Earth From a Larger Perspective Flashcards

1
Q

the study of the landforms, processes, and materials of solid-surface celestial bodies including planets, their satellites, and minor bodies (asteroids and comets).

A

Planetary Geology / Astrogeology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The branch of science which deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.

A

Astronomy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Is the science of the origin and development of the universe. Its modern counterpart is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics.

A

Cosmology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

This concept was first proposed in 1927 by ____________, stating that all matter in the universe had at one time existed at a single point.

A

Big Bang Theory, Georges Lemaître

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

The Life Cycle of a Star

A
  1. Giant Gas Cloud and Dust (Nebula)
  2. Protostar
  3. T-Tauri Phase
  4. Main Sequence
  5. Red Giant
  6. Fusion of Heavier Elements
  7. Supernovae and Planetary Nebulae
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

the pattern that appears when the actual brightness (or absolute magnitude) and color (or color index) of many stars are plotted against each other.

A

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

a system of millions or billions of stars held together by gravity

A

Galaxy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The Milky Way Galaxy is said to contain how many stars?

A

200-400 billion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

all solar system objects formed from a rotating cloud of dust and gas called a nebula

A

Nebular Hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The Sun contributes about _____% of the total mass of the Solar System.

A

99.86%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The entirety of all the metals in the Solar System is only ____% of its entire composition.

A

0.2%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does the Sun form its helium atoms?

A

The Sun’s hydrogen atoms merge and undergoes nuclear fusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The estimated temperature within the Sun

A

17,000,000 degrees Celsius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Electromagnetic energy ranges from radio waves to __________.

A

Gamma rays

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Visible light is in between ________ and ________ waves.

A

Ultraviolet rays and Infrared waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The furthest point of the Earth from the Sun is called the _________, which measures ___________ km away from the Sun.

A

Aphelion, 152.1 million km

17
Q

The planets are classified as either _________ or ___________.

A

terrestrial or gaseous

18
Q

The planets formed nearest to the sun mainly contains _____________.

A

Metallic Iron

19
Q

True or false: some outer planets contain water in them.

20
Q

What are the criteria for a celestial body to be classified as a planet?

A

a) is in orbit around the Sun
b) has sufficient mass for its self gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape
c) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit

21
Q

1 Astronomical Unit (AU) is equivalent to _________ km.

A

149.6 million km

22
Q

These are relatively small, dense, rocky planets closest to the
Sun

A

Terrestrial planets

23
Q

There are four types of processes that appreciably affect planetary surfaces, which are:

A
  1. Impact cratering
  2. Volcanism
  3. Tectonism
  4. Atmosphere
24
Q

These are relatively small bodies, 0.6 to 6 miles (1–10 km) in
diameter, composed of small rocky fragments embedded in a mass of ice and frozen gases.

25
These are small bodies that orbit the Sun, but are different in that they are composed primarily of rocky and metallic materials.
Asteroids
26
a body of rock and/or metal that is smaller than a planet or asteroid
Meteoroid
27
a solid piece of debris that originated in outer space and survived its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon
Meteorite
28
What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?
A meteoroid is a body of rock smaller than an asteroid, while a meteor is a meteoroid that has entered a planet's atmosphere
29
It is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth, and is often called "The most studied meteorite in history".
Allende Meteorite
30
What differentiates a planet from a dwarf planet?
A dwarf planet as the same properties as a planet except it has not cleared its orbit, making it prone to collision with other planetary bodies