P8 - Space Flashcards
How long ago was the Universe thought to have formed?
13.7 billion years ago
How long ago was our Solar System thought to have formed?
4.6 biliion years ago
What is a Nebula?
A cloud of dust and gas
What is a solar system?
Is any object that is bound by gravity to a Sun.
How many planets are therein our solar system?
8
How does the Sun, like all stars release energy?
Through nuclear fusion reactions in the core.
What is thermal expansion?
The heat produced in the fusion process makes the star expand through thermal pressure.
What is gravitational attraction?
Pulling the mass of a star inwards.
What is the difference between small and large stars?
Small stars last a lot longer, as they use up their fuel much slower.
Massive stars can usually last up to less than a year.
What do fusion processes in stars produce?
Naturally occuring elements.
Where are elements, heavier than iron produced?
In Supernovas
How are elements distributed throughout the universe?
Through the explosion of a massive star (supernova).
Why does the force of gravity increase, the closer a planet is to the sun?
+ What does gravity do?
+ What to planets do?
+ Example
Gravity pulls plants towards the sun. Therefore, to avoid ‘falling’ into the sun, plants must travel faster.
Planets closer to the sun orbit faster to avoid ‘falling’ compared to planets further away from the sun.
e.g Mercury orbits the sun in 3 earth months, compared to Neptune which orbits the sun in 165 earth years. This is because Neptune is farther away.
How was the sun formed, and what caused this to happen?
From a cloud of dust and gas (nebula); pulled together by a gravitational attraction; by a fusion reaction.
