how to make a scaled (down) model

part i: the general thought process

list "your thought processes" about making a scaled-down model of the earth-moon system.

What do you have to know -- and then what do you have to "do" with what you know - to complete the task ?

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part ii: the specific thought process

here is the data to make the model of the earth-moon-sun system.

determine the scale distance & diameter from the actual distance & diameters

xxxxx --- real diameter --- scale diam --- real distance --- scale dist

earth ---------- 8,000 mi ----------- 1 foot ---------xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

moon --------- 2,000 mi ----------- _________ ----- 240,000 mi --- ___________________

sun ---------- 800,000 mi ---------- ________ --- 93,000,000 mi ----- _________________

( real sun diameter = 864,000 mi )

dilemma:
the "numbers" are so "nice and easy" in the English System -- that to do it in metric units might be more "frightening" cuz the relationships aren't instantly "obvious"

part iii: eclipse models

let's tell a little fib by "rounding off" and saying that the ...

earth-sun distance: 100,000,000 mi ----- and ----- the sun's diameter: 800,000 mi

and -----

the earth-moon distance: 250,000 mi ----- and ----- the moon's diameter: 2,000 mi

distances

to the moon = 250,000 --- vs --- to the sun = 100,000,000

diameters

of the moon = 2,000 --- vs --- of the sun = 800,000

what is unique about these pairs of numbers ? --- { hint: remember when comparing big numbers - canceling out the zeroes makes for an easy analysis }

synthesis and analysis of data:

so what does this have to do with a solar eclipse ? (a diagram would help)

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