Editing Zane Middle School scaled planetary solar system

[[File:ZANE SPSS SOLAR SYSTEM 3D MODELS.jpg|thumb]]

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The purpose of this project is to develop a Scaled Planetary Solar System (SPSS) for students to understand the vastness of outer space and the sizes of the planets relative to each other. In Spring of 2019, Team Polaris was united in Engineering 215 Intro to Design class at Cal Poly Humboldt, to work with Catherine L. Zane Middle School Representative Jeanne Wilhelm.

== Background ==

Cal Poly Humboldt's Engineering 215 - Intro to Design has partnered up with Catherine L. Zane Middle School to develop engaging projects as a teaching tool for the Environmental Resources Engineering Students. As result, Team Polaris is responsible for developing a 3-Dimensional Scaled Planetary Solar System for Zane Middle School. The Scaled Planetary Solar System will supplement the current lessons instructed at Zane Middle School on the Solar System Unit. The addition of the 3-D Scaled Planetary Solar System will help promote a tangible understanding for the students at Zane Middle School.

== Problem statement and criteria ==

The objective of the Scaled Planetary Solar System is to engage the students, provide a physical representation and supplement their learning of the Solar System. The following table describes the criteria with respect to their weight. The criteria was established with regards to the school policy and Zane Representative Jeanne Wilhelm.

'''Table 1:''' Criteria for Final Design

{| class="wikitable"
! Criteria
! Constraints
! Weight
|-
| Safety
| Harm no person with normal use
| 10
|-
| Cost
| Cost no more than $400
| 10
|-
| Aesthetic
| Agree with school themes
| 10
|-
| Durability
| Last a minimum 10 years of normal use
| 9
|-
| Ease of Installation
| No heavy equipment required for use
| 6
|-
| Educational
| Supplement understanding of the Solar System
| 5
|}

== Final Project Description ==

The final project consists of two models. The 2D models and the 3D models. The 2D models are planets and their names painted on the ground with respect to their 3D models. Every 2D model is painted at its location as seen above. The 2D models serve as markers for the 3D models. The 3D models are made of plywood, PVC, marbles and ping pong balls. The smaller planets Mercury and Mars are constructed out of glass marbles because glass marbles closely fit the scaled sizes for these two planets. Venus and Earth were created with ping pong balls due to the same reasons as Mercury and Mars. The large gas planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are composed of plywood due to its low cost, sturdiness and lightness. Each gas planet requires two scaled mirror disks. Each disk is slotted down the middle to fit its mirror disk. The two disks are then slotted together. Jupiter and Saturn maintain their collapsible disk feature for easy storage. Uranus and Neptune were made permanent due to their small sizes using epoxy. Every planet is glued onto a wooden dowel which is also epoxied into the PVC poles to increase the strength of their mounting points. The PVC pole of every planet is 5 feet long to allow easy observation for a large group of students with a variety of heights. All the planets are then fitted onto the bases.

Every base is made of two mirror planks of plywood for the same reasons as the planets. Similarly, to the gas planets, each plank is slotted multiple times in the middle. The center slot for the planks accommodate its mirror plank in a perpendicular pattern. The offset, center, dual slots accommodate the PVC inserts. Each PVC insert helps provide support for the PVC poles of the planets.

The Sun is made out of 4 by 8 feet plywood panels and has been framed on the back with 6 feet long two by fours. Only half the sun was cut out of the panels because it was far too large to make a full circular sun. The Sun will be mounted next to Zane Representative, Jeanne Wilhelm's classroom.

<!-- insert of sun mounted on wall -->
The Scaled Planetary Solar System is set to two different scales. A scaled distance from the sun and another scale with respect to each other. Mercury and Mars are made from glass marbles. Earth and Venus are composed of plastic ping pong balls. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are made from quarter inch thick plywood. All the planets are painted with respect to their colors based on photos from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The structural post of all the planets are made from quarter inch thick PVC pipe. Every PVC pipe has a diameter of one inch, a four-inch dowel insert at the top of to fit the respective planet using Epoxy.

<center>
<gallery>
File:ZANE SPSS Planet Locations.jpg|thumb|Designated locations of each planet.|center|Planet locations designated on map of Zane Middle School.
File:ZANE SPSS MARS 3D Model CLOSE UP.jpg|thumb|Close up of Mars mounting point.
File:SPSS Base Assembled.jpg|Base assembled.|thumb|Base assembled with PVC center insert.</gallery></center>

== Costs ==

Table of Costs for the development of the Zane Scaled Planetary Solar System

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Cost Table
! Quantity
! Material
! Source
! Total ($)
|-
| 1
| Pack of Paintbrushes
| Piersons
| 6.84
|-
| 1
| 2.5 quart bucket
| The OT Store
| 7.56
|-
| 1
| Gorilla Glue
| Ace
| 6.64
|-
| 1
| Krud Kutter
| Piersons
| 14.99
|-
| 1
| Masking Tape
| Piersons
| 8.72
|-
| 1
| Ground Paint
| Piersons
| 105.94
|-
| 1
| PC& Epoxy
| Ace
| 13.28
|-
| 1
| Plywood
| Piersons, Ace, Mill Yard
| 102.51
|-
| 1
| Poster Board
| CVS
| 8.94
|-
| 1
| PVC
| Piersons, Ace
| 14.46
|-
| 1
| Sandpaper
| Ace
| 4.74
|-
| 1
| Screws
| Piersons
| 3.70
|-
| 1
| Spray Paint
| Piersons
| 16.23
|-
| 1
| Wooden Dowel
| Piersons
| 5.69
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="3"|Total Cost
! $320.24
|}

== How to Assemble ==

{{Step
| number = 1
| title = Locate Base and 1ft PVC
| image = SPSS Base Disassembled.jpg
| caption = Base disassembled.
}}

{{Step
| number = 2
| title = Insert top base piece into slat of bottom piece and insert PVC into the 4 top notches.
| image = SPSS Base Assembled.jpg
| caption = Base assembled.
}}

{{Step
| number = 3
| title = Insert PVC planet pole model into PVC receptacle on base (see step 2).
| text = '''CONDITIONAL''' If planet is a gas giant, insert free planet plate into slit of attached plate.
| image = Assembling Gas Planet Jupiter.jpg
| caption = Assembling Jupiter, the gas planet.
}}

{{Step
| number = 4
| title = Place assembled model on designated location on the Zane campus.
| image = ZANE SPSS Planet Locations.jpg
| caption = Designated locations of each planet.
}}

== Maintenance ==

=== Schedule ===

The following is the maintenance schedule for the Zane Scaled Planetary Solar System. Maintenance for this project is relatively low given proper treatment of the 3D planet models, requiring an hour of maintenance every 2-3 years.

;Every 2-3 years

* Touch up of painted 2D models
** This task simply involves touching up the painted 2d models because of weathering and foot traffic.
* Fixing a broken model
** Task includes painting over chips and dings on the shaft and sphere parts of the 3d models.

=== Maintenance Time Cost ===

* 1-2 hours every 5 years

=== Maintenance Monetary Cost ===

* ~$15-$20 for paint and materials

=== Instructions ===

This is how to maintain. The step by step how to template {{Tl|How to}} is most likely best for this part. 

{{How to

 |title=How to Do Something

 |File:Bpack bike trailer - demo 1.jpg |Backpack frame bike trailer |1 |Do something.

 |File:Aleiha dish.jpg |Aleiha's parabolic solar cooker |2 |Do something really complicated but made simple, etc.

}}

== Photo Gallery ==

=== Painted 2D Models ===

[[File:ZANE SPSS SUN.jpg|thumb|1000px|none|Example of the Suns expected size compared to humans.]]

<gallery>
File:Mercury Concrete.jpg| Mercury, the closest planet to orbit the Sun.
File:Venus Concrete.jpg| Venus, the second closest planet to orbit the sun and the most similar size to Earth of all the planets in the Solar System.
File:Earth Concrete.jpg| Earth, the blue marble.
File:Mars.jpg| Mars, the red and potentially habitable planet.
File:Jupiter Concrete.jpg| Jupiter, the largest, gaseous planet in the Solar System.
File:Saturn Concrete.jpg| Saturn, the second largest, gaseous planet in the Solar System. Saturn also has the largest rings in the Solar System.
File:Uranus Concrete.jpg| Uranus, the planet in the Solar System with vertical rings in the Solar System.
File:Neptune Concrete.jpg| Neptune, the farthest planet from the Sun and last to be recognized as a full size planet rather than a dwarf planet.
</gallery>

== Video ==

{{Video|VJHKc9GVd-I|400px|}}

== Discussion and next steps ==

The Scaled Planetary Solar System is a supplemental tool to educate the students at Catherine L. Zane Middle School. The models are set to two different scales. The first scale is a ratio of the planets. All the models are scaled with respect to Jupiter. The second scale sets the distance between every model. Team Polaris agreed to the two different scales because if the distance was made small to accommodate the school campus, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars would be almost a speck to the human eye. If Team Polaris scaled the models to accommodate Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, the sun would be far too big and have no place to deploy due to the increased distance. In addition, Uranus and Neptune would be forced onto the grass field surpassing the asphalt basketball courts. As a result, two scales became the optimal choice to accommodate for all the models. Team Polaris presents the Scaled Planetary Solar System Model to Catherine L. Zane Middle School and hopes the students gain a better perspective of the Solar System.

== Suggestions For Future Changes ==

==== Utilize Augmented Reality ====

Approach the objective utilizing Augmented Reality. Many programs are available free of charge to create and host the 3D models for Augmented Reality. Overall there may be a steep learning curve to learn some HTML coding however some projects created on open source programs are available for use as templates.

==== Best Wood Selection ====

When selecting wood for the bases, use solid wood planks instead of plywood. Plywood weakens significantly for the bases after the center has been cut. The weakness of the plywood base planks is not an issue unless if a substantial force is applied on the largest surface area, or the face of the plywood plank while laying on a fulcrum.

==== Painting on Wood ====

Apply two coats of appropriate primer to the wood prior to painting. Follow up with as many coats of paint required as well and allow every coat to dry prior to additional coats. Depending on the type of paint used, sanding may or may not be required. If you do need to sand, sand between every paint coat using 100 grit sand paper and finish off the last coat of paint with a minimum of 400 grit, for smooth surface results use 1000 grit to finish of the final coat instead of 400 grit.

==== Painting on Concrete ====

For best results in terms of longevity, epoxy paint is the best option. Unfortunately, it's very expensive and is sold only by the gallon locally in Eureka and Arcata, California. For relatively temporary use, spray paint directly on concrete will adhere well enough. Always scrub the intended area of painting with environmentally friendly, heavy duty degreaser. Agitate the concrete with a rough bristle broom and rinse off well with water. Allow the concrete to dry prior to painting.

==== Clean Cuts ====

For best results with clean cuts, always measure twice and cut once. Use chop saws, table saws and jigsaws for fast, easy cuts. Follow up all the edges with an orbital sander armed with 100 grit and then 400 grit sandpaper to smooth everything out. Use a file to smooth out the slots made in the bases.

==== Gluing ====

If you choose to glue anything onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ensure you have the correct glue that will adhere to PVC. Always glue prior to painting because the glue may strip the paint. If you have concerns about sanding any decorations glued onto the PVC after painting, use blue painters tape as a place holder for the decorations or tape over your decorations with a minimum of two layers. Strictly sand by hand for best results.

== References ==

Williams, D. R. (2018). "Planetary Fact Sheet - Metric." NASA, NASA, <https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/> (May 9, 2019).

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[[Category:Engr205 Introduction to Design]]
[[Category:K-12 education]]
[[Category:Zane Middle School]]
[[Category:Classroom activities]]