Rotating/Spinning Solar System DIY

Before i start a few points to keep in mind:
This project makes use of sharp aluminum wires, hot glue and scissors.Adult supervision is a must for this project

Watch the video tutorial below:

Materials required:

8 Styrofoam balls
8 hard wires(aluminum)
a small empty plastic container
thermocol sheet
cardstock paper
1 geared motor
Mini breadboard
AA batteries and battery holder with on/off switch
an old CD

1. Take an empty plastic container and cover it with some cardstock. This will be the base for the battery pack and motor connection. 

 2. Put some adhesive foam on top of the lid and place the battery pack and motor on top of it as shown 

3. Next using some adhesive foam place the mini breadboard next to the battery pack. 

4. To make a stronger base i took a cardboard sheet and covered one end with some colored paper and placed the whole battery-motor base on it using some hot glue. 

5. Connect the motor to the battery pack. Make sure the switch of the battery is off. 

Connect the red wire of the battery to first row first column
Connect the black wire of the battery to the first row last column.

Take the black jumper wire of the motor and connect it to second row last column(in front of black wire of battery pack)
Connect the red jumper wire of the motor to second row first column(in front of red wire of battery pack)
A point to remember here is that you can choose any row or column of your choice as long as you make a complete circuit.

Switch on the battery to check if the motor is running

6. For the stand on which all the planets and placed on a rotating base i took 3 small square thermocol pieces and stuck it together. For a neater look i covered it on four sides with small thermocol sheets. I placed small cardboard pieces on top and bottom part because hot glue does not work well with thermocol so i will use it on the cardboard instead if required. Cover it with some cardstock for a neater look.

7. For the rotating base i have taken an old CD and covered the hole with some masking tape on both sides. Take a push pin and make a hole in the center.Make sure an aluminum wire can pass through it.

8. Take an aluminum wire of about 1.5inch length and make sure it passes through the motor shaft.

9. Take the CD and put a small bead in the center make sure that the hole that you made earlier lines with the hole in the bead.The thermocol stand for the planets will be placed on the center of the CD.

10. To make the rotating stand more sturdy i stuck some cardboard pieces
under the CD making sure that the hole matches with the hole on the CD.

 

11. Pass the aluminum wire through the holes and using some super glue put a bead through it. This is to ensure that there is a gap between the CD and the motor shaft.

12. Now pass the aluminum wire through the gear shaft.Be careful while doing this. If the wire has not stuck properly and you push through hard there is a chance that the wire could hurt your fingers.(Happened to me here)
So please ask an adult to help you with this. 

Switch on the battery and make sure the CD is rotating 

13. I have used 8 aluminum wires of different lengths. The lengths represent the distance of the planets from the sun.You can attach the planets in any direction you want. First i tried bending the wires to a right angle and attaching them but weight became too much and the stand kept falling so i made the wires straight and just attached the planets to the other end. 

Take your styrofoam ball and poke it at one end.Please be very careful while doing this as the sharp edge can easy go through and hurt your fingers.
Make sure your fingers are not in the way.Ask an adult for help. 

Poke the other end to your thermocol stand.Again make sure your fingers are not in the way.

Put some super glue to make sure the wire does not move. 

Repeat the steps for the remaining 7 planets.Make sure to adjust the distance of the wires from the center and spread them on all 4 sides of the stand. 

 

14. On the base of the stand for the planets i made a hole in the center so that it can pass though the bead on the CD.

15. Place the stand on the center of the CD. If needed secure it with the help of glue.

16. Last step is to place the sun in the center.

17. Switch on the battery and your project is ready