1.4 - Our Solar Neighbourhood

Question 1

What is the Protoplanet Hypothesis?

Answer 1

• AKA: The birth of a solar system
• A cloud of gas and dust begins swirling
• Most of the material accumulates in the center, forming the sun
• The remaining material accumulates, forming the planets, which circle the sun

Question 2

Describe the Sun

Answer 2

• 110 times wider than the Earth

- Surface temperature is 5500 degrees Celsius, core temperature is approximately 15 000 000 degrees Celsius

Question 3

What is solar wind? How is Earth protected from solarwinds?

Answer 3

• Created by the sun, solar winds are charged particles that flow out at high speeds in every direction
• Earth is protected from these winds by it’s magnetic shield

Question 4

What are the inner planets? Describe them

Answer 4

• The inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
• Terrestrial, Earth like planets
• Small, rocky, closer to the sun

Question 5

What are the outer, or Jovian, planets?

Answer 5

• Include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
• Gaseous
• Larger, further from the Sun

Question 6

What are asteroids?

Answer 6

• Small, rocky, metallic bodies that orbit the Sun
• Lie mostly within a narrow belt between Mars and Jupiter
• Unknown region

Question 7

What are comets?

Answer 7

• Objects made up of dust and ice that travel through space
• Have long tails and a bright glow when they get close to the Sun
• Slowly orbit the outer reaches of the solar system

Question 8

What is a meteoroid?

Answer 8

• A piece of rock that flies through space, with no particular path

Question 9

What is a meteor?

Answer 9

• A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere, where the heat of the friction causes it to glow brightly
• Most burn up in Earth’s atmosphere

Question 10

What is a meteorite?

Answer 10

• A meteor that hits Earth’s surface

Question 11

Why can astronomers trace and predict where bodies in space are moving?

Answer 11

Astronomers can trace and predict where bodies in space are moving, because they follow elliptical paths

Question 12

What do the elliptical paths of bodies in space also predict?

Answer 12

These paths also enable astronomers predict the eclipses

Question 13

What is a Solar Eclipse?

Answer 13

A Solar Eclipse is when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on Earth

Question 14

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

Answer 14

A Lunar Eclipse is when the earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.