P16 Space

Question 1

what is the structure of the solar system

Answer 1

sun
mercury
venus
earth
mars
jupiter
saturn
uranus
neptune

Question 2

what is the name of our galaxy

Answer 2

the Milky Way

Question 3

Is the milky way a spiral galaxy

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

How are stars formed

Answer 4

huge clouds of dust and gas (nebulas) were attracted together through the fore of gravity. As GPE is lost, thermal energy is gained (protostar) until there is enough heat adn pressure for nuclear fusion to occur (main sequence star)

Question 5

what is nuclear fusion

Answer 5

when two hydrogen atoms fuse together

Question 6

what is a satelite

Answer 6

something which orbits a larger thing

Question 7

what si teh equation for work done

Answer 7

force x distance

Question 8

what happens to a satelite as it slows down

Answer 8

spirals closer to earth

Question 9

what is a geostationary orbit

Answer 9

an orbit about the Earth where a satelite remains above a constant point on the Earth’s surface

Question 10

what is a polar orbit

Answer 10

this is an orbit about the earth which goes over the North and South poles

Question 11

what are the uses of polar orbits

Answer 11

• mapping
• spying
• weather

Question 12

explain the life cycle of a large star

Answer 12

• nebula
• protostar
• main sequence star
• red SUPERgiant
• supernova
• neutron star / black hole

Question 12

what is the life cycle of a small star

Answer 12

• nebula
• protostar (star starting to heat up)
• main sequence star
• red giant [bigger, redder, brighter, cooler]
• white dwarf [smaller, dimmer, whiter, hotter]
• black dwarf

Question 12

what forces make a star stable

Answer 12

• gravity
• radiation pressure

Question 12

describe how the light elements are formed

Answer 12

• from fusion ( H -> He) in main sequence stars
• heavier elements are formed in red giant and red supergiants (up to iron)

Question 12

how are all the elements distributed throughout the universe

Answer 12

scattered by supernovas

Question 12

how are heavy elements formed

Answer 12

(elements heavier than iron) are formed in supernovas

Question 13

describe some similarities and differences between planets, moons and artificial satellites

Answer 13

• planets and moos are natural satellites
• artificial satellites are man made
• all of these orbit a larger body

Question 13

explain how planets and satellites move in a circular path

Answer 13

• circular orbits are caused by a cantripetal force
• gravity is the centripetal force
• satellitghts must be going at the right speed for a circular motion to occur

Question 14

why do planets have a constant speed but have a changing velocity

Answer 14

velocity is a vector, it has size (magnitude) and direction.
whilst the size of the velocity does not change the direction of the planet is constantly changing

Question 15

what is red shift

Answer 15

where galaxies are moving away from us - we see the wavelength increase and the frequency of the light decrease

Question 16

what si teh relationship between the distance to a galaxy and its speed

Answer 16

the greater the distance this galaxy is away from us - the greater it’s recessional speed

Question 17

explain the big bang theory

Answer 17

the idea that the universe started from a very small point and expaneded rapidly / exploded

Question 18

explain how red shift has given evidence for the big bang theory

Answer 18

• if the universe is currently expanding in all directions, it must have come from a single point
• CMBR can only be explained by the big bang theory [we can’t explain how there is microwaves everywhere]

Question 19

what does CMBR stand for

Answer 19

cosmic microwave background radiation

Question 20

what is dark energy

Answer 20

the energy causing the universe’s expansion to accelerate

Question 21

describe dark matter

Answer 21

the matter causing spiral galaxies to rotate faster than they should be

Question 22

what is the densest object in the universe

Answer 22

a black hole

Question 23

what do black holes do

Answer 23

they can warp time & space

Question 24

what is the doppler effect

Answer 24

when there is relative motion between a source of sound and a reciever

Question 25

what is blue shift

Answer 25

when objects are moving towards you - the wavelength decreases and the frequency of light increases

Question 26

what does the colour of light depend on

Answer 26

the wavelength

Question 27

which colour has the shortest wavelength

Answer 27

violet light

Question 28

which colour has the longest wavelength

Answer 28

red light

Question 29

what are the two types of satellites

Answer 29

• polar
• geostational

Question 30

what are the three results of the universe

Answer 30

• open universe (continued expansion)
• flat universe (expansion but slowing)
• closed universe (universe will contract again)

Question 31

how does CMBR support the big bang theory

Answer 31

because there is electromagnetic radiation everywhere, that can only be explained by the big bang theory - the radiation is left over from the big bang and has been red shifted into the microwave region.

Question 32

expalin blue shift in terms of wavelength and frequency

Answer 32

• the wavelength decreases
• the frequency increases

Question 33

What is cosmic microwave background radiation

Answer 33

Something which can only be explained with the Big Bang theory. It is the electromagnetic radiation left over from the Big Bang that has been red shifted into the microwave region.