My Solar System—Lab and WS
My Solar System—Lab and WS Name_______________________________
A. Go to
B. Click and start the applet “My Solar System.” by hitting Run Now!
C. Move the slider all the way to accurate, click off the tape measure and the grid, if on. Turn off the traces except system centered. System centered should be checked only.
D. Click the radio button for 4 objects and run the simulation until the purple planet (body 2) has made one complete orbit (one year).
1 : Is the blue moon orbiting the planet?
2. What type of pattern or shape would the orbit have?
E. After the first orbit(year), turn on the traces(show traces box) and watch another orbit(year) of the purple planet (body 2).
3. Draw the patterns of the green planet, purple planet, the blue moon, and yellow star.
4. Is the blue moon (body 3) circling the yellow sun (body 1) or the purple planet (body 2)? Explain your answer.
F. Hit Reset. Increase the mass of the sun (body 1) to 400 and allow the simulation to run for one complete orbit of the purple planet (body 2). Allow to run for a time of 10.0.
5. What happens to the blue moon? Why?
G. Decrease the mass of the sun (body 1) to 175 and allow the simulation to run for one complete orbit of the purple planet (body 2). (~48.0 units) Draw the general pattern.
6. How do the orbits of the planets change when the mass of the sun is increased or decreased? Why? Explain your answer.
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7. Why does the sun (body 1) follow a circular path? How does the path change as its mass changes? Why? Explain your answer.
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H. Choose the preset for Sun and Planet from the pull-down menu.
I. Complete the data table below by changing the mass as shown and recording the length of the year in seconds, and also measuring the distance from the planet to the sun at the closest point (perihelion) and farthest point (aphelion). (Make sure slider is set to most accurate) Check the tape measure feature. Put the x of the Sun in the center. Put the x of the opposite end on the closest and farthest point on the orbit.
|Mass of Sun (body 1) |Mass of Planet (body 2)|Time of One Orbit |Closest Distance to Sun |Farthest Distance to Sun |
| | |(planetary year) |(perihelion) |(aphelion) |
|200 |10 | | | |
|400 |10 | | | |
|600 |10 | | | |
|800 |10 | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
8. When is the planet moving fastest? Why?
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9. What makes the length of the year increase and decrease? Why?
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J. Testing Time: Making Predictions
Using 4 different bodies, keep 3 masses the same and change 1 mass. Record the mass here. (The position and velocity should stay the same.)
|Body |Mass |
|1 (yellow) | |
|2 (purple) | |
|3 (Blue) | |
|4 (green) | |
10. Predict what you think will happen. Use words or a drawing.
11. Run it. What does happen? Draw it. Why does it act like this?
K. Another Test:
Change 1 more mass from above. It should be a different body. Record the data in the chart.
|Body |Mass |
|1 (yellow) | |
|2 (purple) | |
|3 (Blue) | |
|4 (green) | |
12. Predict what you think will happen. Use words or a drawing.
13. Run it. What does happen? Draw it. Why does it act like this?
14. How can an orbit be made more circular? Explain your answer.
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15. In your own words describe what an orbit is and what factors affect the size, speed and time (period) of an orbit.
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