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Physics GCSE > P8.3.1-2 > Flashcards

P8.3.1-2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What do we use as evidence to say that galaxies are moving away?

A

Red shift

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2
Q

What is red shift?

A
  • Our universe is expanding, as an galaxy moves further away in space, the wavelength increases and frequency decreases.
  • Since the wavelength is longer, the light coming from the galaxies is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum, giving off a red light.
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3
Q

If a galaxy is moving away from us and its distance is increasing, is it going faster or slower?

A

Faster

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4
Q

How did our universe start?

A

With the big bang

  • All matter occupied a single point
  • Exploded
  • Space started expanding and is still expanding.
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5
Q

What other evidence is there for the big bang?

A
  • Microwave radiation is coming form all direction
  • This is leftover from the Big Bang
  • Called Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR)
  • This energy has stretched overtime to be equivalent to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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6
Q

What does our solar system comprise of?

A 
Sun
Planets
Moons (natural satellites)
Minor Planets (e.g. dwarf planets like Pluto, asteroids)
Comets
Artificial satellites
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7
Q

What are the 4 inner planets?

A

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

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8
Q

What are the atmospheres on Venus, Mars and Mercury like?

A

On Mars and Mercury the atmosphere is thin.

On Venus the atmosphere is made of mainly CO2 and it rains sulphuric acid.

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9
Q

What are the 4 outer planets?

A

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

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10
Q

What are Jupiter and Saturn known as?

A

The gas giants

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11
Q

What are Uranus and Neptune known as?

A

The ice giants

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12
Q

What is the asteroid belt?

A
  • It is between Mars and Jupiter
  • Asteroids are bits of rock left over from the formation of the Solar System.
  • Also has a dwarf planet called Ceres.
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13
Q

How was the sun formed?

A
  • Formed from a huge cloud of hydrogen
  • Gravity pulled the gas and dust together and the central core got very hot
  • Particles were moving fast enough and nuclear fusion occured
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14
Q

Describe the life cycle of a star up to a main sequence star.

A
  • Clouds of gas and dust are brought together by gravity
  • Spiral together and form a prostar
  • Temperature increases as the star gets denser as particles collide more often with greater force
  • When the temperature is high enough hydrogen nuclei undergo nuclear fusion giving out lots of energy forming a star.
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15
Q

Describe the characteristics of a main sequence star.

A
  • A main sequence star is at a period of equilibrium
  • Energy released by fusion gives an outward pressure, this is balanced by the force of gravity pulling everything inwards.
  • Lasts billions of years
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16
Q

What is gravitational collapse?

A

Gravity pulling everything inwards.

17
Q

After a main sequence star is formed, what can be formed?

A

Red giant or red supergiant

  • Hydrogen in the core runs out and fusion of heavier elements occur. Star swells up and turns red as the surface coosl
  • Small to medium sized stars (e.g. Sun), form red giants
  • Bigger stars form Red Supergiants - they glow brightly as more fusion occurs and they expand and contract several times.
18
Q

What happens when a red giant runs out of fuel for fusion?

A
  • It becomes unstable and ejects its outer layer of dust and gas in the form of a planetary nebula.
  • Leaving behind a dense solid core called a white dwarf which eventually cools and fades away.
19
Q

What happens to red supergiants when they run out of fuel?

A
  • They collapse into themselves and have a massive explosion called the supernova.
20
Q

What does the supernova do?

A
  • Throws layers of gas and dust into space, leaving a dense core called a neutron star
  • If the neutron star is big enough it will become a black hole - super dense point in space that even light can’t escape from it.

Physics GCSE (9 decks)

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