Astrophysics Flashcards
What is a planet
A large ball of matter that orbits a singular star
What is a star
A large ball of matter that is constantly undergoing nuclear fusion, releasing light and heat energy.
What is a galaxy
A collective cluster of stars
What is a universe
The term used to describe all of the galaxies within space
What is an exo-planet
One which does not orbit or exist around our star (the sun)
What is a solar system
A singular star and its orbital planets
What is a moon
A natural satellite that orbits a planet instead of the sun (usually much smaller than the planet)
What is a light year
The distance travelled by light in one calendar year on earth
What is the value of a light year in metres
9.461 x10 to the fifteen
What is a detector of EM light
Photographic film
What is re-entry
When a spacecraft re-enters the earths atmosphere, causing a drastic increase in temperature. This means that flames often form on the shuttle as it races back to earth
How can you protect a spacecraft during re-entry
+ black heat-resistant ceramic tiles around it
When in space, what occurs when the engine is turned off and why
The shuttle travels at a constant speed as there is not air resistance
What end of the EM spectrum has the longest wavelength
Radio —>
What end of the EM spectrum has the highest frequency
Gamma —>
What is a satellites orbital period
The time taken for the satellite to travel all the way around the globe
What makes astronauts look weightless
+ they are falling with gravity
+ but their ship is travelling at such a great velocity that they still move forward instead of falling back to earth
+ they means that they can ‘fall’ yet stay upright
What decides a satellites orbital period
Its height above the earths surface
Is vertical acceleration constant or changing
Constant (9.8 on earth)
How can a line spectra indicate certain aspects of an experiment-planets existence
The elements that are emitted by the planet indicate the surface conditions…. and its distance from the sun. The EM spectrum absorption rate can also be used to determine these qualities
