P8-Space Physics Flashcards
What are moons?
Natural satellites
What are dwarf planets?
An object orbiting a star that is large enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not ‘cleared the neighbouhood’
What is an asteroid?
A rock in space
What is a comet?
A ball of icy rock that follows an elliptical orbit around the sun
What is the life cycle for a small star?
- Nebula
- Protostar
- Main sequence star
- Red giant star
- White dwarf
- Black dwarf
What is the life cycle for a large star?
- Nebula
- Protostar
- Main Sequence star
- Red supergiant
- Supernova
- Neutron star/Black hole
What are Nebulae?
Clouds of Dust and gas
How does a protostar stay the same size?
The outwards pressure caused by fusion is the same as the inwards force of gravity
How are heavier elements formed?
Heavier elements than iron formed in a supernova
What is centripetal force?
Force acting towards the centre of the circle
What does a satellite require?
To be travelling at the right speed so that the speed in which they fall to the earth matches the curvature of the earth
What happens to velocity further away from an object in terms of orbiting?
It decreases as there is less force of gravity
What are the 2 types of orbit?
Polar and Geostationary orbit
What evidence is there for an expandind universe?
Red shift-wavelengths of light have been shifted due to the doppler effect-an object moving further away from earth (the doppler effect)
What does the more red-shifte light from a galaxy mean?
It is moving faster away from earth
