PHS 200 Test 1 Study Deck Flashcards
Weather (definition)
state of atmosphere at a give time or place (varies daily)
Climate (definition)
aka “average weather”; generalization of weather conditions (based on gradual observations); variations and extremes are included; ex: rainfall, dryness of atmosphere, air quality, humidity
Elements (definition)
quantities or properties that are measured regularly (of weather/climate: 6 types = air temperature, humidity, type/amount of cloudiness, type/amount of precipitation, air pressure, and speed/direction of wind
Perihelion vs Aphelion (definitions)
Perihelion = point of Earth CLOSEST TO Sun (summer); Aphelion = point of Earth FARTHEST FROM Sun (winter); (both while in points of orbit)
Cause of Seasons
- Gradual change in angle (altitude) of Sun above horizon
-Daylight changes
Earth’s Orbit Angle (Inclination of axis)
23.5 degrees; pointed toward North Star
Solstices and Equinoxes
-Solstices = summer (June 21st) and winter (December 21st)
-Equinoxes = spring (March 21st) and fall (September 21st)
Constellations and Zodiac (definitions)
-Constellations = patterns of stars in the night sky; ex: Orion the Hunter
-Zodiac = planets, Sun and Moon = all appear in band in sky (ex: Capricorn, Scorpio)
Celestial Sphere (definition)
Imaginary hollow sphere (stars = hung and carried around Earth); N and S celestial poles; celestial equator
-Measurements = direction (degrees clockwise from due North) and altitude above horizon (location of astronomical objects); angular size and distance
Mean Solar Day vs. Sidereal Day
-Mean Solar Day = average time between two passages of Sun across local celestial median
-Sidereal day = period of Earth’s rotation with respect to the stars
Orbit of Earth/planets
Ecliptic orbits
Synodic month (definition)
period of revolution of the Moon in respect to the Sun; 29.5 days
Sidereal month (definition)
Revolution of Moon around Earth in respect to the stars
Phases of Moon/# of phases
6 phases; crescent (2 days after New Moon), waxing (1 week after Crescent Moon), first-quarter (1 week after waxing moon), full moon (one week after first-quarter moon), waning (1 week after Full moon), and new moon (1 week after waning moon)
Eclipses
-Solar eclipse (called “umbra”; eclipse of Sun; Moon hides Sun; partial shadow = “penumbra”)
-Lunar eclipse (eclipse of Moon)
Moon’s diameter (in respect to Earth’s diameter)
1/4 of Earth’s diameter (due to low mass and extreme density)
Maria (definition)
smooth surfaces of Moon; thought to be seas (orignially)
Relationship between Earth and Moon
-Isotopic twins (made of same materials)
-Moon = composed of remnants from Earth exploding
-Earth’s lunar orbit = moving outward (increases daylight hours)
Lunar Perigee (definition)
point of orbit of Moon or satellite nearest to Earth
Jovian vs. Terrestrial Planets
-Jovian = larger planets (Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus); farther away from Sun (outside asteroid belt)
-Terrestrial = closer to Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)
1 AU
distance from Earth to Sun
Nicholaus Copernicus (definition)
-orbits of planets = circular
-Heliocentrism creator (Sun = center of Universe)
-“On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres)
Tycho Brahe (definition)
-created pointers (telescopes) to measure locations of celestial bodies
Stellar Parallax
star position = shifted (also known as star displacement)
Johannes Kepler (definition)
-3 laws of planetary motion
1.) Planet orbit = ellipse
2.)Planet’s orbital speed = depends on distance from Sun (faster = closer to Sun; slower = farther from Sun)
3.) Planet’s orbital period = proportional
Galileo Galilei (definition)
- “Dialogue of the Great World Systems” (Geocentrism vs. Heliocentrism)
-Jupiter = 4 moons
-Planets = spheres
-Venus = same phases as Moon
-Moon’s surface - not smooth
-Sun has sunspots
-First scientist to use telescope in Astronomy
Sir Isaac Newton (definition)
-3 laws of motion
1.) Object in motion stays in motion; object at rest will stay at rest
2.) Force = mass * acceleration
3.)Every action has an equal or opposite reaction
Earth’s spheres
1.)Hydrosphere (water portion; precipitation, condensations, and evaporation)
2.) Atmosphere (gas portion; shallow layer; protects against Sun’s UV rays; gives air to breathe)
3.) Geosphere (solid part; Earth = chemical and physical properties)
4.) Biosphere (all life on Earth; helps life adapt to different environments)
Earth System (definition)
dynamic system of interacting parts and processes
Freshwater from hydrosphere
1.)Glaciers
2.)Groundwater
3.)All other freshwater
Earth’s layers
1.) core (iron/nickel)
2.) mantle (3 layers; solid lower, high-density rock mantle, and solid upper)
3.) crust (high and thin outer layer of Earth)
Hydrologic cycle (definition)
subsystem (matter = repeatedly recycled)
-precipitation (rain or snow)
-transpiration (water vapor released by plants)
-infiltration
-groundwater
-surface flow
-evaporation
-condensation (cloud formation)
Planet Order Mneumonic
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
Planetesimal (definition)
solid celestial body; 1st stage of planetary formation
Kuiper Belt (definition)
region outside of Neptune (origination of short-period comets)
Oort Cloud (definition)
location of comets that orbit Sun (very far away from Sun)
Meter vs. Meteroid
-Meteor: aka shooting star
-Meteoroid: small solid particles; have orbits in solar system; orgin = comet remains
Meteorites (definition)
irons, stony, or stony-irons; remains of meteoroids
