* thermometer
* heat lamp
* Glitter
Procedure
Creating the bases
1. Start by making the bases with 51 cm x 77 cm cardboard canvases.
2. Paint them black and add stars by splattering white paint on them
Creating the planets
3. Next use styrofoam balls and model magic in order to create the planets and sun.
4. Use the styrofoam balls and then add model magic on top until you get the size
that you want for each of the planets.
5. Paint the planets to your liking and based on how they look.
6. Make sure to create two identical suns and earth, one for the control model, the
other is for the experiment.
Creating the control diagram
7. Create a base for the planets and sun using two wires that are intertwined for
the supports. Then a single piece of wire for the circle on top. Just like how it
is in the diagram. Hot glue everything into place together.
8. Poke a single piece of wire into the planets and put them into the circle on the
top of the base, hot glue them into place. Make sure the distance is according to
the scale.
9. Repeat step 8 for all the planets based on the scale. Do this until it looks
like our diagram.
Creating the experimental diagram
10. Repeat step 7 on the other base.
11. Repeat step 8 but just for Earth. Make it adjustable by gluing a piece of cut
straw on top of the Earth.
Variables
Independent variable: The Earth’s distance from the sun
Dependent variable: The temperature on Earth in Celcius
Experimental groups: Model of the solar system with Earth closer to the
sun. Model of the solar system with Earth farther from the sun.
Control group: Regular model
Results (Data Collection)
Recording Raw Data
Describes qualitative and quantitative observations - using correct English grammar
and expression. Numerical data included in sentences.
Written observations-qualitative and quantitative observations-descriptions such as
sights, sounds, smells, etc. you have observed during your experiment. This can be
written as a paragraph or bulleted sentence.
Recording Raw Data in Table Skills
Trial
Distance from sun
Temperature
Trial 0
1AU/10cm +5
29℃
Trial 1
0.39AU/3.9 cm +5
32℃
Trial 2
1.52AU/15.2cm +5
27℃
Trial 3
9.54AU/95.4cm +5
24℃
Planet
Distance from Sun (AU)
Distance to the planet (km)
Scale distance from the Sun (cm) 10cm/AU
Scale distance from the sun (cm)
5cm/AU
1:1 Scale distance from the sun AU: cm
Actual diameter (km)
Sun
0
1,391,980
Mercury
0.39
58,000,000
3.9
1.95
0.39
4,880
Venus
0.72
108,000,000
7.2
3.6
0.72
12,100
Earth
1.00
150,000,000
10
5
1.00
12,800
Mars
1.52
228,000,000
15.2
7.6
1.52
6,800
Jupiter
5.20
778,000,000
52.0
26
5.20
142,000
Saturn
9.54
1,430,000,000
95.4
47.7
9.54
120,000
Uranus
19.2
2,870,000,000
192
96
19.2
51,800
Neptune
30.1
4,500,000,000
301
150.5
30.1
49,500
Discussion
Graphing Skills
.
Processing Data (Analysis)
Describe trends or patterns observed in the table or graph-refers to numbers. A
possible explanation for the observed results is provided. Uses results to do math
calculations to support explanation. Reference to research to help support
explanation is included.
Conclusion
States a conclusion that matches the data collected. Refers back to the objective
and if it was achieved. If relevant, restate the prediction if the prediction was
supported/correct or falsified/incorrect.
This section is where you are to EXPLAIN YOUR RESULTS and what they mean. You
should develop inferences based both on your experimental observations and on your
prior knowledge of the topic. Your inferences must logically follow and be
supported by your results. Discuss trends observed throughout your experiment.
Explain why certain data was important and decide if and how the data supports your
hypothesis
Evaluate Procedure and Data Collection
Discuss any weaknesses/problems in the experimental design. Identify sources of
errors.
* The project should be done while keeping the measurement of the base in mind and
keeping a measure of how heavy the planets are as they tend not to stay on the
wires but rather bend them.
* Make sure that there are enough materials to use.
* The moon model doesn’t have craters and the white grayish color instead is
covered in glitters which include blues red and other colors.
* The colors of the planets should be done better.
Improvements
* Wires shouldn’t be crooked, they should be elliptical as they represent the
orbits/distances.
* The planets should be like mini versions of the planets and should look exactly
the same.
* The solar system model should have an asteroid belt to make it look more
realistic.
* The rings of Saturn should have more rings and of a more elliptical shape not
circular and they should be a little away from Saturn.
References
Provides all sources of information in MLA format.
It is extremely important that you cite any and all sources that you use for your
experiment. This includes any graphics that you use. Refer to the MLA Citation
Guide in the Writing Handbook for proper format. You may skip this section if the
only materials used were instructions given by your teacher (verbal or written).
Reports should be written as shown above, listing the headings in bold and meeting
the criteria under each heading. The discussion/conclusion section is worth the
most points. Spelling and grammar count and your report should be well written.
