Chapter 31.1 & 31.2 Flashcards
supernova
a gigantic explosion in which the temperature within the collapsing star is 10 billion K and the atomic nuclei in the core split into neutrons and protons
neutron star
the ball of neutrons left behind after the explosion of a star
constellation
a group of stars given a name from ancient culture
radio telescope
collects and amplifies radio waves
light-year
the distance light travels in one year
spectroscope
uses a prism or diffraction grating separate light into its component wavelengths
nebula
a large cloud of dust, ice, and gas
main sequence
star classification on the H-R diagram.
giant star
the evolution of a star caused by the core contracting and the temperature increasing
white dwarf
forms as the core of a giant star no longer supports fusion and the star’s outer layer escaping into space
black hole
an area so dense that nothing can escape the pull of gravity
photosphere
the layer of the sun that emits light into space
sunspots
dark cool areas in the photosphere where the Sun’s magnetic field has weakened
How did the constellations get their names?
Characters in stories, animals, & tools
What is the constellation name for The Great Hunter?
Orion’s Belt
What are the names of Orion’s dogs?
Canis Major and Canis Minor
What does Canis Major mean?
Big dog
What does Canis Minor mean?
Little dog
How many basic optical telescopes are there?
2
What does a refracting telescope use?
Convex lenses
What does a reflecting telescope use?
Concave mirror
What are the two types of the optical telescopes?
Reflecting and Refracting
What can a spectroscope determine about a star?
The star’s chemical composition, its surface temperature, & whether or not the star is moving closer or further away from the Earth
Which wavelengths are blue?
The ones closer to earth. (close and frequent)
Which wavelengths are red?
The ones further away from the earth (further and less frequent)
How are space telescopes more effective than ground telescopes?
The images are not distorted by the atmosphere
What are the names of the two space telescopes?
Chandra X-Ray and the Spitzer Space Telescope
How fast does light travel in space?
300,000 km/s
