Chapter 2

Question 1

Number of galaxies in the universe

Answer 1

125

Question 2

Our galaxy

Answer 2

Milky way

Question 3

Location of our solar system

Answer 3

on the trailing edge of the milky way

Question 4

Light years in diameter?

Answer 4

100,000

Question 5

We are ______ light years from the center

Answer 5

30,000

Question 6

Milky Way

Answer 6

flattened disk shaped collection of stars, barrel shaped

Question 7

Whats at the very center of the milky way galaxy?

Answer 7

a black hole

Question 8

Formation of the solar system

Answer 8

1. large rotating cloud of gas and dust
2. nebula cloud flattened into a disk shape
3. gravity pulled matter proportional to its mass together, forming a protosun
4. the proto sun grew in mass, drawing more mass to it
5. meanwhile, material accreted together creating protoplanets, which in turn drew more mass towards them to create planets

Question 9

Gravity

Answer 9

mutual force exerted by the mass of objects that are attracted one another and produced in an amount proportional to each object’s mass

Question 10

Planetesmal hypothesis

Answer 10

suggests a process by which early protoplanets formed from the condensing masses of a nebular cloud of dust, gas and icy comets

Question 11

Moons in our solar system

Answer 11

165 (around 6 planets)

Question 12

Planets in our solar system

Answer 12

8

Question 13

Speed of light

Answer 13

300,000 km per second

Question 14

How long does it take for light to travel the diameter of our solar system?

Answer 14

11 hours

Question 15

Earth orbits around the sun in a _______ (_____) path

Answer 15

elliptical (oval) path

Question 16

Perihelion

Answer 16

when the Sun and Earth are closest in distance (January 3)

Question 17

Aphelion

Answer 17

when Sun and Earth are farthest apart (July 4 )

Question 18

Plane of the Ecliptic

Answer 18

a plane touching all points of Earth’s orbit

Question 19

Cause of sun spots

Answer 19

Visible surface disturbances on the sun caused by magnetic storms

Question 20

What causes the auroras?

Answer 20

When solar wind reacts with the magnetosphere and is directed above the poles, where they interact with gases in the ionosphere

Question 21

Magnetosphere

Answer 21

Earth’s magnetic force field, which is generated by dynamo-like motions within the planet’s outer core; deflects the solar wind flow toward the upper atmosphere above each pole

Question 22

Aurora

Answer 22

Coronal mass ejections ( and solar flares and solar winds) interact with the magnetosphere and gases in the ionosphere to create a light display at the poles

Question 23

Frequency (

Answer 23

number of waves passing a fixed point per second

Question 24

Wein’s Displacement Law

Answer 24

all objects radiate energy in wavelengths related to their individual surface temperatures (the hotter the object, the more shortwave radiation emitted)

Question 25

Wavelength

Answer 25

The distance between two corresponding point on any two successive waves

Question 26

Stefan Boltzman Law

Answer 26

Objects that are efficient absorbers or radiation are good emitters too

Question 27

Solar minimum

Answer 27

period during which FEW sunspots are visible

Question 28

Solar maximum

Answer 28

period during which sunspots are numerous.

Question 29

Sun spot cycle

Answer 29

11 years between solar maximums, where magnetic activity (solar flares, CME’s, magnetic storms, prominence flares)

• most of the flares are pulled back into the sun because of magnetic force, some are released in the form of solar wind

Question 30

Solar Wind

Answer 30

Clouds of electrically charged particles?

Question 31

Wavelength unit

Answer 31

Micrometers μm

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