A STEM Project: Making a Planetary Model which Revolves Around the Sun

Planetary Model with a Sun and Planet that Rotates

Video of Planetary Model in Action

This planetary model uses the skills learned in the previous project, of making a square box and combines it with how a gear operates.  I purchased my tea light at Dollar Tree.  I went back a few weeks later and they did not have the tea light that I purchased in stock  They did have a different type of tea light but the height is different.  I am including the file for the height of my tea light.  With the skills you learned in the previous post, you should be able to modify the box height.

Here is the PDF.  I used 110 lb. cardstock.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oODKNWSrWd46mvUm7IyNSA3aB0x9_zn4/view?usp=sharing

Here is the .Studio file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H-gWLuR-929OwaUfLgFxQlDj0siXHIph/view?usp=sharing

 There are three circles with slits.  The largest circle is in the middle flanked by the two smaller circles on either side.  Slide the semicircular pieces on the three circles.  Repeat until all the semicircles are attached and look like the figure below.

Bend the axle into a tube and glue. Repeat for the second axle.

 Thread the axle though the top gear (axle with an extra hole) and glue the tabs down. Thread the axle for the bottom gear (axle without an extra hole) and glue the tabs down.

Glue the ring to the carrier.

 Make the brad by gluing the four small circles together. Make sure they are aligned correctly.

 Apply glue to the center of the head and adhere the four small circles. 

Wait for the glue to dry before attaching the brad.

Make the planets by bending the circles in half.  Glue three of the circles together and repeat. Glue the two semicircle together.

Completed Planet 

 Thread the brad through the small circle in the top gear.

Thread the small planet gear onto the brad.

Using just a drop of glue, adhere the top circle to the brad.  Make sure that the planet gear rotates freely. 

Glue the two main gears together

The main gear should look like the above photo.

Make the top of the box by gluing into a square.

 Apply glue to the inner tab of the box. Adhere one of the square pieces with a hole in the center to the middle of the box form.

Turn the box top over. Glue the other square piece to the top of the box. Repeat the above instructions for the box bottom.

Using Glue Dots, place a dot in each of the four corners as shown above.

Apply two strips (blue glue) of a glue runner as shown in the above photo. Thread the bottom axle through the box top and adhere the assembly on the box top.

Apply glue to the head of the brad and adhere the planet.

Apply glue to the rim of the top axle and adhere the sun.

Thread the tea light through the axle and close the box by attaching it to the box bottom..

Completed Planetary Model.