Answer:
To make a simple model of the solar system that can be used to compare the time it would take for a spaceship to travel between different planets, the student must accurately represent the relative distances between the planets. This is because the time it would take for a spaceship to travel between two planets depends on the distance between those planets, so accurately representing the distances between the planets is essential for thinking about how long it would take for a spaceship to travel between them.
It is not necessary for the student to make sure that the model of each planet looks like the planet it represents, although this may help make the model more understandable. The most important thing is that the model accurately represents the relative distances between the planets.
In summary, the student must accurately represent the relative distances between the planets in order to think about how long it would take for a spaceship to travel between different planets in the solar system.