Lewis is making a model of the Earth-Moon system. He knows that the diameter of the Earth is about four times greater than the d
iameter of the Moon. He uses a globe that is 16 inches in diameter to represent the Earth and a balloon that is blown up to be 4 inches in diameter to represent the Moon. What property of the Earth-Moon system is best represented by this model?
A.
the materials that make up the Earth and Moon
B.
the size of the actual Earth and Moon
C.
the appearance of the Earth and Moon
D.
the relative scale of the Earth and Moon
The relative scale is used to compare two objects or models, in terms of its scale. This enables to understand the relation between the scale of one model that is directly measurable and the other that is too large to measure. Here the direct measurable model is the globe-balloon system and the non-measurable large model is the earth-moon system.
According to the provided condition, Lewis knew that the earth's diameter is four times bigger than that of the moon. He constructed a model of its own by taking a globe of diameter 16 inches and a balloon of diameter 4 inches. <u>He compares this globe to the earth and the balloon to the moon. His model completely satisfies the condition maintaining their relative sizes</u>.
So the property of relative scale of earth and the moon system is appropriately shown in this model.
D. this is the correct answer because the question is showing a comparison of sizes rather than the actual sizes which eliminates B. A and C have no relevance.
