BCS9 Chapter 12

Question 1

axis tilt

Answer 1

the tilt of Earth on its axis, 23.5° from the flat plane of Earth’s orbit

Question 2

constellations

Answer 2

distinctive patterns in the night sky formed by groups of stars; the patterns often look like familiar objects, such as animals

Question 3

Copernicus

Answer 3

Polish astronomer (1473–1543) who first proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system

Question 4

Galileo

Answer 4

Italian physicist and astronomer (1564–1642) whose use of the early telescope allowed him to make many observations that confirmed Copernicus’s model of a heliocentric solar system

Question 5

Kepler

Answer 5

German
mathematician and astronomer (1571–1630) who determined that the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in elliptical paths

Question 6

lunar eclipse

Answer 6

an overshadowing of the Moon that occurs when Earth lies directly between the Moon and the Sun during a full moon phase

Question 7

Ptolemy

Answer 7

Greek mathematician, geographer, and astronomer (c. 90–168) whose extensive work supported the geocentric model of the solar system. That model was widely accepted until Copernicus’s heliocentric model emerged.

Question 8

solar eclipse

Answer 8

an overshadowing of Earth that occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and the Moon blocks the Sun’s light

Question 9

holistic

Answer 9

a belief that all the individual parts of something are interconnected to form the whole thing; for example, a holistic world view considers all aspects of the physical and spiritual universe to be connected to form the whole universe

Question 10

lunar month

Answer 10

a measurement of time from one new moon (or one full moon) to the next, equal to about 29.5 days

Question 11

Western science

Answer 11

science that is based on the physical realm of the world and which involves the study of phenomena that can be physically observed, measured, documented, and tested

Question 12

ethics

Answer 12

the set of moral principles and values that guides a person’s actions and helps him or her decide what is right and what is wrong

Question 13

geosynchronous orbit

Answer 13

the orbit of a satellite that is moving at the same speed and direction as Earth’s rotation, with the result that the satellite stays stationary above a fixed point on Earth

Question 14

optical telescope

Answer 14

reflecting or refracting telescope used to focus light from distant objects

Question 15

probe

Answer 15

a space vehicle carrying scientific instruments and sent to fly past, orbit, or land on a celestial body to collect data

Question 16

radio telescope

Answer 16

a large receiver that collects radio waves (which have longer wavelengths than visible light) and therefore can detect objects that are invisible to optical telescopes

Question 17

rover

Answer 17

a small, sophisticated, robotic probe designed to land on a planet, explore and test the surface, and send information back to Earth

Question 18

satellite

Answer 18

an electronic device put in orbit around Earth to relay information

Question 19

terraforming

Answer 19

the idea that an extraterrestrial (non-Earth) environment, such as Mars, could be transformed into an Earth-like biosphere that humans could inhabit