Chapter 29 astrophysics Flashcards
What is astrophysics?
“Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that applies the principles of physics to the study of celestial bodies and the universe as a whole.”
What is a star?
“A star is a massive ball of hot
What is nuclear fusion?
“Nuclear fusion is the process in which light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus
What is the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram?
“The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a graphical representation of stars that shows the relationship between a star’s luminosity and its surface temperature.”
What is the concept of stellar equilibrium?
“Stellar equilibrium is the balance between the gravitational force pulling matter inward and the outward pressure from nuclear fusion in a star’s core.”
What are the stages of stellar evolution?
“The stages of stellar evolution include the formation of a star from a nebula
What is a red giant?
“A red giant is a late stage in the life of a star
What is a supernova?
“A supernova is a massive explosion that occurs when a star’s core collapses
What is the concept of a white dwarf?
“A white dwarf is the remnant of a medium or low-mass star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel. It is a dense
What is a neutron star?
“A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive star that has undergone a supernova explosion
What is a black hole?
“A black hole is a region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that not even light can escape from it. It is formed when a massive star collapses under its own gravity.”
What is the event horizon of a black hole?
“The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing
What is the concept of gravitational lensing?
“Gravitational lensing occurs when the light from a distant object is bent due to the gravitational field of an intervening object
What is the concept of dark matter?
“Dark matter is a form of matter that does not emit light or energy but is thought to constitute a large portion of the universe’s mass based on its gravitational effects.”
What is dark energy?
“Dark energy is a mysterious form of energy that is thought to be responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe.”
What is the Big Bang theory?
“The Big Bang theory suggests that the universe began as a singularity approximately 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since.”
What is the cosmic microwave background radiation?
“The cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is the residual thermal radiation from the Big Bang
What is the concept of the expanding universe?
“The concept of the expanding universe refers to the observation that galaxies are moving away from each other
What is Hubble’s law?
“Hubble’s law states that the velocity at which a galaxy is receding from us is directly proportional to its distance. This provides evidence for the expanding universe.”
