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Solar System Astronomy > Quiz 5 Practice > Flashcards

Quiz 5 Practice Flashcards

1
Q

Moon

A

The Earth’s only Moon.

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2
Q

Phases

A

Moon passes through a full set of phases over
the course of each month

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3
Q

Waxing

A
  • As the Moon orbits from new to full
  • Greater portion of the visible side of the Moon is illuminated each day
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4
Q

Waning

A
  • As the Moon orbits from full to new
  • Less of the visible side of the Moon is illuminated each day
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5
Q

Crescent

A

When the Moon is less than half illuminated

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6
Q

Gibbous

A

When the Moon is half or more than half illuminated

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7
Q

Hemisphere

A
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8
Q

Vernal and autumnal equinox

A

Earth is tilted neither towards nor away from the Sun twice a year; Sun is directly over the equator on equinoxes

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9
Q

Winter and summer solstice

A

Summer and winter solstices occur when the Earth is tilted maximally towards or away from the sun

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10
Q

Eclipse

A

Cccurs when a second object passes into the shadow formed by a solid object passing in front of the Sun

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11
Q

Umbra

A

The darkest part of this shadow is known as the umbra

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12
Q

Penumbra

A

The lighter part is known as the penumbra

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13
Q

Solar eclipse

A

Solar eclipse: Sun looks weird
* Moon blocks out Sunlight.

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14
Q

Lunar eclipse

A

Lunar eclipse: Moon looks weird
* Earth blocks some sunlight and discolors Moon

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15
Q

Nebula

A

The birthplace of stars; contains clouds of gas and dust; is the mass many times of a star

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16
Q

Gravitational collapse (runaway)

A

When the nebula undergoes a small compression and medium clumps start to form

17
Q

Protostar

A

The beginning stages of a formation of a star through the collapse of a nebula

18
Q

Snow line

A

The distance from a central protostar at which ice grains can form

19
Q

Protoplanetary disk

A

When the remaining particles of a protostar clump together

20
Q

Heavy bombardment

A

period of Solar System history when planet-sized projectiles were flying through the Solar System, causing many impacts

21
Q

Meteor

A

Meteors—which are typically pieces of comet dust no larger than a grain of rice—burn up before reaching the ground

22
Q

Meteorite

A

When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite

23
Q

Geologic activity

A

Geological activity is measured through volcanoes, earthquakes, and tectonic movements (water, and wind too!)

24
Q

What causes Moon phases?

A

The Sun illuminates only half of the Moon at one time. The Moon’s position relative to the Earth and Sun causes the change in illumination.

25
Q

Why do Earthlings only see one side of the Moon?

A

Because of synchronous rotation (the Moon rotates at the same rate as it orbits Earth)

26
Q

What causes seasons?

A

The combination of Earth’s tilted rotation and its orbit around the Sun
The tilt of Earth’s rotation means that the amount of sunlight a particular location receives depends on the time of year

27
Q

When are the equinoxes and solstices?

A

Autumnal Equinox: September 21st
Winter Solstice: December 21st
Vernal Equinox: March 21st
Summer Solstice: June 21st

28
Q

How can we calculate how high the Sun goes in the sky (altitude) on the equinoxes and solstices?

A
  • EQUINOXES: Equinox altitude = 90o - latitude
  • SUMMER SOLSTICE Maximum altitude
    = equinox altitude + 23.5o:
  • WINTER SOLSTICE: Minimum altitude
    = equinox altitude - 23.5o
29
Q

What phase must the Moon be in for a solar eclipse? A lunar eclipse?

A

Solar eclipse: New Moon because New Moon occurs when the Moon is between the Earth and Sun
Lunar eclipse: Full Moon because Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between Moon and Sun

30
Q

How did the Sun form?

A

The collapse of a nebula causes particles to move inwards and the central region of the nebula becomes dense and hot. As the nebula continues to collapse, it rotates and the objects around the protostar flatten

31
Q

How did the planets form?

A

The planets form from the remaining mass of the collapsed nebula

32
Q

How did the Moon form?

A

The Moon is theorized to have formed from a chunk of the Earth that was separated during the heavy bombardment period

33
Q

What evidence do we have for the Heavy Bombardment period?

A

(1) Venus’ 180-degree tilt
(2) Uranus’ 90-degree tilt
(3) Craters on the Moon and the rocky planets

34
Q

What can the presence or lack of craters tell us about a planet/moon?

A

Where we see craters: Heavy bombardment has not been erased (geologically dead/inactive)
Where we do NOT see craters: Heavy bombardment has been erased (geologically active)

Solar System Astronomy (9 decks)

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