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Scale of the Solar System

Wed, 04/02/2015 - 23:49 — zephyrost
Introduction
Public summary: 

By comparing sizes and distances we can scale our solar system all the way up from the Earth and the Moon, up to our nearest star, and you might be surprised how far that actually is!

By comparing sizes and distances we can scale our solar system all the way up from the Earth and the Moon, up to our nearest star, and you might be surprised how far that actually is!
Useful information
Kit List: 

Golf ball - Moon
Globe - Earth
Marbles - Earth/Sun on different scales
Red foam ball - Jupiter
Card with pin-prick hole - Sun/Solar system on bigger scales

Packing Away: 

Don't lose your marbles!

Explanation
Explanation: 

For globe earth:
Golf Ball moon - at a distance of 4m
c=6ms-1

For 2m (roughly demonstrator height) Sun:
Earth marble
Jupiter ball
c=1ms-1 (GUESS!?!)

Sun marble
Earth 2m away
Jupiter 10m
Neptune 60m

Sun 1mm (pin prick hole in card)
Neptune 4m
Alpha Centauri 29km

Solar System (sun to neptune) 1mm
Alpha Centauri 10m

Risk Assessment
Date risk assesment last checked: 
Thu, 30/01/2020
Risk assesment checked by: 
Conor Cafolla
Date risk assesment double checked: 
Thu, 30/01/2020
Risk assesment double-checked by: 
Beatrix Huissoon
Risk Assessment: 
Hazard Risk Affected Person(s) Likelihood Severity Overall Mitigation Likelihood Severity Overall
Balls/marbles Tripping or falling over stray rolling balls/marbles. All 4 3 12 Demonstrator must emphasise that children must walk, should stop everyone walking to actually do explanations. Take note of any trip hazards (cables, other experiments, etc.) that may block the path of children walking & warn them to be careful of these if necessary.
Must be made very clear to children that they may not kick or throw the balls ever.
Call first aider in case of injury. 		2 3 6
Small parts (marbles) Small balls used in some parts of the experiment being swallowed. Children 3 3 9 Do not use small balls parts of experiment for audiences of very young children.
Keep track of all small parts. Don't lose your marbles!
Call a first aider in the event of an swallowing. 		2 3 6
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