P6 space physics Flashcards
what does the solar system contain
one star: the sun
8 planets:
- mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune
minor planets that orbit the sun
- dwarf planets eg pluto
- asteroids in asteroid belt
moons that orbit planets
how to memorise order of planets in solar system
My Very Early Morning Jam Sandwich, Unbelievably Nice
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
what is the closest star to the earth
the sun
how can astronomical distances be measured
light-years
what is a light-year
- distance travelled in (the vacuum of) space
- in one year
why do the planets orbit the sun
contains most of mass of solar system
orbital speed equation
what is the cause of the force that keeps an object in orbit around the sun
gravitational attraction of the sun
how does suns gravitational field change as distance from sun increases
decreases
describe the sun
- star of medium size
- consists mostly of hydrogen and helium
- radiates most of its energy in IR, visible, UV regions of EM spectrum
how are stars powered
- nuclear reactions that release energy
- involve fusion of hydrogen into helium
how are stable stars formed
- formed as protostars
- from interstellar clouds of gas and dust
- due to gravitational attraction
stages of life cycle of small mass star
- interstellar clouds of gas and dust
- protostar
- red giant
- white dwarf + planetary nebula
stages of life cycle of large mass star
- interstellar clouds of gas and dust
- protostar
- red supergiant
- supernova
- neutron star
stages of life cycle of very large mass star
- interstellar clouds of gas and dust
- protostar
- red supergiant
- supernova
- black hole
