8th Grade Science Test 11 Flashcards
In which climate zone does every location have at least one day a year when the sun is directly overhead?
Tropics
Which method of measuring time uses time zones?
standard solar time
What type of time is based on the stars?
sidereal time
The point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer
zenith
the first artificial satellite of Earth
Sputnik 1
the first satellite launched by the United States
Explorer 1
circle on the celestial sphere that runs directly overhead and through the celestial poles
meridian
the pan the sun follows in a year
ecliptic
a device that splits light into a spectrum for analysis
spectroscope
What system of timekeeping divides the day into hours A.M. and P.M.?
12-hour time
The equation of time is the relationship between solar time and
apparent solar time
What term refers to an unmanned spacecraft launched specifically to explore the unknown?
space probe
What are the two points on the path of the sun at which the sun is farthest from the celestial equator?
solstices
In what type of orbit does a satellite stay above the same point on the Earth’s surface?
geostationary (orbit)
Which calendar system is now used in most nations?
Gregorian calendar
What term refers to the earth’s slow “wobble” on its axis that causes the pole star to change?
precession (of the equinoxes)
What visible-light telescope was launched into space in 1990?
Hubble Space Telescope
What unit of time is based on the period Earth takes to orbit the sun one?
solar year
used to study the heavens
astronomical
perform a variety of functions, such as making maps, forecasting crop production, spotting forest fires, and surveying cities
Earth observation
relay telephone conversations an radio and television broadcasts
communications
include the satellites of the Global Positioning System
navigational
a telescope that uses a mirror as the objective
reflecting telescope
the abbreviation that stands for after death
anno Domini
the technique in which computer-controlled mirrors constantly flex and bend to correct for atmospheric distortion
adaptive optics
When white light shines through a gas and then passes through a prism, the broad spectrum of color will show narrow, dark lines called
absorption lines
the mean solar time at Earth’s prime meridian
UTC (or coordinated universal time)
a circumpolar star that crosses the meridian between the visible celestial pole and the horizon is making an ___ transit
lower
In which type of orbit does a satellite cross the equator at the same local mean solar time on every orbit?
sun-synchronous orbit
Which type of orbit would a spacecraft use to increase its altitude?
Hohmann transfer orbit
From which calendar do the English month names come?
Julian
What was the first space station designed so that it could be expanded?
Mir
What astronomical event marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
December solstice
What United States’ space program landed a man on the moon?
Apollo
At an altitude of 500 miles above the earth, a satellite with a speed of 16,700 mph will have a circular orbit. Which of the following describes the orbit of a satellite at an altitude of 500 miles and a speed of 17,100 mph?
The satellite will have an elliptical orbit with the lowest point at 500 miles and the highest point above 500 miles.
What rocket design did the United States use to launch manned moon missions?
Saturn V
What term refers to the highest point of the orbit of an earth-orbiting satellite?
apogee
What part of a telescope collects the light?
objective
The term that refers to the speed of a spacecraft must be traveling at to leave Earth’s gravity without using its rockets anymore
escape velocity
The unite of time, larger than a day, that is not based on the motion of a heavenly body
week
the first type of spacecraft designed to be reused
space shuttle
a rocket that can be stored for years with the fuel loaded
solid-fuel rocket
scientists can use multiple radio telescopes to produce images more detailed than possible with a single radio telescope by using the technique called
interferometry
the two points at which the path of the sun crosses the celestial equator
equinoxes
the two basic kinds of optical telescopes
refracting telescope
reflecting telescope
first American in space
Alan Shepard
first woman in space
Valentine Tereshkova
Father of Modern Rocketry
Robert Goddard
first man in space
Yuri Gagarin
first American to orbit the earth
John Glenn
German-born engineer who became the United States’ top rocket designer
Wernher von BraunJohn Gl
first man to set foot on the moon
Neil Armstrong
explain why the Julian and Gregorian calendars have leap years and contrast how these calendars determine which years are leap years.
Leap years are needed because there is not a whole number of days in a solar year.
In the Julian calendar, every fourth is a leap year.
The Gregorian calendar’s major difference from the Julian calendar is the elimination of leap years for all century years except those evenly divisible by 400.
