Re: Can you suggest a good science fair experiment to do with the solar system?

Dear Joshua,
     You asked a very challenging question! Astronomers use the scientific 
method to test mathematical models all the time. Using your physical model 
to test hypotheses will be more difficult because it's hard to make 
accurate measurements with a tiny model of such a HUGE system. Here's my 
suggestion.
     You may have heard of planetary alignments. Often the popular press is 
filled with doomsday claims about all the planets lining up and their 
combined gravity destroying Earth. You may be able to use your model solar 
system plus some simple calculations to show how unlikely a perfect 
planetary alignment is.
     First adjust your model to reflect the orbital planes of the planets. 
Compared to the plane of Earth's orbit, Mercury's is inclined 7 degrees 
with the ascending node 48 at degrees; Venus' 3.4 degrees, asc. node 77 
degrees; Mars 2 degrees, asc. node 50 degrees; Jupiter 1.3 degrees, asc. 
node 100 degrees; Saturn 2.5 degrees, asc. node 114 degrees; Uranus 1 
degree, asc. node 74 degrees; Neptune 2 degrees, asc. node 132 degrees; and 
wild Pluto 17 degrees, asc. node 110 degree.
     Your scale model will show that at the vast distances our planets 
orbit even when they line up along a diameter of the ecliptic plane they 
are scattered far above and below the plane, and thus are not actually 
lined up.
     Ask your public librarian for help finding sensational news stories 
about alignments and a basic astronomy text to learn about orbital 
inclinations and ascending nodes of same.
    Good luck!
Jim Foerch
James C. Veen Observatory
Lowell, Michigan, USA