Chapter 3 Space Flashcards
A brief streak of light from a falling space object
Meteor
The shape of a planets orbit
Ellipse
A wide flat some of small particles that orbit planet
Ring
The average distance from the Earth to the Sun
Astronomical unit
A space object that hits Earths surface
Meteorite
A small, icy body that orbits the Sun
Comet
Planets that have a rocky crust and dense mantles and cores
Terrestrial Planets (inner solar system)
Planets made mostly of hydrogen, helium, and other gases
Gas giants (outer solar system)
Process of change in crust due to the movement of hot material underneath the surface
Tectonics
Process where molten rock moves from a planets interior to the surface
Volcanism
Small, solid, rocky body that orbits close to the sun
Asteroid
List the planets in order starting closest to the sun. Label which are inner and outer planets, and which are terrestrial and gas giants.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars-inner, terrestrial
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune-outer, gas giants
How did the solar system form?
From a cloud of gas and dust, the gas and dust stuck together in clumps forming the planets, moons, and other space bodies
What is impact cratering? How are craters formed?
A small space object hits a planets surface, making a big hole in the ground called a crater
How do the distances between the inner planets compare to the distances between the outer planets?
The inner planets are closer together, and the outer planets are more spread apart.
Which planets show evidence of tectonics?
Terrestrial planets
Which planets have volcanoes?
Terrestrial planets
What are the white bands on Jupiter made of?
Clouds
What are the rings around the gas giants made of?
Small particles
Are the asteroids, planets, and comets orbiting in the same plane or different planes?
Same plane
Do the gas giants have any of the 4 processes?
No
How is a moon different from a planet?
A moon is smaller and a moon orbits a planet, instead of orbiting the Sun
What are the 4 processes? Describe each one.
Tectonics-hot mantle moves crust, volcanism-molten rock moves from the interior to the surface, impact cratering-space objects leave craters when they hit a planets surface, weathering/erosion-rock breaks down
Why is a comet sometimes bright?
Sunlight shines on them
What object is between Mars and Jupiter?
Asteroid belt
Describe the atmosphere of Mars.
Thin, causes weathering and erosion
Why is a meteor visible?
Because it is a brief streak of light that glows
What are Jupiter and Saturn mostly made of? What about Uranus and Neptune?
Jupiter and Saturn-hydrogen and helium
Uranus and Neptune-methane and ammonia
True or false: Gas giants have a deep atmospheres.
True
True or false: Planetary rings are made mostly of gases.
False, they are made of small particles.
True or false: clouds form the white stripes and patches on gas giants.
True
True or false: All planets have rings.
False, only the gas giants have rings.
True or false: None of the terrestrial planets have moons.
False, Mercury and Venus are the only planets that don’t have moons.
True or false: The inner planets are farther apart than the outer planets.
False, the outer planets are farther apart than the inner planets.
True or false: A comet is bright because it burns up in Earths atmosphere.
False, a comet is bright because sunlight shines on it.
