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Praxis Middles School Science > Praxis Middle School Science-Astronomy > Flashcards

Praxis Middle School Science-Astronomy Flashcards

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1
Q

steady state theory

A

this theory held that the universe was static and that it did not evolve, having always maintained a balance of the same general properties through replacement of dying starts and galaxies by new stars and galaxies

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2
Q

big bang theory

A

a massive explosion that scattered mass, matter, and energy throughout the universe, which then formed galaxies as matter cooled during the next half-billion years

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3
Q

the concept of a massive explosion (in the big bang theory) is supported by…

A

the disruption of background radiation and the measurable fact that the galaxies are moving away from each other at great speed.

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4
Q

oscillating universe hypothesis

A

as the universe oscillates galaxies will move away from one another and will in time slow down and stop; then a gradual movement toward each other will activate another big bang

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5
Q

astronomical unit (au)

A

within our solar system, the standard unit of distance measurement

the mean distance between the sun and the earth

or 1 AU= 1.495979 x 10^11m

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6
Q

planetary nebulae

A

cold clouds of dust and gas within a galaxy

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7
Q

prostar

A

the initial stage of star formation

here, cloudlike spheres of the nebula begin to shrink under the influence of its own weak gravity into a knot of gasesthe initial stage of star formation

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8
Q

nuclear fusion

A

the process by which hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium atoms, releasing massive amounts of energy

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9
Q

a star’s life cycle depends on its…

A

initial mass.

just as a star’s mass determines its length of life, however, it also determines the pattern it follows in the last stages of existence

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10
Q

giant star

A

10 to 100 times the diameter of the sun, created when hydrogen-depleted stars begin to consume the heavier elements produced by fusion

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11
Q

white dwarf star

A

a small, slowly cooling, extremely sense star

no larger than 10,000 km in diameter

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12
Q

black dwarfs

A

the final phase of a lower main sequence start life cycle

a dead star

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13
Q

binary star

A

one of two suns in the same solar system

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14
Q

nova

A

the sudden brightening of a lower main sequence star caused by the explosion of the star

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15
Q

supergiant star

A

an exceptionally bright star, 10 to 1,000 times the diameter of the sun

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16
Q

supernova

A

the massive explosion of an upper main sequence supergiant star caused by the detonation of carbon within the star

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17
Q

a supernova releases more energy than…

A

earth’s sun will produce in its entire life cycle

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18
Q

neutron star

A

the very small imploded core of a collapsed supergiant star that rotates at a high speed and has a strong magnetic field

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19
Q

pulsar

A

a neutron star that has captured gas from space or other stars and emits a sweeping beam of ionized gas radiation

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20
Q

black hole

A

a volume of space created by an imploded supergiant from which no form of radiation can escape

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21
Q

singularity

A

the inner core of an imploded supergiant, compacted by a supernova into an object of zero radius and infinite density

22
Q

most cosmologists believe that the earth is the direct result of a…

A

supernova

23
Q

our solar system is composed mostly of

A

matter assembled from a star or stars that disappeared billions of years ago

24
Q

accretion

A

the clumping together of small particles into larger masses

25
Q

sun

A

the nearest star to earth that produces solar energy by the process of nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen into helium

26
Q

parts of the sun

A
  • core: the inner portion, where fusion takes place
  • photosphere: considered the surface of the sun, produces sunspots (cool, dark areas that can be seen on its surface)
  • chromosphere: colored red by hydrogen gas
  • solar flares: produce excited protons and electrons that shoot outward from the chromosphere at great speeds reaching earth, disturb radio reception, and affect magnetic field on earth
  • solar prominences: gases that shoot outward from the chromosphere
  • corona: the transparent area of sun visible only during a total eclipse
27
Q

solar radiation

A

energy traveling from the sun that radiates into space

28
Q

the planets in our solar system

A 
mercury
venus
earth
mars
jupiter
saturn
uranus
neptune
29
Q

the inner planets

A

mercury
venus
earth
mars

30
Q

the outer planets

A

jupiter
saturn
uranus
neptune

31
Q

mercury

A

closest planet to the sun

surface has craters and rocks

atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium and sodium

32
Q

venus

A

has a slow rotation when compared to earth’s

rotates in the opposite direction from the other planets, called retrograde rotation

atmosphere composed of mostly carbon dioxide

33
Q

earth

A

considered a water planet, with 70% water of its surface

gravity holds the masses of water in place

the different temperatures observed allow for different states of water to exist

atmosphere composed of mainly oxygen and nitrogen

the only planet known to support life

34
Q

mars

A

has a surface that contains numerous craters, active and extinct volcanoes, and ridges & valleys with extremely deep fractures

iron oxide makes the surface seem rust colored and skies seem pink

atmosphere composed of mostly carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and water vapor

it has polar regions with ice caps composed of water

two satellites

35
Q

jupiter

A

largest planet in the solar system

has 16 moons

atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia

white colored bands of clouds indicate rising gases, and dark colored bands of clouds indicate descending gases, caused by heat in jupiter’s core

it’s great red spot is thought to be a hurricane type cloud

it has a strong magnetic field

36
Q

saturn

A

second largest planet

beautiful rings of ice, rock, and dush particles circling it

atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia

has 20-plus satellites

37
Q

uranus

A

a gaseous planet with 10 dark rings, 15 satellites and retrograde resolution

atmosphere made of hydrogen, helium, and methane

38
Q

neptune

A

another gaseous planet with an atmosphere consisting of hydrogen, helium and methane

3 rings, 2 satellites

color of the seas

39
Q

asteroids

A

rocky fragments that may be the remains of the birth of the solar system that never formed a planet

40
Q

comets

A

masses of frozen gases, cosmic dust, and small rocky particles

41
Q

meteoroids

A

particles of rock and metal of various sizes floating in space

42
Q

meteor

A

a burning meteoroid falling through the earth’s atmosphere; also called a shooting star

43
Q

meteorites

A

meteors that strike the earth’s surface

44
Q

giant impact hypothesis

A

explains the origin of earth’s moon as part of the residue of a collision with another body that earth’s gravitation pulled into orbit

45
Q

eclipse

A

occurs when a stellar body is shadowed by another and, as a result, is rendered invisibile

46
Q

umbra

A

the central region of the shadow caused by an eclipse, which receives no light from the sun

47
Q

penumbra

A

the lighter outer edges of the shadow created during a partial eclipse where some light hits

48
Q

phases of the moon

A

the apparent changes in the shape of the moon caused by the absence or presence of reflected sunlight as the moon orbits around the earth

49
Q

the orbital pattern of the moon in relation to the sun and earth determines…

A

the extent of lunar illumination, and consequently, what illuminated shape is presented to the earth

50
Q

seasonal change on earth is caused by

A

the orbit and axial tilt of the planet in relation to the sun’s ecliptic, the rotational path of the sun

51
Q

the 4 key points on the ecliptic that vary slightly in relation to leap years

A

winter solstice- dec 21st. shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere

summer solstice- june 21st. longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.

vernal equinox- march 21st. marks beginning of spring.

autumnal equinox-sept. 21st. marks the beginning of autumn.

52
Q

geosynchronous orbit

A

an orbit around the earth that has an orbital period matching the earth’s sidereal rotation period

Praxis Middles School Science (8 decks)

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