science Flashcards

1
Q

absolute magnitude

A

a brightness scale used to measure of how bright a star would be if it were seen from a standard distance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

apparent magnitude

A

the brightness of a star as seen from earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

H-R Diagram

A

Hertzsprung- Russel diagram, a graph that shows the relationship between a star’s surface temperature and absolute magnitude.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

galaxy

A

a large collection of stars, dust, and gas bound together by gravity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

light-year

A

the distance that light travels through space in one year; about 9.46 trillion kilometers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

luminosity

A

the actual brightness of an object such as a star

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

main sequence

A

the region of the H-R diagram where stars spend most of their lives; it has a diagonal pattern.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

nebula

A

a large cloud of dust and gas in interstellar space; a region in space where stars are born.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

neutron star

A

the core of a supernova that has collapsed under gravity to the point that the electrons and protons have smashed together to form neutrons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

planet

A

a relatively large spherical body that orbits a star

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

pulsar

A

a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

revolution

A

the motion of a body that travels around another body in space; one trip along an orbit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

rotation

A

the spin of a body on its axis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

solar system

A

the collection of large and small bodies that orbit our central star, the sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

wavelength

A

the distance between two adjacent troughs or crests of a wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

star

A

a large celestial body that is composed of gas and that emits light; the sun is a typical star

16
Q

supernova

A

a gigantic explosion in which a massive star throws its outer layers into space, but its core remains

17
Q

universe

A

space and all the matter and energy in it

18
Q

white dwarf

A

the hot, dense, dim core of matter that remains from the collapse of a low-mass star

19
Q

spiral galaxy

A

a galaxy shaped like a pinwheel, with a bulge in the center and spiral arms extending outward

20
Q

elliptical galaxy

A

a spherical or elongated galaxy with a bright center and very little dust and gas

21
Q

irregular galaxy

A

a galaxy with an irregular shape that does not fit into any other category

22
Q

electromagnetic spectrum

A

all of the different wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays

23
Q

big bang theory

A

the theory that all mater and energy in the universe was compressed into an extremely small volume that 13 billion to 15 billion years ago exploded and began expanding in all directions.

24
Q

cosmic microwave background

A

CMB; the electromagnetic radiation left over from the formation of the universe

25
Q

red shift

A

a phenomenon which occurs when a star or galaxy is moving away from the earth and its

26
Q

doppler effect

A

an observed change in frequency or wavelength when the source is moving with respect to the observer

27
Q

spectroscope

A

a tool used to collect light from stars and separate the colors in the light