Astrophysics

Question 1

Asteroid

Answer 1

Lumps of rock found between Mars and Jupiter

Question 2

Astronomical Unit (AU)

Answer 2

The average distance between the Earth and the sun

Question 3

Black Hole

Answer 3

The final stage of a high mass star’s life cycle where gravity is so strong not even light can escape

Question 4

Comet

Answer 4

Made of ice and dust and orbit the Sun in a highly elliptical orbit

Question 5

Constellation

Answer 5

A small group of stars that appear to make a pattern in the sky - they may not be close together

Question 6

Exoplanet

Answer 6

A planet orbiting another star beyond our solar system

Question 7

Galaxy

Answer 7

Hundreds of billions of stars held together by gravity

Question 8

Light year (ly)

Answer 8

The distance that light travels in one year

Question 9

M☉ and R☉

Answer 9

Mass and radius of the Sun

Question 10

Main Sequence Star

Answer 10

The stable period of a star’s life cycle where inwards gravitational force = outwards pressure due to fusion

Question 11

Neutron Star

Answer 11

The final stage of a high mass star’s life cycle where gravity forces electrons to combine with protons

Question 12

Parsec (pc)

Answer 12

Equal to 3.26 light years

Question 13

Planetary Nebula

Answer 13

What happens to a low mass star once fusion stops

Question 14

Red Giant (or red supergiant)

Answer 14

The phase in a star’s life cycle once hydrogen fusion in the core stops

Question 15

Star

Answer 15

A massive, luminous ball of heated gas that are held together by gravity

Question 16

Stellar Nebula

Answer 16

A cloud of gas from which stars form

Question 17

Supernova

Answer 17

What happens to a high mass star once fusion stops

Question 18

White Dwarf

Answer 18

The final stage of a low mass star’s life cycle