Google Sheets Unit - Science & Technology Lesson
Today, we are going to start discussing the 8 planets in our Solar System. We will compare the
distance of each planet to the Earth and to the Sun. We will look at the size of each planet. We will
use math to figure out our weight and age on the other planets, then, try to figure out why our age or
weight may be different on each planet. We will do all of this in a Google Drive Spreadsheet.
DAY 1 –
NEW
1. Login to Google Drive. Click on the NEW Button
then click GOOGLE SHEETS.
2. Name this spreadsheet YOUR NAME PLANETS (Click on Untitled Spreadsheet in the
upper left hand corner of your screen to name your spreadsheet).
3. Highlight Cells A1- J1. Click on the Merge Cells Button
. In the large cell you
created, enter the title “Planet Discovery by Your Name”
4. In Cell A2, enter the Column Title “Planets”
5. In Cell B2, enter the Column Title “Distance in Miles to Earth”
6. In Cell C2, enter the Column Title “Distance in Miles to the Sun”
7. In Cell D2, enter the Column Title “Diameter in Miles”
8. In Cell E2, enter the Column Title “Gravitational Pull Compared to Earth”
9. In Cell F2, enter the Column Title “My Weight on Earth”
10. In Cell G2, enter the Column Title “My Weight on This Planet”
11. In Cell H2, enter the Column Title “Period of Revolution Compared to Earth”
12. In Cell I2, enter the Column Title “My Age on Earth”
13. In Cell J2, enter the Column Title “My Age on This Planet”
14. Now Center & Bold all of your titles you just created, including your Main Title at the top.
Example
Yours should look like the example below!
Google Sheets Unit - Science & Technology Lesson
DAY 2 - Open up the YOUR NAME PLANETS Spreadsheet you created in Google Docs.
1. Now list each planet, IN ORDER, in cells A3- A10, don’t forget to include Earth.
2. In cells F3-F10, simply fill in your weight. Fill in the same weight for each cell. If
you do not want to enter your weight, change the column to “My Pet’s Weight on
Earth” and enter your pet’s weight.
3. In cells I3-I10, simply fill in your age. Fill in the same age for each cell.
4. For the Distance in Miles in Columns B & C you can look at the Example Image
below to help you out! If you notice your commas in the numbers are
disappearing, simply highlight those cells, select FORMAT at the top of Google
Docs, and then choose NUMBER, then finally NORMAL so your commas in the
number will show.
Yours should look similar, but with a different age and weight!
Example
5. To find a planet’s Diameter in Miles, check out the site
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm
Don’t forget to add commas to your numbers!
6. In cells E3-E10, you need to find out how much of a Gravitational Pull each planet
has compared to Earth. For information about the Gravitational Pull for each planet,
check out the site http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875450.html. For Earth, you
will enter 1.
7. In cells H3-H10, you need to find out how long it takes each planet to revolve around
the Sun in comparison to the Earth. The time it takes for a planet to revolve around
the Sun is called its Period of Revolution. On Earth, it takes 365 days for the Earth to
completely revolve around the Sun. For information about the Period of Revolution
for each planet, check out the site http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875450.html.
For Earth, you will enter 1.
Google Sheets Unit - Science & Technology Lesson
DAY 3 – Entering Formulas:
Now we need to do some math. What is cool about Excel is it will do
many different math calculations for you; you only need to enter a
formula to tell it what to calculate. First we need to figure out our
age on each planet.
To have Excel Figure out Your Weight on Each planet, you must enter a formula
into cell G3.
In cell G3, enter =F3*E3 then hit ENTER. REMEMBER, all Spreadsheet
formulas start with an equals = sign. Now you have your weight on Mercury.
This formula takes your weight on Earth in cell F3 and multiplies it by the
Gravitational Pull on the planet compared to Earth . Copy and paste this formula
for the rest of the planets and you are now done with your weight on each
planet.
Example of Your Weight on Another Planet:
I weigh 80 pounds on Earth. On Mercury, I would weigh:
80 pounds X 0.38 = 30.4 pounds on Mercury.
To have Excel Figure out Your Age on Each Planet, you must enter a
formula into cell J3.
In cell J3, enter =I3/H3 then hit ENTER. REMEMBER, all Spreadsheet
formulas start with an equals = sign. Now you have your age on Mercury.
This formula takes your age in Cell I3 and divides it by the Period of
Revolution in cell H3. This would be your age on Mercury. Copy and paste
this formula for the rest of the planets and you are now done with your age
on each planet.
Example for Your Age on Another Planet:
I am 11 Earth years old. In Mercury's orbit, I would be:
11 years ÷ 0.241 = Approximately 46 years old
REMEMBER – I will be specifically checking to see if you used formulas to determine your age
and weight on another planet. Going to the websites above and letting them do all the math for
you then typing in the answer will NOT get you credit for this project!
Google Sheets Unit - Science & Technology Lesson
DAYS 3 & 4 – Graphing Your Results Now we are going to enter some groovy graphs to show off
our data. Remember, graphs are a great way to visually represent numbers and data and easily
compare and contrast them. Graphs are very easy to make in Google Docs, you just have to be sure
you choose the right data.
Graph 1 – Distance in Miles to the Sun COLUMN GRAPH–
1. First, highlight cells
A2-A10. Next, hold
down your Ctrl Key,
and with Ctrl Key
held down, highlight
cells C2-C10.
2. At the top of your
screen, click on
INSERT, then
CHART. Now choose
CHART TYPES
scroll down and select
either a Column or
Bar Graph. Now click
INSERT to create
your Graph.
3. Now you need to give
your graph some
titles. Change Chart
Title to Distance in
Miles to the Sun.
Finally, change your
Horizontal and
Vertical Axis Titles to
the appropriate title by
clicking on them.
Drag your graph underneath
your Spreadsheet!
Google Sheets Unit - Science & Technology Lesson
DAY 4– Graphing Your Results CONTINUED - You should now be able to make 2 more graphs
on your own. Follow the instructions for the graph you just made if you need help with each
individual step. Below are the instructions for making a Pie Chart and a Line Chart.
Graph 2 – My Weight on Each Planet PIE CHART –
1. This will show a Pie Chart of your weight on each planet! You will create this graph on your
own. You will need to highlight cells A2– A10, hold down the Ctrl Key, then highlight
cells G2 – G10, to create this graph. See the guide for Graph 1 if you need help creating
your graph.
2. Drag your My Weight on Each Planet PIE CHART underneath your Distance in Miles to the
Sun COLUMN CHART.
3. Which Planet did you weight the most on? Which Planet did you weight the least? Why
do you weigh differently on each planet?
Example
Graph 3 – My Age on Each Planet LINE GRAPH –
1. Now create a LINE CHART of your age on each planet. You will create this graph on your
own. You will need to highlight cells A3 – A10, hold down the Ctrl Key, then highlight
cells J3 – J10, to create this graph. See the guide for Graph 1 if you need help creating
your graph.
2. Drag your My Weight On Each Planet LINE CHART underneath your My Weight on Each
Planet PIE CHART
3. Which Planet are you the oldest? Which Planet are you the youngest? Why is your age
differently on each planet?
Example
Google Sheets Unit - Science & Technology Lesson
Name________________________________________________________________
CATEGORY
Titles
4
3
2
1
Titles are appropriate and
very clearly stated at the top
of the Data Table, Column
Graph, Line Graph, and
Pie Graph and on All
Graph Axis. All Titles are
Capitalized!
Titles are appropriate and
clearly stated on a majority of
the spreadsheet. A single title
may be missing from the data
table or one of the graphs. One
title may not be capitalized.
Titles are present on at
least half of the
requirements on the
spreadsheet. Two titles
may be missing or 2 titles
may not be capitalized.
Titles are missing on a
majority of the
spreadsheet. Most of the
titles may not be
capitalized.
All Column and Row Headings
are entered into the spreadsheet
with only 1 spelling or
capitalization error and/or 1
column heading may not be
clearly viewed.
Two or more spelling
and/or capitalization errors
are entered into the
Column & Row Headings.
Two or more column
headings may not be able
to be clearly viewed.
Three or more spelling
and/or capitalization
errors in the Column &
Row Headings. Three or
more Column and Row
Headings may not be
clearly viewed.
All Column and Row
Column &
Row Headings Headings are entered
correctly without any
spelling or capitalization
errors. Column Headings
can be clearly read and fit in
the cells perfectly.
Data Table
ALL Data in the table is well
organized, accurate, and
very easy to read. Two
Formulas are present in the
data table and function
correctly.
Data in the table is organized,
but one section of data may not
be accurate or easy to read.
Two Formulas are present and
function correctly.
Data Table contains 2-3
errors or 2-3 sections may
not be easy to read.
Missing 1 of the 2
Formulas in the Data Table
or a Formula doesn’t work
correctly.
Data Table contains 4 or
more errors or 4 +
sections that are not easy
to read. Missing both
Formulas in the Data
Table.
Graphs
All Graphs are present
(Column Graph, Line Graph
& Pie Graph). Each Graph
shows appropriate
information. Graphs have
great color and design
choices making them
attractive and very easy to
read.
All Graphs are present. One
Graph may not have the
appropriate information or is
not easy to read or see the
information.
1 Graph is Missing from
the spreadsheet OR 2 or
more graphs are difficult to
read or do not have the
appropriate information.
2 or more graphs are
completely missing from
the spreadsheet.
Labeling of
the X, Y, & Z
Axis
The X Axis, Y Axis, and/or Z
Axis have clear and neat
labels/titles that describe
the units used (Planets,
Miles, & Years).
The X Axis, Y Axis, and/or Z
Axis are missing one clear
label/title.
The X Axis, Y Axis,
and/or Z Axis are missing
2 clear labels/titles.
The X Axis, Y Axis,
and/or Z Axis are
missing 3 or more clear
and neat lables/titles.
Neatness &
Attractiveness
Exceptionally well
designed, neat, and
attractive. Colors that go
well together are used to
make the spreadsheet and
graphs very easy on the eyes.
The data table and all 3
graphs will print out
completely on 1 page.
Neat and relatively attractive
design choices. The data table
and all 3 graphs will print out
completely on 1 page. One
section may be difficult to see
information because of design
and color choices.
2 sections may be difficult
to see information because
of design and color
choices. The data table and
all 3 graphs will NOT print
out completely on 1 page.
3 or more sections may
be difficult to see
information because of
design and color
choices. The data table
and all 3 graphs will
NOT print out
completely on 1 page.
Final Score____________/24 Points