My Solar System

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In this online activity, learners build their own system of heavenly bodies and watch the gravitational ballet. With this orbit simulator, learners can set initial positions, velocities, and masses of 2, 3, or 4 bodies, and then see them orbit each other. This activity includes an online simulation, sample learning goals, teaching ideas, and translations in over 30 languages.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
free per student
Age Range:
Ages 11 - adult
Resource Types:
Activity, Model, Simulation
Language:
Arabic, Basque, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese

Materials List (per student)

  • Computer with online access, current Macromedia Flash software, and mouse

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
      • Stars and Galaxies
    • Earth Structure
    • Earth, Moon and Sun
    • Solar System
      • The Sun
      • The Moon
      • The Planets
      • Asteroids and Comets
  • Mathematics
    • Geometry
      • Plane Geometry
    • Measurement
      • Units of Measurement
      • Circles
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Momentum and Velocity
      • Projectile Motion
      • Newton's Laws
      • Kepler's Laws
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Mass and Weight
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • read
  • use mouse

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Foreign language versions of this resource:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Dubson, Michael ; Gratny, Mindy ; Harlow, Danielle

Source Collection

  • PhET Interactive Science Simulations

Rights:

Funding Sources:

  • The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
  • National Science Foundation
  • Excellence Center of Science and Mathematics Education at King Saud University
  • O'Donnell Foundation