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Earth Science Final Flashcards

1
Q

What is the geologic timeline?

A

A representation of Earth’s history, including major events such as the formation of Earth, evolution of life, and mass extinctions.

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2
Q

What major event occurred 443 MYA?

A

Ordovician-Silurian Extinction due to ice age and sea level drop.

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3
Q

What caused the Late Devonian Extinction 375 MYA?

A

Oxygen depletion in oceans.

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4
Q

What significant event happened 252 MYA?

A

Permian-Triassic Extinction caused by volcanic activity, methane release, and climate change.

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5
Q

What led to the Triassic-Jurassic Extinction 201 MYA?

A

Volcanic activity and climate shifts.

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6
Q

What caused the Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction 66 MYA?

A

Asteroid impact, leading to dinosaur extinction.

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7
Q

What is the correct order of our cosmic address?

A

Earth → Solar System → Milky Way Galaxy → Local Group → Virgo Supercluster → Observable Universe.

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8
Q

What is the shape of the Milky Way Galaxy?

A

Spiral galaxy.

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9
Q

What are the key components of the Milky Way Galaxy?

A
  • Core (dense with stars)
  • Spiral arms (where new stars form)
  • Halo (contains old stars and globular clusters)
  • Dark matter.
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10
Q

Approximately when did the Big Bang occur?

A

~13.8 billion years ago.

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11
Q

What is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR)?

A

Leftover heat from the Big Bang.

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12
Q

What does redshift indicate?

A

Light from distant galaxies shifts to red, indicating expansion.

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13
Q

What is the Doppler Effect in astronomy?

A

Spectral lines shift as galaxies move away (redshift) or toward us (blueshift).

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14
Q

What is spectroscopy?

A

Determines the composition of stars and galaxies.

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15
Q

What are absorption lines?

A

Specific elements absorb specific wavelengths, creating a unique spectrum.

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16
Q

What is the relationship between the Solar System, Galaxy, and Universe?

A

Solar System < Galaxy < Universe (increasing scale).

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17
Q

What factors vary among stars?

A
  • Size
  • Temperature
  • Lifespan.
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18
Q

What is essential for supporting theories in astronomy?

A

Numerical Data.

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19
Q

What role does the Sun play in life on Earth?

A

Provides heat and light necessary for life.

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20
Q

What process generates energy in the Sun?

A

Nuclear fusion (hydrogen to helium).

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21
Q

What is the core of the Sun?

A

The region where fusion occurs.

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22
Q

What occurs in the radiative zone of the Sun?

A

Energy moves outward slowly.

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23
Q

What is the convective zone of the Sun?

A

A region where hot gases circulate.

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24
Q

What is the photosphere?

A

The visible surface of the Sun.

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25
What is the chromosphere?
A layer of the Sun where solar flares and prominences occur.
26
What is the corona?
The outer layer of the Sun, seen during solar eclipses.
27
What does the electromagnetic spectrum include?
* Visible Light * Infrared Radiation.
28
What is black body radiation?
Describes emitted radiation based on temperature.
29
What does Wein’s Law determine?
Star temperatures.
30
What is luminosity in astronomy?
The total energy output of a star.
31
What is the sequence of stellar evolution for low mass stars?
Stellar Nebula → Protostar → Star (main sequence) → Red Giant → White Dwarf → Black Dwarf.
32
What happens to medium mass stars after the red giant phase?
They undergo a supernova and become a neutron star.
33
What is the fate of high mass stars?
They become a black hole after going through a red supergiant and supernova phase.
34
What forces are involved in stars?
* Gravity (pulls inward) * Radiation Pressure (pushes outward from fusion).
35
How does mass affect a star's lifecycle?
Greater mass = Stronger gravity = Faster fusion = Shorter lifespan.
36
What elements are created in supernovae?
Elements heavier than iron (Atomic Mass > 26).
37
What is a lunar eclipse?
Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.
38
What is a solar eclipse?
Moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth.
39
What is the geocentric model?
An Earth-centered model of the universe (incorrect).
40
What is the heliocentric model?
A Sun-centered model of the universe (correct).
41
What is retrograde motion?
The apparent backward movement of planets, explained by the heliocentric model.
42
Who proposed the heliocentric model?
Copernicus.
43
What did Brahe contribute to astronomy?
Detailed planetary observations.
44
What are Kepler's three laws of planetary motion?
* Elliptical Orbits * Equal Area Law * Harmonic Law.
45
What is the shape of planetary orbits?
Ellipse.
46
What is perihelion?
The closest point to the Sun (fastest movement).
47
What is aphelion?
The farthest point from the Sun (slowest movement).
48
What is the Big Bang Theory?
The prevailing hypothesis for the universe's origin.
49
What supports the Big Bang Theory?
* CMBR * Redshift * Element abundance.
50
What elements are primarily found in the Sun and galaxies?
* Hydrogen * Helium.
51
What does the universe's expansion imply?
The universe is expanding.
52
What determines a star's end-of-life fate?
The initial mass of a star.
53
What do larger stars produce?
Heavier elements.
54
What is the relationship between mass and fusion in stars?
Higher mass = Faster fusion = Shorter lifespan.
55
56
What is the main difference between a Black Hole and a White Hole?
Black holes suck everything in, while white holes push things out.
57
Which theoretical framework proposes that a black hole's singularity can 'bounce' and transform into a white hole?
Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG)
58
How long does it take for a black hole to turn into a white hole?
Billions of years
59
How do scientists know that dark matter exists in galaxies?
By observing gravitational effects on the motion of stars and galaxies
60
What is the primary characteristic of dark matter that makes it difficult to detect?
It doesn’t interact with light or emit radiation
61
What evidence supports the existence of dark matter in galaxy clusters?
The visible matter in galaxy clusters isn’t enough to hold them together, indicating the presence of unseen matter
62
Why would a significantly slower Earth rotation threaten life’s habitability?
Prolonged sunlight exposure would overheat the planet
63
What is the primary cause of Earth's gradual rotational slowing over time?
Tidal interactions with the Moon transferring angular momentum
64
What factors are affected by changes in Earth's planetary rotation?
Atmospheric Circulation, Temperature, Precipitation levels
65
What is a wormhole according to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity?
A tunnel connecting two points in space-time
66
What is one major challenge scientists face in making wormholes usable for travel?
Wormholes collapse too quickly to be used
67
What is the main difference between Lorentzian and Euclidean wormholes?
Lorentzian wormholes exist in real spacetime, while Euclidean wormholes exist only in math and quantum physics
68
What causes time to pass differently for two people?
Their speed and gravity around them
69
Why do GPS satellites need time corrections?
They are affected by time dilation
70
What does Special Relativity say about the speed of light?
It’s always constant, no matter how fast you move
71
What is a rogue planet?
A planet that drifts freely through space without orbiting a star
72
How do rogue planets differ from regular planets?
Regular planets orbit a star while rogue planets drift freely through space
73
What is the structure of the Andromeda Galaxy?
Barred Spiral Galaxy
74
What is true about the Andromeda Galaxy when compared to the Milky Way?
The Andromeda galaxy has a higher rate of star formation compared to the Milky Way
75
How many years until the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way collide?
4.5 billion years
76
What are the 2 studies/missions NASA has done to explore asteroid trajectory change?
The DART Mission and SEPTDM (Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Demonstration Mission)
77
How large would an asteroid have to be to wipe out all life on Earth and cause a mass extinction event?
7-8 miles wide
78
Asteroids are typically found…
in asteroid belts between Mars and Jupiter
79
Which galaxy is closest to the Milky Way galaxy?
Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy
80
What contributes most to galaxy collisions?
Gravitational energy
81
What experiment helps scientists confirm time dilation in space travel?
Comparing atomic clocks on fast-moving spacecraft and Earth
82
In the twin paradox, why does the traveling twin age more slowly?
The traveling twin switches reference frames by accelerating and decelerating
83
Why would a spacecraft traveling at near-light speed experience communication blackouts?
Messages from Earth take too long to arrive and may never catch up

World History (4 decks)

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