In this first technology project we are going to use the World Wide Web and a computer program called Excel to figure out your weight on different planets.

You may work in pairs or by yourself.

Your first assignment is to use the World Wide Web to find information on the nine planets in our solar system. Use the Web Site Your Weight on Different Worlds to figure out how to convert your weight on Earth to weights on each of the nine planets. You need to figure out the relative gravity factor for each planet.

Your second assignment is to open up Excel (find the icon on the desktop of the computer or look for it under "Start" then "Programs"). Note how the spreadsheet is divided into rows and columns. In cell A1 (column A, row 1) type your name(s). In A2 type the word "Planet", make it bold, and underneath in A3-A11 type the names of the Planets. In B2 type "My Weight on Earth" , make it bold, and in B3-B11 enter your weight on earth (B3-B11 will have the same entries). You can use the 'click & drag' feature to enter these data. In D2, type "My Weight on...", and make it bold. , and underneath in D3-D11 type your weight on different planets (this is what you looked for on the WWW). In C2 type "Gravity Factor", make it bold, in C3 you'll enter a formula that will calculate the relative gravity factor in decimal form (the relative gravity factor is the number you multiply your weight on earth by to figure out your weight on different planets).  Then use the 'click & drag' feature to fill in C4-C11.

Do you have time left?
Have some fun with it and enter different weights in column B (maybe your cat's or dog's weight). How much would your dog or cat weigh on the different planets? How do you calculate their weight? Can you use Excel to calculate their weights on different planets?

When time is up:
Save your spreadsheet and e-mail it to your instructor. Answer one more question: What planet would you like to live on (based on weight)?

Updated: 08/21/2003
Back to K-8 Mathematics Technology Projects

A spreadsheet set-up to get you started.