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USA TODAY® Related Activities
USA TODAY Related
Activities provides activities related to the concept of the lesson
as well as up-to-date Snapshot data.
Solar System Statistics
Materials: calculator, grid paper for making graphs
Work alone or in a group of two or three.
The table shows various statistics about the planets of our solar system. Use these statistics in the Procedure for the Activity.
| Planet |
Mean
Distance
from Sun
(millions of miles) |
Period
of
Revolution
(Earth years) |
Equatorial
Diameter (miles) |
| 1. Mecury |
36 |
0.24 |
1,261,832,000 |
| 2.
Venus |
67 |
0.62 |
1,014,004,000 |
| 3.
Earth |
93 |
1 |
172,860,000 |
| 4.
Mars |
142 |
1.88 |
126,550,000 |
| 5.
Jupiter |
483 |
11.86
|
100,350,000 |
| 6. Saturn |
886 |
29.46
|
39,997,000 |
| 7.
Uranus |
1783 |
84.01 |
78,774,000 |
| 8.
Neptune |
2794 |
168.79 |
47,471,000 |
| 9.
Pluto |
3666 |
247.69 |
57,634,000 |
Procedure for the Activity
| Step 1 |
Make a scatter plot
of the data for the distance from the Sun and the period of revolution
for each planet. Let the x-axis be distance and the y-axis be period
of revolution. There will be nine ordered pairs, one for each planet,
of the form (distance, period of revolution). Describe the shape
of the graph and the relationship between the two data sets.
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| Step 2 |
Can you find a counterexample
for the following statement based on the graph you made in Step 1?
If so, name the counterexample.
As the distance of planets from the Sun becomes greater, the
period of revolution of planets increases.
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| Step 3 |
Make a scatter plot
of the data for the distance from the Sun and the equatorial diameter
of each planet. Let the x-axis be distance and the y-axis be diameter.
There will be nine ordered pairs, one for each planet, of the form
(distance, diameter). Describe the shape of the graph and the relationship
between the two data sets.
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| Step 4 |
Can you find a counterexample
for the following statement based on the graph you made in Step 3?
If so, name the counterexample.
As the distance of planets from the Sun becomes greater, the
equatorial diameter of the planets increases.
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| Step 5 |
Describe how the shape
of the graph of two data sets can help you determine whether a counterexample
for a statement relating the data sets exists.
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Wrapping Up the Activity
Make a poster or brochure that describes how you
can use a scatter plot to determine whether a counterexample exists
for a statement relating two data sets.
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