Nucleosynthesis Flashcards
What is Olbers paradox
Asks why the sky is so black at night
What was TBBT originally called
Cosmic egg hypothesis
Define Hubble Constant
The velocity of the universe expansion, which can be used to trace backwards how old the universe is
How did Hubble learn that he universe was expanding
He observed that light from distant stars was longer in wavelength, indicating that the source was moving away
Why were no elements besides He and H made at the big bang
No pressure, just immense heat exploding out ward. Did not allow for three protons to slam into another
How were heavier elements (up to Fe) created?
In the cores of stars
How were elements heavier than Fe created
In supernovas, where massive pressure and heat were readily available
99% of the solar system mass is found where?
The sun
How are we able to determine the composition of the sun
We examine the spectrums the sun generate, and look for black lines at certain places in the spectrum, indicative of certain elements
What are the namesof the lines in the spectrum that are indicative of some elments
Fraunhofer lines
Define refractory
High melting and boiling points
Define volatile
very low melting and boiling points
what is the molecule that serves as the backbone for most minerals
silica tetrahedron
What is the nebular hypothesis
the solar system was formed by a nebula that collapsed on itself into a swirling disk
2 supporting facts of the nebular hypothesis
- all planets on same plane of orbit
2. The planets all rotate in the same direction
How do we know that the interior of the earth has metal rich core
Magma deposits from the mid oceanic rift
Difference between Jovian and refractory planets
Jovian consist primarily of volatile material
How do we deterine mass of planets
Judged from their velocity
What are chondrites
Meteors that contain condrules
What are chondrules
Drops of molten metal that cooled, not found naturally on earth
What are achondrites
meteors that do not contain chondrules
how the achondrites are made
Early in the solar system, the basaltic and iron meteorites formed by differentiation of mass into planetesimals that were hot and molten. Subsequent solidification and break up of these guys resulted in achondrites of differing ingredients.
The universe is thought to be expanding because
the light from distant galaxies exhibits a redshift
During Big Bang nucleosynthesis, most of the hydrogen and helium in the universe is
thought to have been generated—but not much else—because
the temperature dropped too fast
The Sun’s composition is best determined by analyzing
Fraunhofer lines
The average composition of terrestrial planets is best determined by analyzing
chondrites
The solar system’s composition is best determined by analyzing
Fraunhofer lines
What stems the gravitational collapse of a star?
Pressure created by the escape of heat from nuclear fusion.
Stellar nucleosynthesis involves
a) nuclear fusion
b) temperatures of tens of millions of degrees Centigrade
c) the generation of elements as heavy as iron
d) the production of the heat that stems gravitational collapse of the star
iron limit exists because
once iron starts to form in a star, the “fuel” for nuclear fusion starts to run out
Chondrites contain _____________, whereas achondrites do not.
chrondrules
How can a planets mass be calculated from its moon?
The planet with a moon that spins faster has a greater mass
