Physics Spring Term AP2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is nuclear fusion?

A

the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy

hydrogen nuclei smash together to form helium

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2
Q

Where does nuclear fusion take place?

A

in the core of a star

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3
Q

Which part of an atom carries out nuclear fusion?

A

the nucleus

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4
Q

Why do stars shine?

A

the release energy (heat and light) into the universe

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5
Q

What are stars made of?

A

mostly hydrogen, with some helium and some other elements

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6
Q

What causes tides?

A

the moon’s gravity pulls the earth’s ocean towards it

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7
Q

Why are there 2 high tides?

A

The water on the earth’s far side is pulled less strongly than the earth so it gets ‘left behind’ therefore there is a tide on the earth’s far side as well as the side nearest to the moon

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8
Q

What is a solar eclipse?

A

a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth

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9
Q

What is a lunar eclipse?

A

when the earth gets between the sun and the moon

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10
Q

Are there tides at the North/South poles?

A

yes but they are not as pronounced

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11
Q

How are stars formed?

A

gas and dust in nebulas (clouds of dust) are pulled together by gravity

this makes a protostar (like a baby star)

it officially becomes a star once nuclear fusion starts happening

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12
Q

What is a neutron star?

A

It’s what is formed when the star is too big to form a white dwarf and too small to form a black hole. It’s comprised of densley packed neutrons.

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13
Q

What is a supernova?

A

the colossal explosion of a star

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14
Q

What is a black hole?

A

a spherical region of space

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15
Q

What is a protostar?

A

A warm (few hundreds of degrees at most) cloud of gas and dust

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16
Q

What is a main sequence star?

A

when dust from a nebula becomes so hot nuclear fusion starts

17
Q

What is a planetary nebula?

A

when the outer layers of a red giant formed from a low/medium sized star drift off

18
Q

What is a white dwarf?

A

when the core of the (planetary nebula) star cools

19
Q

What is a black dwarf?

A

when a white dwarf runs out of fuel

20
Q

How are black holes formed?

A

After a large mass star explodes, the gravity of the mass is so strong that the gas is pulled inward into a smaller and smaller space until even light can’t escape it.

21
Q

What is the boundary of a black hole called?

A

the event horizon

22
Q

What are black holes surrounded by?

A

orbiting discs of gas and dust called accretion discs

23
Q

(For planets) the bigger the mass, the bigger the?

A

the bigger the mass, the bigger the gravity

24
Q

What colour are the cool stars? (cool as in heat)

A

they are red in colour

25
Q

What colour are the hot stars?

A

they are either white or blue in colour

26
Q

What is the difference between the small, dim stars and big bright ones?

A

the small dim ones live the longest; the big bright ones live a shorter life

27
Q

What is the name of the extremely small (but extremely big to us) object at the centre of a black hole?

A

A singularity

28
Q

dispersion

A

the splitting up of light into its different colours

29
Q

absorption

A

then an object absorbs wavelengths of light

30
Q

What is the difference between colours of light?

A

their wavelengths

31
Q

transmission

A

when an object allows wavelengths of light to pass through

32
Q

rainbow

A

a rainbow is a multicolored arc made by ight striking water droplets

33
Q

angle of incidence

A

the angle at which the light enters

34
Q

line of reflection

A

The line where the light hits the surface is called the line of incidence.

When light hits a surface, it bounces off in a different direction.

35
Q

diffraction

A

the process of light bending around an obstacle or spreading out after it moves through a small space