Cosmology and the birth of the earth Flashcards
Cosmology
The study of the universe and its history
Telescope
A device used to make objects far away, appear closer such as planets
Remote Sensing
When information about a planet is gathered using a satelite
Meteorite
A piece of debris that has fallen into the earth from outer space
Lightyear
The distance that light travels in one year
Star
A ball of gas which is held together by its own gravity, of which planets orbit
The Doppler Effect
When waves approaching an object have higher frequencies and lower wavelengths, while waves moving away from an object have lower frequencies and higher wavelengths
Red Shift
An increase in wavelength
Blue Shift
A decrease in wavelength
How do we know that the universe is expanding by using The Doppler Effect?
Light seen from other galaxies are increasing in wavelength (red-shifted) meaning that galaxies are moving further away from each other and the universe is expanding
Why do distant galaxies move faster away from each other?
As space is expanding so does the distance between galaxies
Big Bang
The birth of the universe
Matter
Anything which has mass and volume (occupies space)
Nuclear fusion
When light elements (hydrogen, helium, lithium) combine to form one nuclei (nucleus) resulting in the release of energy
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
The formation of light elements (hydrogen, helium, lithium)
