Abstract
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. Team Polaris was created by Engineering 215 Intro to Design class at Humboldt State University, to work with Catherine L. Zane Middle School Representative Jeanne Wilhelm.
Background
Humboldt State University'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
| Criteria | Constraints | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Harm no person with normal use | 10 |
| Cost | Cost no more than $400 | 10 |
| Aesthetic | Agree with school themes | 10 |
| Durability | Last a minimum 10 years of normal use | 9 |
| Ease of Installation | No heavy equipment required for use | 6 |
| Educational | Supplement understanding of the Solar System | 5 |
Description of final project
The Scaled Planetary Solar System is set to two different scales. A scaled distance from the sun and another scale with respect to each other. Mercury and Mars are made from glass marbles. Earth and Venus are composed of plastic ping pong balls. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are made from quarter inch thick plywood. All the planets are painted with respect to their colors based on photos from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The structural post of all the planets are made from quarter inch thick PVC pipe. Every PVC pipe has a diameter of one inch, a four inch dowel insert at the top of to fit the respective planet using Epoxy. Photos and descriptions. Use gallery.
Include a how to use and maintain section. See the how to template below.
Prototyping
Use a gallery of prototyping photos and lessons learned.
Costs
| Quantity | Material | Source | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Total Cost | $320.24 | ||
How to Assemble
Maintenance
This section includes all relevant information for the maintenance of the Zane Scaled Planetary Solar System, including a secdule, materials and time cost
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
Photo Gallery
some photos
Background
Background
Instructions
This is how to maintain. The step by step how to template {{How to}} is most likely best for this part.
Troubleshooting
This is only how to troubleshoot basic operation. For complex issues, the solution might just say contact ________. It should be a table in this format:
| Problem | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Example issue | Example solution or suggestion |
| Does not turn on | Make sure it is plugged in |
| Another issue | Et cetera |
Discussion and next steps
Suggestions for future changes
This is where to lay out suggestions for how to make the project function better in the future.
References
See Help:Footnotes for more. Template:Reflist