P8.3 Flashcards
What is red shift
When something is moving away from you the wavelength of the light that it emits increases and the frequency decreases. This is called red shift.
What happens if the source is moving quicker
The red shift is bigger
What happens if the source is moving towards you
It is blue shifted
What is the big bang model
The movement of galaxies provides evidence for an expanding universe. They believe that it started from something extremely dense and smaller than an atom which expanded suddenly 13.7 billion years ago. It is the space between galaxies that is expanding
Other evidence for the Big Bang model
In the 1960s scientists discovered there was microwave radiation coming from all directions. It was the radiation left over from the big bang, this is cosmic microwave radiation. The high energy and frequency has been stretched over time so it is now the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is the sun
The star at the centre of the solar system
What are planets
Objects that are spherical because of gravity, in orbit around the sun.
What are moons
Objects in orbits around planets
What is minor planets
Anything that is not a planet or a comet in orbit around the Sun, including asteroids and dwarf planets such as Pluto
What are comets
Objects made of ice and dust in orbit around the sun
What are the four inner planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
What characterises the inner planets
They are all rocky and have an atmosphere
What are the four outer planets
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
What are Jupiter and Saturn
They are gas giants. They all have rings and lots of moons.
What are Neptune and Uranus
Ice giants. They all have rings and lots of moons
What is between Mars and Jupiter + what is it
Between Mars and Jupiter is an asteroid belt. Asteroids are piece of rock left over from the formation of the solar system
What state is our star in
They are in equilibrium state and are called main sequence stars.
Where does the gas and dust come from
It comes from other stars that have reached the end of their lifeline.
What are the moons around planets called
They are called natural satellites
What are artificial satellites
Artificial satellites are satellites sent out by humans.
What is a geostationary orbit
Time for one orbit - 24 hours
Height above earths surface - about 36000km
Features - remains in a fixed position above the earth’s equator
Uses - communications and satellite television