General Concepts Flashcards
What is the difference between actual motion and apparent motion?
Actual motion is how objects truly move, while apparent motion is how objects seem to move based on perspective (e.g., the sun appearing to rise and set).
Example: The sun appears to move across the sky, but it is actually the Earth rotating.
How does Earth’s rotation affect the apparent motion of the sun?
Earth’s rotation causes the sun to appear to rise in the east and set in the west.
Example: Due to Earth’s rotation, the sun seems to move from east to west during the day.
What was the geocentric model and who developed it?
The geocentric model places Earth at the center of the universe, developed by early astronomers like Ptolemy.
Example: Ancient astronomers believed that all celestial bodies revolved around Earth.
How does the heliocentric model differ from the geocentric model?
The heliocentric model places the sun at the center of the solar system, rather than Earth.
Example: Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model, shifting the focus from Earth to the sun.
Why is the sun considered the center of our solar system but not the universe?
The sun is the central star of our solar system, but the universe contains many galaxies, each with their own stars.
Example: Our solar system is just a small part of the vast universe.
What is a galaxy, and what galaxy is Earth part of?
A galaxy is a massive collection of stars, gas, and dust. Earth is part of the Milky Way galaxy.
Example: The Milky Way galaxy is spiral-shaped and contains billions of stars.
What is the Local Group in terms of galaxies?
The Local Group is a collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way and its nearest neighbors.
Example: The Andromeda galaxy is one of the Milky Way’s closest neighbors in the Local Group.
How does gravity work between two objects?
Gravity is an attractive force that pulls objects toward each other, depending on their masses and the distance between them.
Example: Gravity is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around stars.
What factors influence the strength of gravity between two objects?
The strength of gravity is influenced by the masses of the objects and the distance separating them.
Example: Objects with greater mass exert stronger gravitational forces.
How did our solar system form, and when did this occur?
The solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a massive cloud of gas and dust.
Example: The formation of the solar system led to the creation of the sun, planets, and other celestial bodies.
