Earth and Space Semester 1 Final Flashcards
What is Astronomy?
The study of celestial objects and phenomena beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
What defines Astrophysics?
The study of the physical properties and processes of celestial objects.
What is the primary focus of Meteorology?
The study of the Earth’s atmosphere and weather forecasting
What does Atmospheric Chemistry study?
The chemical composition and interactions within Earth’s atmosphere
What does Paleontology focus on?
The study of fossils and ancient life forms to reconstruct past environments.
What does Geochemistry examine?
The chemical composition and interactions of Earth materials.
What is the main focus of Oceanography?
The study of the physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects of the oceans
What distinguishes Marine Geology from General Geology?
Marine geology studies the geological features and processes of the ocean floor.
What does Environmental Science aim to address?
The interactions between human activities and the environment.
What is the focus of Environmental Soil Science?
The study of soil chemistry and its effects on environmental health and land use
The first step in the scientific method is to make an _______ about a phenomenon or problem.
Observation
To test the hypothesis, an experiment is designed where the scientist manipulates the _______ variable and measures its effect on the _______ variable
Independent, Dependent
The factor that is kept constant throughout the experiment is called the _______ variable
Control
In a well-designed experiment, a _______ group is used as a baseline to compare with the experimental group.
Control
How many millimeters are in 3 centimeters?
30mm
Convert 500 grams to kilograms
0.5kg
1,000 millimeters is equivalent to 1 meter
true
100 milliliters is equivalent to 0.1 liters.
true
0.75 meters is equal to 75 centimeters.
true
0.00000023 converted to scientific notation is 2.3 x 10 ^6.
false
This scientific study of the universe is called:
Astronomy
By studying the universe, _________________ have learned more about the origin of the Earth and the formation of our solar system.
Astronomers
This is the study of the origin, properties, processes, and the evolution of the universe:
Cosmology
In 1609, _____________________ invented a telescope he used to look at the moon.
Galileo
In the mid-1600’s, ________________ invented the first reflecting telescope.
Newton
Considered a pioneer in astronomy, _________________ is best known for his three laws of planetary motion.
Kepler
____________ was a giant explosion which began the universe about 14 billion years ago.
Big Bang
____________ is a large collection of stars, dust, and gas bound together by gravity.
a galaxy
____________ is the galaxy in which we live
a galaxy
____________ is part of a galaxy that includes the Sun, planets (including Earth), asteroids, and comets
the solar system
____________ is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
astronomical unit
____________ is the distance light travels in one year.
light years
____________ is the arrangement of electromagnetic waves.
electromagnetic spectrum
____________ is the electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths that the human eye can see.
Visible light
____________ is one of the small dots or squares that make up an image on a computer screen.
Pixel
____________ is facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
Data
The Earth has how many standard time zones?
24
Each time zone covers how many degrees?
15
Each zone is how many hours earlier than the zone to the east?
1
What is the line where the date changes called?
International Date Line
The Prime Meridian is in Greenwich, England, and is how many degrees longitude?
0
Earth’s Axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees and always points toward what star?
North
What is a large cloud of interstellar gas and dust that collapses on itself, due to its own gravity, and forms a hot, condensed object that will become a new star?
Nebula
What is a hot, condensed object at the center of a nebula that will become a new star when nuclear fusion reactions begin?
Protostar
What is a spinning neutron star that exhibits a pulsing pattern?
Pulsar
What is a massive explosion that occurs when the outer layers of a star are blown off?
Supernova
What is the process wherein light elements such as helium and hydrogen form?
Nuclear Fusion
What is the process where elements heavier than iron are formed?
r-process
What is the process by which elements are created within a star?
Nucleosynthesis
What happens in massive stars which convert hydrogen into helium?
Hydrogen Fusion
What is the process by which three Helium-4 nuclei are converted into Carbon in red giant stars?
Triple-Alpha process
What happens when there is a slow rate of capturing neutrons while there is a faster rate of radioactive decay?
s-process
A __________ is a large celestial body that is composed of gas and that emits light.
star
Astronomers learn about stars primarily by the __________ that the stars emit.
light
The three types of spectra are _________ (bright line), continuous, and _________ (dark line).
emission and absorption
The most common elements found in stars are __________ and __________
hydrogen and helium
The surface temperature of a star is indicated by the star’s __________.
color
__________ colored stars are the hottest, above 30,000 degrees Celsius.
blue
__________ colored stars range from 10,000 degrees Celsius to 30,000 degrees Celsius.
white
Our Sun is a __________ colored star.
yellow
What is nuclear fusion?
The process where lighter elements like hydrogen fuse to form heavier elements like helium, releasing energy.
Which layer of the Sun is where nuclear fusion occurs?
core
What happens in the Sun’s core?
Nuclear fusion occurs, producing energy.
What happens in the Sun’s radiative zone?
Energy is transferred outward through radiation
What happens in the Sun’s convective zone?
Energy is transferred via convection currents
Which layer of the Sun is visible to the naked eye?
Photosphere
What is the primary function of the chromosphere of the Sun?
It emits a red glow during solar eclipses.
What happens in the corona of the Sun?
It is the outermost layer, emitting solar wind and highly charged particles.
What are sunspots?
Dark spots caused by cooler regions of the Sun’s photosphere
What are coronal mass ejections (CMEs)?
Large eruptions of charged particles from the Sun’s corona.
What protects Earth from the solar wind?
Earth’s magnetic field
What is the solar cycle (or sunspot cycle)?
The 11-year cycle of solar activity, including sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs.
What are solar prominences?
Large loops of gas and plasma that rise above the Sun’s surface
What is helioseismology?
The study of sound waves traveling through the Sun to understand its internal structure.
What causes auroras (Northern and Southern Lights)?
Solar wind interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
Which of the following is closest to the Sun, has no atmosphere, and is covered in impact craters?
Mercury
Which planet is second closest to the Sun, has no moons, and is the hottest due to its thick acidic atmosphere?
Venus
Which planet has one moon and a moderate temperature range with large bodies of liquid water?
Earth
Which planet has two moons, great dust storms, and the largest volcano in the solar system?
Mars
____________ has the largest rings in the solar system
Saturn
____________ has geysers on its moon Triton that erupt with nitrogen gas
Neptune
____________ is the largest planet in the solar system
Jupiter
___________ looks like a rolling ball on its tilted axis.
Uranus
Who is primarily associated with the development of the geocentric model of the universe?
Ptolemy
In the geocentric model, what is at the center of the universe?
earth
Which of the following best describes the geocentric model of the universe?
The Earth is at the center of the universe, and all celestial bodies revolve around it
Who is primarily credited with proposing the heliocentric model of the universe?
Nicolaus Copernicus
In the heliocentric model, what is at the center of the universe?
sun
Which of the following best describes the heliocentric model of the universe?
The Earth revolves around the Sun, and other planets orbit the Sun
