Lecture 9 Our Solar System Flashcards
What is an element?
A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by chemical reactions. A substance made up of a single atom type (ex: Hydrogen, helium)
What does the number of protons determine
The identity of the elements
What are isotopes
Atoms that possess the same number of protons (and therefore have the same identity) but different number of neutrons.
What is nuclear fusion
Reaction where two elements with lighter nuclei (less protons) combine to form a single heavier nucleus (with more protons)
Released energy that powers sun and other stars
What is a satellite
A natural object (natural satellite/moon) or spacecraft that orbits a larger astronomical body
What is a natural satellite
Moons that orbit planets
How many moons does earth, mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune have
Earth= 1 moon
Mars= 2 moos
Jupiter= 95 moons
Saturn= 146 moons
Uranus= 28 moons
Neptune= 16 moons
What are asteroids
Small natural bodies (less than 1000km) in size/diameter that orbit the SUN
What is an asteroid belt?
A torus-shaped (donut shaped) region found between orbits of Mars and Jupiter
Where are asteroids found?
Asteroid belt and Kuiper belt
What is ceres
The first known asteroid (in the middle of asteroid belt) (now considered a dwarf planet)
What is a dwarf planet
A body, other than a natural satellite/moon that orbits the sun but is smaller than mercury (smallest planet) but large enough for its own gravity to have rounded its shape.
Who discovered Ceres (the dwarf planet)
Giuseppe Piazza in Palermo, Italy in 1801
What is the diameter of in ceres
946km (less than 1000km)
Who is ceres (or what was the dwarf planet named after)
It is an ancient Roman goddess of agriculture, fertility and motherly relationships
What is the Kuiper Belt?
An asteroid belt in OUTER solar system containing many bodies leftover from when solar system formed
What dwarf planets are found in the Kuiper Belt?
Pluto, Orcus, Haumea, Quaoar and Makemake
What is ERIS?
A dwarf planet smaller than Pluto that revolves around the SUN beyond the orbit of Pluto
What is a planet? What size do they need to be
A large natural body that revolves/orbits around a start
Does not radiate energy from internal nuclear fusion reactions.
Size must be 1000km diameter/larger than ceres
Shape must be rounded by its own
Must have its own gravity and squeezed into a sphere
Why is Pluto not considered a planet?
Because Planets MUST clear the neighborhood around its orbit and Pluto doesn’t. Clearing the neighborhood means it becomes GRAVITATIONALLY DOMINANT
No other bodies in its orbital ozone that are a comparable size (unless it’s a moon/satellite). Pluto shares its orbital zone objects from Kuiper Belt, including Dwarf planets
