PROBLEM SOLVING - THE SOLAR SYSTEM (STANDARD UNITS) - PLANETARY MATH PRACTICE

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Problem-solving worksheet using standard units to analyze planetary measurements. Students use provided mean radii of Mercury through Neptune to compute mean diameters, round radii to the nearest 1000 miles, and list planets from smallest to largest. Additional questions compare radii differences between specific planets (Saturn vs Earth, Mars vs Neptune) and calculate the combined radius of the three largest planets. Includes a separate answers table with computed values and an estimate for Jupiter relative to Earth.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Planet Data Table

Questions

Answers (Standard Units)

Name Date PROBLEM SOLVING-THE SOLAR SYSTEM (STANDARD UNITS) Have a look at the data on our planets below, then answer the questions. | PLANET | MEAN RADIUS
(miles) | MEAN DIAMETER
(miles) | RADIUS TO NEAREST 1000 miles | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Mercury | 1516 | | | | Venus | 3761 | | | | Earth | 3959 | | | | Mars | 2106 | | | | Jupiter | 43441 | | | | Saturn | 36184 | | | | Uranus | 15759 | | | | Neptune | 15299 | | | 1) Fill in the mean diameter of each planet by using the radius. The mean diameter is twice the mean radius. 2) Round each radius to the nearest 1000 miles and fill in the column on the right hand side. 3) Write the planets in order, from smallest to largest below (you can write the first 3 letters in each planet’s name) . 4) How much larger is the radius of Saturn than the radius of Earth? 5) How much smaller is the radius of Mars than the radius of Neptune? 6) What is the total radius of the three largest planets? 7) The radius of Jupiter is about: 2 times 5 times 10 times 20 times bigger than the radius of Earth. Name Date PROBLEM SOLVING-THE SOLAR SYSTEM ANSWERS (STANDARD UNITS) | PLANET | MEAN RADIUS
(miles) | MEAN DIAMETER
(miles) | RADIUS TO NEAREST 1000 miles | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Mercury | 1516 | 3032 | 2000 | | Venus | 3761 | 7522 | 4000 | | Earth | 3959 | 7918 | 4000 | | Mars | 2106 | 4212 | 2000 | | Jupiter | 43441 | 86882 | 43000 | | Saturn | 36184 | 72368 | 36000 | | Uranus | 15759 | 31518 | 16000 | | Neptune | 15299 | 30598 | 15000 | 1) Fill in the mean diameter of each planet by using the radius. The mean diameter is twice the mean radius. 2) Round each radius to the nearest 1000 miles and fill in the column on the right hand side. 3) Write the planets in order, from smallest to largest below (you can write the first 3 letters in each planet’s name) . Mercury Mars Venus Earth Neptune Uranus Saturn Jupiter 4) How much larger is the radius of Saturn than the radius of Earth? 32, 225 miles 5) How much smaller is the radius of Mars than the radius of Neptune? 13,193 6) What is the total radius of the three largest planets? 95,384 miles 7) The radius of Jupiter is about: 2 times 5 times 10 times 20 times bigger than the radius of Earth.

FAQs

How do you find a planet’s mean diameter from its mean radius?

The mean diameter is twice the mean radius. Multiply the given radius by 2 to fill in the diameter column.

What does it mean to round each radius to the nearest 1000 miles?

Use the radius value and round it to the closest multiple of 1000 miles. The worksheet asks you to place that rounded result in the last column.

Which planet radii comparisons are asked in the worksheet?

It asks how much larger Saturn’s radius is than Earth’s, and how much smaller Mars’s radius is than Neptune’s.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick