Physical Science Star Terms

Question 1

core

Answer 1

the central region of the sun where nuclear fusion occurfs

Question 2

radiation zone

Answer 2

a region of closely packed plasma outside the core of the sun, where energy is transferred by the absorption and reradiation of light

Question 3

convection zone

Answer 3

the region inside the sun where thermal energy is transferred outward mainly by convection currents

Question 4

photosphere

Answer 4

the thin, intermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere

Question 5

chromosphere

Answer 5

the middle layer of the sun’s atmosphere

Question 6

corona

Answer 6

the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere

Question 7

sunspots

Answer 7

an area of gas in the sun’s photopshere where it’s cooler

Question 8

prominences

Answer 8

huge loops of gas from sunspot regions and extend upward from the photosphere into the chromosphere and sometimes to the corona.

Question 9

solar flares

Answer 9

a dramatic eruption on the sun’s surface

Question 10

light year

Answer 10

the distance light travels in a vacuum in a year

Question 11

parallax

Answer 11

an apparent change in position of an object with respect to a distant background

Question 12

apparent brightness

Answer 12

the brightness of a star as it appears from Earth

Question 13

absolute brightness

Answer 13

a description of how bright a star really is

Question 14

H R Diagram

Answer 14

the Hertzprung-Russell diagram, graph of surface temp. versus absolute brightness of a sample of stars

Question 15

Main sequence stars

Answer 15

90% of all stars, fusion matches gravity

Question 16

supergiants

Answer 16

a very large, massive, bright star ranging in size from 100 to 1000 time diameter of the sun

Question 17

giants

Answer 17

a large massive bright star that’s somewhat smaller and fainter than a supergiant

Question 18

white dwarf

Answer 18

a small, dense dim remains of a low/medium mass star

Question 19

nebula

Answer 19

a large cloud of gas and dust spread out over a large volume of space

Question 20

protostar

Answer 20

a contracting nebula with enough mass to form a star

Question 21

planetary nebula

Answer 21

a glowing cloud of gas surrounding a dying star

Question 22

supernova

Answer 22

an enormous explosion in which the by products of a star of fusion are flung into space

Question 23

neutron star

Answer 23

the dense core left after a high mass star has exploded

Question 24

pulsar

Answer 24

the spinning neutron star that appears to give off pulses of radio waves

Question 25

black hole

Answer 25

an object whose surface gravity is so great that not even electromagnetic waves can escape from it

Question 26

constellation

Answer 26

a group of stars that appears to form a pattern as seen from Earth

Question 27

binary star

Answer 27

a star system with two stars that revolve around each other

Question 28

associations

Answer 28

a temporary grouping of bright, young clusters

Question 29

globular cluster

Answer 29

a large spherical shaped group of older stars that usually lacks sufficient amounts of gas and dust to form new stars

Question 30

galaxy

Answer 30

a huge group of individual stars, star systems, star clusters, dust, and gas bound together by gravity

Question 31

spiral galaxies

Answer 31

bulge of stars at enter and arms, looks like a pinwheel

Question 32

barred spiral galaxies

Answer 32

a spiral galaxy in which spiral arms extend outward from a bar running through the center of the galaxy

Question 33

irregular galaxies

Answer 33

a galaxy with a disorganized appearance

Question 34

quasars

Answer 34

enonmously bright centers of a young star

Question 35

hypervelocity stars

Answer 35

stars with velocities that are substantially different from that expected for a star belonging to the normal distribution of stars in a galaxy.

Question 36

Magnetar star

Answer 36

a type of neutron star believed to have an extremely powerful magnetic field

Question 37

galaxy mergers

Answer 37

occur when 2 galaxies collide