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GSTR 332- Exam 2 > Exam 3- chapt 12-16 > Flashcards

Exam 3- chapt 12-16 Flashcards

1
Q

binding energy

A

the energy needed to remove a proton or neutron from a nucleus

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2
Q

radioactivity

A

spontaneous release of energy as certain atoms disintegrate. the emission of one or more kinds of radiation from an isotope with unstable nuclei.

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3
Q

radioactive decay

A

the process of spontaneous change of unstable isotopes

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4
Q

alpha decay

A

the loss by an atom’s nucleus of a large and massive particle composed of two protons and two neutrons

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5
Q

beta decay

A

a kind of radioactive decay in which a particle such as the neutron spontaneously transforms into a collection of particles that includes an electron

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6
Q

gamma radiation

A

a kind of radioactivity involving the emission of energetic electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus of an atom, with no change to the number of protons or neutrons in the atom

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7
Q

half-life

A

the rate of radioactive decay measured by the time it takes for half of a collection of isotopes to decay into another element

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8
Q

radiometric dating

A

a technique based on the half-life of carbon-14 that is used to determine the age of materials

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9
Q

fission

A

a reaction that produces energy when heavy radioactive nuclei split apart into fragments that together have less mass than the original isotope

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10
Q

fusion

A

a process in which two atomic nuclei come together to form a third, large nucleus.

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11
Q

critical mass

A

the minimum number of uranium-25 atoms needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction to the point where large amounts of energy can be released

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12
Q

nuclear reactor

A

a device that controls fission reactions to produce energy when heavy radioactive nuclei split apart

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13
Q

high-energy/ elementary-particle physics

A

the study of particles that comprise the basic building blocks of the universe; for example, the particles that make up the nucleus and particles such as electrons

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14
Q

cosmic rays

A

particles (mostly protons) that rain down continuously on Earth’s atmosphere after being emitted by stars in our galaxy and in others

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15
Q

particle accelerator

A

a machine, such as a synchrotron, that produces particles at near light speeds for use in the study of the fundamental structure of matter

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16
Q

synchroton

A

a particle accelerator in which magnetic fields are increased as particles become more energetic, keeping them moving on the same track

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17
Q

large Hadron collider

A

the world’s highest energy particle accelerator, located in Geneva, Switzerland

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18
Q

leptons

A

a particle (such as the electron, muon, or neutrino) that participates in the weak and electromagnetic, but not the strong interaction

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19
Q

hadrons

A

particles, including the proton and neutron, that are made from quarks and are subject to the strong force

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20
Q

antimatter

A

particles that have the same mass as their matter twins, but with an opposite charge, magnetic characteristics, and other properties.

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21
Q

quarks

A

the truly fundamental building blocks of the hadrons. particles that have fractional electrical charge and cannot exist alone in nature.

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22
Q

unified field theory

A

the general name for any theory in which fundamental forces are seen as different aspects of the same force

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23
Q

string theories

A

theories that unify gravity with other forces and visualize matter as made up of vibrating string

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24
Q

astronomy

A

the study of objects in the heavens

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25
star
objects that form from giant clouds of interstellar dust and generate energy by nuclear fusion reactions
26
telescope
a device that focuses and concentrates radiation from distant objects
27
solar wind
a stream of charged particles-- mainly ions of hydrogen and electrons-- emitted constantly by the Sun into the space around it
28
light-year
the distance light travels in one year- 10 trillion kilometers
29
neutron star
a very dense, very small star, usually with a high rate of rotation and a strong magnetic field; the remains of a supernova, held up by the degeneracy pressure of neutrons
30
blackhole
formed at the death of a very large star, and object so dense, with a mass so concentrated, that nothing-- even light-- can escape from its surface
31
main-sequence star
a star that derives energy from the fusion reactions of hydrogen burning; found on the Hertzsprung-Russel (H-R) diagram within a band-like pattern
32
red giant
an extremely large star that emits a lot of energy but whose surface is very cool and therefore appears somewhat reddish in the sky; found in the upper right-hand corner of the H-R diagram
33
white dwarf
a star that has a very low emission of energy but very high surface temperature; plots on the lower left-hand corner of the H-R diagram
34
nebulae
dust and gas clouds, common throughout the milky way, rich in hydrogen and helium
35
supernova
a stupendous explosion of a star, which increases its brightness hundreds of millions of times in a few days; results from the implosion of the core of a massive star at the end of its life
36
pulsar
a neutron star giving off EM radiation
37
milky way
a collection of hundreds of billions of stars that forms the galaxy of which the sun is a part
38
WIMPs
weakly interacting massive particles- hypothetical particles that are candidates for dark matter
39
dark matter
material that exists in forms that do not interact with EM radiation and that may constitute 90% of the matter of the universe
40
dark energy
a mysterious substance that is causing the acceleration of the expansion of the universe
41
Hubble's law
the law relating the distance to a galaxy, d, and the rate at which it recedes from the Earth, V, as measured by the redshift: V=Hd, where H is the Hubble constant
42
big bang theory
the idea that the universe began at a specific point in time and had been cooling and expanding ever since
43
cosmic microwave background radiation
microwave radiation falling to Earth from all directions. this radiation is evidence of the big bang theory
44
solar system
sun, planets, their moons, and all other objects gravitationally bound to the sun
45
terrestrial planets
planets located in the inner solar system that are small, high-density, and rocky
46
differentiation
process by which heavy dense material, like iron and nickel, sunk to the core while lighter, less dense material came to the top creating our layered structure of planet
47
core
geology- densest, innermost part of earth | astronomy- center of stars where hydrogen burning is confined
48
crust
earths outermost, solid layer
49
kuiper belt
a region close to our solar system that contains comets that orbit the sun
50
mantle
outside the core and contains most of earth's mass
51
asteroid belt
a collection of asteroids located in a circular orbit between mars and jupiter; debris that never became a planet
52
pluto
used to be ninth planet but is now considered the first plutoid discovered
53
earthquake
disturbance caused when stressed rock on Earth's surface suddenly snaps, converting potential into kinetic energy
54
plutoid
planet-like bodies in the Kuiper belt
55
convergent plate boundary
where plates come together
56
hot spot
a type of volcanism associated with plate tectonics- large isolated chimney-like columns of hot rock rising to earths surface
57
meteor
a piece of interplanetary debris that hits earth's atmosphere that we see as a shooting star
58
meteorite
fragment of meteor that hits earth
59
volcano
places where subsurface molten rock breaks through to the earths surface to form dramatic short term changes in the landscape
60
plate tectonics
theory that explains how tectonic plates are moved across earths surface by mantle convection
61
tectonic plates
sheets of moving rock in various sizes forming earths surface
62
mantle convection
a force deep within earth, powered by internal heat energy, that moves tectonic plates
63
transform plate boundary
where plates scrape past one another with no new material being produced
64
subduction zone
region of earths deep interior where plates converge and old crust returns to the mantle
65
seismology
the study and measurement of vibrations within the earths interior dedicated to deducing earths inner structure

GSTR 332- Exam 2 (3 decks)

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