Veda · OUT OF PURE CURIOSITY
How big are the planets?
Earth and Mars · Add Jupiter · Compare diameters
Earth and Mars
Earth is roughly twice as wide as Mars. Compare the two spheres: diameter is the distance through the centre.
Add Jupiter
Jupiter is about 11 Earth diameters across. It looks huge beside Earth.
Compare diameters
Turn on the ruler. One unit is one Earth diameter. A planet’s size does not tell us its distance from the Sun.
For adults · discuss together
Relative diameters are rounded: Mars 0.53, Earth 1, Jupiter 11. Spacing and colours are illustrative.
Before experience
Ask: “What do you think will happen?” Let the child check his guess first.
After the experience
What has changed? What remains the same? Where can you notice a similar phenomenon?
