Final Exam Flashcards
What is a Solar System?
A star and its surrounding
planets, comets, asteroids, etc… that exists inside a galaxy.
What is a Planet?
A moderately large object that orbits a star; it shines by reflected light. Planets may be rocky, icy, or gaseous in composition.
What is a moon or satellite?
An object that orbits a planet.
What is an Asteroid?
A relatively small and rocky object that orbits a star.
What is a comet?
A relatively small and icy object that orbits a star.
What is a Galaxy?
A massive system of stars (and other stuff) that exists inside the universe.
What is a light year?
The distance light can travel in one year (9.5 trillion kilometers or 6 trillion miles)
What are circumpolar stars? Where would you see these?
Circumpolar stars do not rise or set. You would see these near the celestial poles.
The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Which way is Earth rotating? A. Toward the west B. Toward the north C. Toward the east D. Toward the south
C. Toward the east
Define Earth’s Rotation, Earth’s revolution, and Earth’s axial tilt.
Rotation: 24 hours
Revolution: 365 days
Axial tilt: 23.5 degrees
When is the Summer Solstice?
When is the Winter Solstice?
Summer: June 21st
Winter December 21st
When is the vernal equinox?
When is the autumnal equinox?
Vernal: March 20th
Autumnal: September 22nd
What is Kepler’s First Law?
Planetary orbits are ellipses.
What is Kepler’s Second Law?
As the planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas and equal times.
What is Kepler’s third law?
More distant planets orbit the sun at slower average speeds obeying the relationship.
