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Astronomy 103 > Exam 3 > Flashcards

Exam 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the order of the planets?

A

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

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2
Q

How do the planets orbit the sun?

A

Pulled on by Sun’s gravity. Counterclockwise.

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3
Q

Properties of the Terrestrial planets?

A

Rocky, slow rotation, few or no moons, inner solar system

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4
Q

Properties of the Jovian planets?

A

Gaseous, outer solar system, rings and many moons

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5
Q

Debris of our solar system?

A

Asteroids and comets. Asteroids = rocky objects that orbit between Mars and Jupiter (asteroid belt)
Comets = beyond Neptune, chunks of ice

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6
Q

Kuiper Belt

A

Extends from Neptune to 500 AU from the sun. Some comets, icy/rocky bodies, more massive than asteroid belt

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7
Q

Oort Cloud

A

50,000 to 100,000 AU from the sun. Leftover material from solar system formation and source of unbound comets

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8
Q

Which planet has the longest day and highest surface temperature?

A

Venus

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9
Q

Which planet has the highest mass?

A

Jupiter

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10
Q

Which planet has the highest density?

A

Earth

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11
Q

Which planet orbits the sun the fastest and is the smallest?

A

Mercury

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12
Q

Characteristics of a planet?

A

Orbits the sun, large enough for its own gravity to make it round and no smaller objects surrounding it.

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13
Q

Characteristics of a dwarf planet?

A

Orbits the sun and large enough for its own gravity to make it round

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14
Q

Characteristics of a small solar system body?

A

Orbits the sun

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15
Q

Where did the elements come from

A

After Big Bang only lightest elements emerged (hydrogen & helium). The stars later made heavier elements.

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16
Q

Where do stars form?

A

Inside dense concentrations or molecular clouds

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17
Q

How did the solar nebula heat up?

A

Gravity increased causing it to collapse and energy was converted to heat

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18
Q

Angular Momentum

A

Measure of the momentum of a body in a rotational motion.

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19
Q

Accretion

A

Coming together of matter under gravity to form larger bodies

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20
Q

What is differentitation?

A

Gravity takes heavier objects down and lighter objects to the top, such as denser parts of a planet go to the center and less dense materials go to the surface.

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21
Q

Outer planet formation

A

Similar to inner planets but had ice allowing more material for larger planets, acting as “seeds” from which the rest of the planet grew. Ice held onto gas with gravity.

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22
Q

Properties of extrasolar planets?

A

Masses larger than Jupiter, eccentric orbits and are located very close to their star

23
Q

Astrometric method

A

Precise measurements of star’s position in the sky, repeated pictures for an extended period of time. Watch star wobble

24
Q

Radial Velocity method

A

Measure blue and redshifts, orbit has to be flat, yields orbital period, mass and distance from star

25
Q

Transit method

A

Planet orbits in front of star and measure orientation along line of site. measurement of the dip in the amount of light from a star

26
Q

Earth’s internal structure

A

Crust, Mantle (iron & magnesium), Outer core (dense liquid), inner core (solid, iron and nickel)

27
Q

How do temperature and pressure change within the Earth?

A

Heat from core goes out, hits surface and cools, circulation drags the crust. Earth’s atmosphere helps keeps surface warm and spread heat around.

28
Q

How does Earth generate a magnetic field?

A

Molten outer core in rotation create electric current. Charged material and in motion result in magnetic field.

29
Q

What is the magnetosphere?

A

region of space surrounding an astronomical object in which charged particles are affected by that object’s magnetic field

30
Q

Aurora

A

A particle overload that is seen when leaked through the magnetic field. Interaction with the upper atmosphere.

31
Q

Why do the Earth’s plates move?

A

convection currents in the Earth’s mantle

32
Q

Most common element in our atmosphere?

A

Nitrogen, (other elements include oxygen, argon, CO2 and water vapor)

33
Q

Order of Earth’s atmospheres (Lowest to highest)

A

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

34
Q

Troposphere

A

Sunlight heats Earth’s surface, causes convection

35
Q

Stratosphere

A

Ozone absorbs UV rays

36
Q

Mesosphere

A

Temperature decreased with height

37
Q

Thermosphere

A

Oxygen and Nitrogen atoms absorb short UV radiation

38
Q

Greenhouse Effect

A

Trapping of sun’s warmth in lower atmosphere. Water vapor is most abundant greenhouse gas. Earth’s surface gives back heat as infrared light

39
Q

What are “Maria” on the moon’s surface?

A

Remains of huge lava flows. Moon was volcanic, when hit by meteors, lava would fill craters.

40
Q

What do craters tell us about the moon?

A

Lots of craters = older area, few craters = younger area

41
Q

What are lunar highlands?

A

Older, light colored terrain located on the far side of the moon (crust thicker on far side)

42
Q

Structure of the moon and magnetic field?

A

1 plate world, lack of plate tectonics, no magnetic field due to small size and not enough energy to generate one. Crust and mantle (too cold and rigid)

43
Q

Lunar rocks

A

All igneous rocks (molten at 1 time), very dry, similar elements to Earth rocks.

44
Q

The planet whose average density is less than that of water

A

Saturn

45
Q

Consequences of tides

A

Earth’s rotation rate is slowing down, moon is slowly spiraling away

46
Q

Moon to the side of Earth (tide results)

A

high tide left and right and low tide on top and bottom

47
Q

Parts lined up with the moon result in what kinds of tides?

A

High tides

48
Q

Sun and moon aligned with Earth (tide results)

A

higher high tides and lower low tides (spring tides)

49
Q

Spring tides moon phase

A

New & Full moon

50
Q

Neap tides moon phase

A

1st and 3rd quarter moons

51
Q

Sun and moon NOT lined up with Earth (tide results)

A

lower high tides and higher low tides

52
Q

Synchronous Rotation

A

Moon is spinning on axis at same rate it’s going around the Earth

53
Q

How did the moon form?

A

Moon was a molten rock, cooled and locked into rotation rate and shape. Collision of large body with Earth and debris formed moon.

Astronomy 103 (5 decks)

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