Astronomy Flashcards
Does gravity change when you go to other planets and moons
Yes
What is the equation for weight
Weight = mass x gravity
W = mg
What does gravitational force cause these objects to do:
1. Planets in the solar system
2. The moon and artificial satellites
3. Comets in the solar system
- Orbit the sun
- Orbit the earth
- Orbit the sun
What is the equation for orbital speed
Orbital speed = (2 x pi x orbital radius)/time
(2 pi r)/t
How does the orbit of a comet differ from the orbit of a moon or planet
Comets orbit in an elliptical path but moons and planets orbit in a circle
What is a satellite
Something that orbits a larger object in space. Can be natural e.g. moons or man made e.g. telecommunication satellites
What galaxy is the solar system in
The milky way
What is the definition of a galaxy
A large collection of billions of stars
What is the definition of the universe
A large collection of billions of galaxies
What is the definition of the universe
A large collection of billions of galaxies
What is orbital period
The time taken for an object to complete one full orbit
When calculating the orbital radius of the moon, must you include the radius of the earth
Yes - measure from the centre of the earth
What is the time period of the earth orbiting the sun
365.25 days
How long does it take for the earth to rotate on its axis
24 hours
How long does it take for the moon to orbit the sun
One month as an approximation but its actually 27 days
