If we make a scale model of the solar system with the Sun the size of a grapefruit, the planets would be all much smaller than the Sun. Specifically, four of the planets (the inner terrestrial planets) would be located very close to the Sun-within a few centimeters-while the other four (the outer gas giants and ice giants) would be spread out at distances ranging up to about a meter from the Sun. This means the planets would appear tiny compared to the grapefruit-sized Sun, and their spacing would be uneven, with the inner planets clustered close and the outer planets much farther apart in the model
. To give a sense of scale, Earth would be roughly the size of a small bead or marble located about 15 meters away from the Sun-sized grapefruit, illustrating how vast the distances are in the solar system even at this scale
. The overall model would cover an area roughly the size of a large room or more, depending on how far out you include the outer planets. In summary:
- Sun = grapefruit-sized sphere
- Planets = much smaller, ranging from marble-sized to smaller
- Inner planets clustered within centimeters to meters of the Sun
- Outer planets spread out up to about a meter or more away
- The model shows the huge size and distance differences in the solar system
