Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Kirsty Biology > Biology- Planet Earth And Beyond > Flashcards

Biology- Planet Earth And Beyond Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Which is bigger , a galaxy or a solar system?

A

Galaxy - there can be many solar systems in a galaxy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The name of our galaxy?

A

Milky Way galaxy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the closest star to earth?

A

The sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The nearest visible star to the sun?

A

Alpha Centauri

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many planets orbit the sun?

A

8

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are some other things that are part of our solar system besides the planets and the sun

A

Meteors, asteroids, comets, the moon, balls of gas and rock

- most found in Kuiper belt and neptunes orbit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is dark matter?

A

Does not produce light but know it is there because of the strong gravitational pull. 90% of milky way is dark matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

3 different shapes of galaxies

A

Spiral- Milky Way
Spherical
Irregular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where is our solar system in the milky Way?

A

One of the spiral arms towards edge of milky way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why is the milky way called the milky way?

A

The Greeks said it looked like spilled milk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

2 types of telescopes that have helped in understand our galaxy
Why are they more effective than optical telescopes?

A

Infrared
Radio
Longer wavelengths that go through dust and debris,

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Everything in the galaxy orbit around…?

A

The centre of the galaxy- like an invisible disc of dark matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

True or false…our sun is at the centre of the milky way galaxy?

A

False

In one of the spiral arms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Sunspots

A

Formed from magnetic storms on surface of sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Explosions on surface of sun called?

A

Sun flares

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Explain how the sun can be harmful as well as useful?

A

The strong rays of the sun are harmful , but the earths atmosphere filters them through the ozone layer. Humans are destroying the ozone layer through carbon dioxide gases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Know the mindmap diagram ‘sun is our main source of energy’

A
  1. We use energy from sun for cooking and heating
  2. Wind is caused by the sun hearing the earth , hot air rises, cools
  3. Wind causes waves
  4. Sun keeps water cycle moving …evaporation, precipitation, condensation
  5. Plants use sun energy to make food - photosynthesis
  6. We use this energy when we make fire( from potential energy in wood)
  7. Coal, gas, oil - fossil fuels come from plant material
  8. Humans and animals get energy from eating the plants
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Closest neighbouring star system

A

Alpha centauri made up of three stars
Centauri A
Centauri B
Proxima

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

From where on earth can alpha centauri be seen? What constellation is it a part of?

A

Southern Hemisphere

Southern cross

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How fast does light travel?

A

300,000km per second

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Distances between galaxies are measured in

A

Light years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Our solar system is measured in

A

Light hours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

The distances between planets or between planets and the sun is measured in

A

Light minutes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Name of a different galaxy close to the Milky Way ?

A

City of stars

25
Q

The group of galaxies that the Milky Way and city of stars are part of is called

A

The local group

26
Q

What is a merger?

A

When galaxies start coming together - change from spiral to a bigger spherical larger galaxy combined

27
Q

Some facts about our universe that we have learned through radio and infrared telescope

A

The universe is expanding
It was hot when created and is cooling as it ages
Huge part of universe is made up of things we cannot see
The universe does not have a centre, galaxies a moving away from each other

28
Q

Elliptically

A

Curved course of an object around the sun

29
Q

Nearest star to earth

A

Proxima

30
Q

Study of the stars

A

Astronomy

31
Q

2 people who contributed to the study of stars

A

Ptolemy

Aristotle

32
Q

Civilisations that studied the stars

A

Egyptians
Babylonians
Greek
Romans

33
Q

EarlyAstronomers arranged stars into

A

Consolations

34
Q

Name some other constellations

A

Orion
Scorpious
Taurus

35
Q

Names of the constellations were linked to stories, name a story

A

Khoisan people have a story about a girl child who had such strong powers that when she looked at a group of lions they were turned into stars ( the three stars on onions belt)

36
Q

Why were the skies , sun , moon , stars important to ancient civilisations

A

They realised that the sun was a source of life and many had a sun god . They believed that what happened in the heavens was linked to what was going on on earth, that is why many priests were also astrologers

37
Q

In San legend what is the moon?

A

A man angered by the sun who cuts off a piece of the moon until there is only a tiny piece left, then it grow agAin.

38
Q

Constellations seen in the SouthernHemisphere in the winter

A

Hercules
Sagittarius
Cygnus

39
Q

Constellations seen in the SouthernHemisphere in the spring

A

Aquarius

Capricorn

40
Q

Constellations seen in the SouthernHemisphere in the autumn

A

Cancer

Crater

41
Q

Constellations seen in the SouthernHemisphere in the summer

A

Orion

Taurus

42
Q

Constellations seen in the SouthernHemisphere all year round

A

Southern cross

Centaurus

43
Q

Ancient civilisations named constellations after …(3)

A

Gods
Mythical heroes
Animals

44
Q

Which part of the Southern cross points south?

A

The bottom part of the kite

45
Q

Who made the first telescope?

A

Galileo

46
Q

When Galileo looked at the milky way what did he see?

A

He didn’t see the stars any bigger, but he did see more stars than he was able to see with only his eyes
He could see craters on the moon
He could see moons around Jupiter

47
Q

How does a telescope work?

A

Like our eyes….collects light ,

Focus on the object giving off the lights so as to see it better

48
Q

Parts of a refractive telescope

A

Objective lens - at the end of the telescope - takes in the lights and refracts it to focus on one spot
Eye piece lens- nearest your eye- magnifies so that you can see image bigger

49
Q

Reflection telescope how does it work?

A

Instead of refracting ( bending) light, mirrors are used to reflect the light

50
Q

Which is better, refractive or reflective?

A

Reflective

51
Q

Calculate magnification of a telescope

A

Magnification= Focal length of telescope / focal length of lens

52
Q

What is South Africa’s largest optical telescope called ?

A

SALT

Southern Africa large telescope- it is a reflecting telescope

53
Q

Why do people send telescopes into space?

A

Atmosphere doesn’t obstruct view, clearer

54
Q

Famous space telescope

A

Hubble

55
Q

How do radio telescopes work?

A

Large metal dishes , gather information - radio waves that objects in space send out .
Lots of radio telescopes put together called an array can collect more info

56
Q

South African radio telescopes

A

KAT7 part of the Meerkat array being built

SKA square km array being built in Karoo

57
Q

Best conditions for optical telescopes

A

Clear weather - no clouds
Air above telescope should be still - no wind
Air above telescope should be dry - no rain or humidity
Sky must be dark, no light polution
Altitude- higher the better

58
Q

Galaxies

A

Dense collection of Stars grouped together by string gravitational forces

Kirsty Biology (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions