P16 Space (paper 2) Flashcards

1
Q

what is the structure of the solar system

A

sun
mercury
venus
earth
mars
jupiter
saturn
uranus
neptune

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2
Q

what is the name of our galaxy

A

the Milky Way

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3
Q

Is the milky way a spiral galaxy

A

yes

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4
Q

How are stars formed

A

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)

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5
Q

what is nuclear fusion

A

when two hydrogen atoms fuse together

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6
Q

what is a satelite

A

something which orbits a larger thing

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7
Q

what si teh equation for work done

A

force x distance

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8
Q

what happens to a satelite as it slows down

A

spirals closer to earth

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9
Q

what is a geostationary orbit

A

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

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10
Q

what is a polar orbit

A

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

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11
Q

what are the uses of polar orbits

A
  • mapping
  • spying
  • weather
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12
Q

explain the life cycle of a large star

A
  • nebula
  • protostar
  • main sequence star
  • red SUPERgiant
  • supernova
  • neutron star / black hole
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12
Q

what is the life cycle of a small star

A
  • nebula
  • protostar (star starting to heat up)
  • main sequence star
  • red giant [bigger, redder, brighter, cooler]
  • white dwarf [smaller, dimmer, whiter, hotter]
  • black dwarf
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12
Q

what forces make a star stable

A
  • gravity
  • radiation pressure
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12
Q

describe how the light elements are formed

A
  • from fusion ( H -> He) in main sequence stars
  • heavier elements are formed in red giant and red supergiants (up to iron)
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12
Q

how are all the elements distributed throughout the universe

A

scattered by supernovas

12
Q

how are heavy elements formed

A

(elements heavier than iron) are formed in supernovas

13
Q

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

A
  • planets and moos are natural satellites
  • artificial satellites are man made
  • all of these orbit a larger body
13
Q

explain how planets and satellites move in a circular path

A
  • 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
14
Q

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

A

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

15
Q

what is red shift

A

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

16
Q

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

A

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

17
Q

explain the big bang theory

A

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

18
Q

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

A
  • 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]
19
what does CMBR stand for
cosmic microwave background radiation
20
what is dark energy
the energy causing the universe's expansion to accelerate
21
describe dark matter
the matter causing spiral galaxies to rotate faster than they should be
22
what is the densest object in the universe
a black hole
23
what do black holes do
they can warp time & space
24
what is the doppler effect
when there is relative motion between a source of sound and a reciever
25
what is blue shift
when objects are moving towards you - the wavelength decreases and the frequency of light increases
26
what does the colour of light depend on
the wavelength
27
which colour has the shortest wavelength
violet light
28
which colour has the longest wavelength
red light
29
what are the two types of satellites
- polar - geostational
30
what are the three results of the universe
- open universe (continued expansion) - flat universe (expansion but slowing) - closed universe (universe will contract again)
31
how does CMBR support the big bang theory
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.
32
expalin blue shift in terms of wavelength and frequency
- the wavelength decreases - the frequency increases
33
What is cosmic microwave background radiation
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.