PV Gap

Dora Said:

Build a model solar system. Anyone else having problems with delivery of this damned magazineBobbyBoo?

We Answered:

what the hell are you talking about?

Willard Said:

Has anyone put together stage 2 of "build a model solar system" yet?

We Answered:

Not yet, the people who publish this, are rather late in my area with copies, but I would suggest that if you have the parts, you start now, as to build an orrery (which is it's proper title) is very time consuming, and you will find a lot harder, if you have to spend all your time looking at the instructions and keeping the parts, (about fifty of them, including some very small ) away from each other and in order, all at once. I have experience of this with engines and would recommend that you do it as you go, to finish, and find that you have a washer missing or too many is really, really, really, upsetting.

Edgar Said:

Has anyone built a 3-D model of our solar system?

We Answered:

I remember this project....2nd grade.....yikes!

I think we used different sized styrofoam balls and wire...painted the planets the appropriate colors....the sun was in the middle....It's a vague memory, but really cool!!!

Dora Said:

Can you list 3 characteristics of the geocentric solar system model?

We Answered:

The geocentric model is the theory, now debunked, that the Earth is the center of the universe and all other objects go around it. Belief in this system was common in ancient Greece. It was believed by both Aristotle, Ptolemy, and most Ancient Greek philosophers that the Sun, Moon, stars, and naked eye planets circle the Earth.

Two common observations were believed to support the idea that the Earth is in the center of the Universe. The first observation is that the stars, sun, and planets appear to revolve around the Earth each day, with the stars circling around the pole and those stars nearer the equator rising and setting each day and circling back to their rising point. The second is the perception that the Earth is solid and stable and that it is not moving or rotating.

Also, the term epicycles were used to explain the retrograde motion of the planets (the apparent backwards motion of a planet across the sky). These cycles are basically where the planets are assumed to move in a small circle, which in turn moves along a larger circle called a deferent around the earth. Both circles rotate eastward and are roughly parallel to the plane of the Sun's orbit


So three characteristics that sum up the geocentric model are:
1. The Earth is the center of the Universe and all objects orbit around it
2. The Earth is not rotating on an axis and instead the sun orbits around the Earth everyday.
3. The planets travel in epicycles, which explain their retrograde motion and variation in distance from Earth

Martin Said:

Copernicus solar system model?

We Answered:

I would paint them. Here are some true color pictures of the planets to give you an idea of what color to use.