Chapter 4 Flashcards

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0
Q

Meteor

A

A brief streak of light from a falling space object

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1
Q

Ellipse

A

The shape of a planet’s orbit

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2
Q

Rings

A

A wide flat zone of small particles that orbit a planet

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3
Q

Astronomical unit

A

The average distance from Earth to the Sun

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4
Q

Meteorite

A

A space object that reaches the Earth’s surface

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5
Q

Comet

A

A small icy body that orbits the Sun

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6
Q

Terrestrial planets

A

Planets that have a rocky crust that have dense mantles and cores.

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7
Q

Gas giant

A

Planets made mostly of hydrogen, helium, and other gases

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8
Q

Tectonics

A

Process of change in a crust due to the movement of hot material

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9
Q

Volcanism

A

Process where molten rock moves from the interior to the surface

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10
Q

Asteroid

A

Small solid rocky bodies that orbit close to the Sun

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11
Q

List the planets in order starting closest to the Sun

A

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

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12
Q

Which planets are gas giants?

A

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

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13
Q

Which planets are terrestrial?

A

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

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14
Q

How did the solar system form?

A

a cloud of gas and dust formed the Sun and the planets

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15
Q

What is impact cratering? How are craters formed?

A

A large object hits and leaves a dent.

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16
Q

How do the distance between the inner planets compare to the distances between the outer planets?

A

The inner planets are a lot closer together than the outer planets.

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17
Q

Which planets show evidence of tectonics?

A

The inner/terrestrial planets: mercury, Venus, earth, Mars

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18
Q

Which planets have volcanoes?

A

The inner/terrestrial ones:mercury, Venus, earth, Mars (Mars has biggest)

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19
Q

What are the white bands of Jupiter made of?

A

Icy clouds that look white because they reflect sunlight.

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20
Q

What are the rings around the gas giants made of?

A

Mostly ice

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21
Q

Which planets have rings?

A

The gas giants:Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

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22
Q

Are the asteroids, planets, and comets orbiting in the same plane or different?

A

Same:in the shape of an ellipse

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23
Q

Do the gas giants have any of the four processes?

A

No, too dense

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24
Q

How is a moon different from a planet?

A

A moon orbits the planet

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25
Q

What are the four process? Describe each one

A

Tectonics: the crust moves and distorts to the movement of hot material
Impact cratering: a small object hits the planet and leaves a dent
Volcanism: molten rock ends up reaching the surface
Weathering and erosion: wind, water, and heating and cooling material is pulled downhill

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26
Q

Why is a comet sometimes bright?

A

It’s coma and tail reflect sunlight

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27
Q

Describe the atmosphere of Mars

A
Fast winds 
Mostly carbon dioxide
No liquid water
Polar ice caps
Not dense enough to a keep surface warm
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28
Q

What object is between Mars and Jupiter?

A

Asteroid belt

29
Q

Why is a meteor visible?

A

It’s a brief streak of light

30
Q

What are Jupiter and Saturn mostly made of? Uranus and Neptune?

A

Jupiter and Saturn are gases

Uranus and Neptune are methane and ammonia

31
Q

What type of atmosphere do gas giants have?

A

Deep

32
Q

What are planets rings mostly made of?

A

Ice

33
Q

what is the solar system made up of?

A

The sun, the planets and various smaller bodies

34
Q

What is the relationship between the solar system and the Milky Way?

A

The Milky Way is part of the solar system

35
Q

What does the universe include?

A

Open space and all the matter and energy in it

36
Q

Who named the constellations?

A

The Greek named them after animals and imaginary beings

37
Q

How is a grouping of stats in a constellation different from grouping of planets in a solar system?

A

Stars aren’t close together

38
Q

Why can’t you see all constellations at once?

A

Earth blocks half of space from our view

39
Q

In Greek what does planet mean and why was it named that?

A

Planet means wanderer. They noticed that planets move along the constellations

40
Q

Why do planets look bright?

A

They reflect the sun

41
Q

What are the 2 regions of the solar system?

A

Inner and outer

42
Q

What causes objects in the solar system to orbit the Sun?

A

Gravitational pull of the Sun

43
Q

Why do planets and large moons have a spherical shape?

A

Ridged edges are pulled toward the middle

44
Q

Would a lumpy or round object have more mass?

A

Round, more clumps are pulled tighter and closer together

45
Q

Atmosphere of terrestrial planets

A

Mainly formed from gases that came from volcanoes

46
Q

Atmosphere of Venus

A

mostly carbon dioxide, very dense, slows down loss of energy which makes it very hot, moves around well so it’s always hot everywhere, sulfuric acid forms clouds that cover the planet

47
Q

Atmosphere of Mercury

A

no atmosphere to move hot and cold areas

48
Q

Atmosphere of Earth

A

Mostly nitrogen with some oxygen, gravity holds in gases

49
Q

Atmosphere

A

Gases surrounding a planet that are held in by gravity

Absorbs ultraviolet radiation, warms the surface by holding in hear, reduces extreme temperatures

50
Q

Atmosphere of Saturn

A

Storms and stripes of clouds are harder to see because they are deeper in the atmosphere
Rings are made of chunks of water ice

51
Q

Uranus and Neptune atmosphere

A

Made of heavier gases
Color comes from methane gas above a layer of white clouds
Less hydrogen and helium

52
Q

Atmosphere of Jupiter

A
Fast rotation produces fast winds and stormy weather
More bands of wind then Earth
Stripes of cold white clouds
Below are brown or red clouds
Below that are bluish clouds
Storm lasts a long time
Great Red Spot: largest storm
53
Q

Describe Pluto’s gravitational pull

A

Weak

54
Q

Why do scientists have no clear image of Pluto?

A

No spacecraft has yet passed close to it

55
Q

What is Charon?

A

Pluto’s moon

56
Q

Why are Pluto and Charon called a double planet?

A

They orbit eachother

57
Q

What’s different about the orbit of Pluto?

A

It’s at an angle and not as round so it gets closer to the sun than Neptune

58
Q

What shapes do the smallest moons have?

A

Irregular

59
Q

Why do asteroids have irregular shapes?

A

Their gravity is too weak to pull them into spheres

60
Q

What are the surfaces of asteroids covered with?

A

Craters, broken rocks, and dust

61
Q

What are comets made of?

A

Ice rock and metal

62
Q

What do comets have oval orbits around?

A

Pluto and the inner solar system, orbit to the Sun but not close

63
Q

Which way does a comets tail point?

A

Away from the Sun

64
Q

What is the outside of a meteorite smooth from?

A

From melting

65
Q

Where do most meteorites come from?

A

The asteroid belt

66
Q

Why are the gas giants dense inside?

A

Gravity pulls it together

67
Q

Which planet is the largest?

A

Jupiter

68
Q

Which planet has the most beautiful rings?

A

Saturn

69
Q

How many earth years does it take for Jupiter to travel around the Sun?

A

12 years

70
Q

Reflecting telescope

A

Has a mirror that collects light