Astronomy Flashcards
What is the process of the big bang?
- The rapid expansion of space is called INFLATION
- Ripples of energy spread outwards and when inflation ended, energy was converted into MATTER.
- The ripples remained as regions of different DENSITY’S of gases formed after the big bang
- The denser regions collapsed to form the first STARS and Galaxy
When did the big bang occur?
13.8 billion years ago (or 14 if rounded)
What is the evidence for the big bang?
- COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND RADIATION (ripples) - radio and micro-waves giving a pattern of how the early universe may have looked
- The universe is EXPANDING, galaxies appear to be moving away from each other
What are red shifts?
(3 points)
- Using a spectroscope to analyze light, we find that light from the edge of the universe appears Red shifted (redder) compared to expected.
- This “red shift” is a piece of evidence for an expanding universe
- The change of wavelength because an object is moving relative to the observer is called the Doppler effect.
What are the characteristics of the other ends of the red shifts?
ROYGBIV
= Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
- Red has low energy, long wavelength, violet has high energy short wavelength
- Frequency and wavelength are inversely related, as one increases, the other decreases
When was the big bang?
The big bang - 13.8 billion years ago
When was earth formed?
Earth was formed - 4.6 billion years ago
What were the order of events (NO NEED TO GIVE YEARS)
(End of lesson 1)
1.The big bang
2.Quarks
3.Quarks forming together to form particles and hadrons
4. Protons and neutrons combine to form hydrogen and helium
5. Protons and Neutrons are added to the nuclei, forming the first atom
6.Gravity causes dust and gas to clump together and form stars
7.Single celled life evolved
8.Gravity causes small hard objects to clump and form planets
9.Gravity causes stars and other bodies to begin orbiting a central star, forming a galaxy
10. Earth was formed
What is a galaxy?
- A galaxy is a collection of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity
- Astronomers estimate that there are over 250 billion galaxies
- Galaxies occur in 3 basic shapes, elliptical, spiral, irregular
- Our galaxy, the milky way is a spiral galaxy
What is a nebula?
Colour?
- A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in outer space
- Humans add colour to the images to indicate radiation levels
- They are actually cloudy looking, white, grey, brown
What is the alternative for Km used for planet distances?
Why?
149,600,000 = 1 AU
Or Astronomical unit
1 hundred 49 million, 600 thousand
Km were too small for describing the distance.
What is the difference between a galaxy and a nebula?
2 each, 3 similarities
Galaxy:
- Also made of stars
- Formed first and larger
Nebula:
- Part of a galaxy, and there are multiple inside
- Smaller
Similarities:
- Made of gas and dust
- Formed when dark matter collapsed on itself
- Made by gravity
What is the relationship between colour and temperature?
What is the relationship between colour and luminosity?
Colour and Temperature: Hot stars are blue or white, while cool stars are red or orange.
Colour and Luminosity: Bluer stars are usually more luminous than redder stars.
What is the relationship between colour and radius?
What is the relationship between colour and mass?
Colour and Radius: Larger stars can be red, while smaller, hotter stars are blue or white.
Colour and Mass: Heavier stars are blue or white, and less heavy stars are red or orange.
What is the relationship between temperature and luminosity?
What is the relationship between temperature and radius?
Temperature and Luminosity: Hotter stars are brighter.
Temperature and Radius: Hotter stars are smaller for the same brightness.
What is the relationship between temperature and mass?
What is the relationship between luminosity and radius?
Temperature and Mass: Heavier stars are hotter.
Luminosity and Radius: Bigger stars are brighter.
What is the relationship between luminosity and mass?
What is the relationship between radius and mass?
Luminosity and Mass: More massive stars are much brighter.
Radius and Mass: Wider stars have bigger mass.
What are the characteristics of Main Sequence Stars?
- Characteristics: Fuse hydrogen into helium; primary lifecycle stage.
- Temperature: 2,000 K to over 30,000 K.
- Luminosity: Varies widely with mass and temperature.
What are the characteristics of Red Dwarves?
- Characteristics: Small, cool, faint; long lifespans.
- Temperature: 2,500 - 4,000 K.
- Luminosity: Very low.
What are the characteristics of Giants?
- Characteristics: Expanded stars that have exhausted core hydrogen.
- Temperature: Cooler than similar mass main sequence stars.
- Luminosity: Much higher than main sequence stars.
What are the characteristics of Super Giants?
- Characteristics: Very massive, luminous; late evolutionary stage.
- Temperature: Can be very hot (blue) or cooler (red).
- Luminosity: Extremely high.
What are the characteristics of White Dwarves?
- Characteristics: Remnants of low to medium-mass stars; no fusion.
- Temperature: Initially very hot, cools over time.
- Luminosity: Low, diminishes over time.
What are the stages a star goes through from forming?
End of lesson 2
- Nebula condenses to become prostar
- Star begins nuclear reactions to make light from heat
IF LARGER:
A. Stars of greater mass expand, cools, and turns red
B. Super giant explodes, blasting away outer layer
C. EITHER Core collapses and becomes dense, forming a neutron star, OR Core collapses completely and vanishes, and becomes black hole
IF SMALLER:
A. Stars of less mass expand and glows red as it cools
B. Becomes planetary nebula
C. White dwarf
D. (Star cools and reddens) White cooling dwarf
E. (Star stops glowing) Black Dwarf
When did the solar system start forming?
4.5 billion years ago leftover material (dust and gas) from the formation of the sun formed into our solar system.
