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Class A > Section 2 > Flashcards

Section 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Solar Nebula

A

The cloud of gas and dust out of which the solar system was formed

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2
Q

What are the two groups of planets based upon their physical properties

A

Terrestrials and Jovians

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3
Q

In which group of planets do they all have high densities and low masses

A

Terrestrials

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4
Q

In which group of planets do they all have low densities, rings and lots of moons

A

Jovians

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5
Q

What are the two groups of planets based upon their distances from the sun

A

Inferiors and Superiors

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6
Q

At what orbital position can you never see Saturn

A

Conjunction

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7
Q

At what orbital position is Venus at its best to view

A

Greatest elongation

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8
Q

What is the motion of the pieces of the Earth’s crust called

A

Tectonic activity

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9
Q

What removed most of the Earth’s early atmospheric CO2 gas

A

Earth’s oceans

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10
Q

Where did the Earth get the O2 present in its current atmosphere

A

From photosynthesis

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11
Q

Where is the ozone layer of the Earth located?

What does it do for us?

A

Upper Stratosphere.

It shields us from most of the Sun’s lethal UV light

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12
Q

What can we observe if the Sun sends too many charged particles towards the Earth

A

The aurora (“the northern lights” or “the southern lights”)

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13
Q

Does the moon rotate?

If yes, how does it rotate

A

Yes
Synchronous rotation
(1 rotation per 1 revolution around the Earth)

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14
Q

If you are on the far side of the Moon, can you see the Earth in your sky

A

No

Only the near side of the moon faces the Earth

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15
Q

Does the Moon have a magnetic field?

Why or why not

A

No
Due to its lack of iron and its very slow rotation
(No dynamo is created)

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16
Q

If the Moon is rising at sunset, what is the phase of the Moon

A

Full

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17
Q

If the Moon is at first quarter, which type of eclipse can possibly occur

A

Neither

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18
Q

If the Moon is new, which type of eclipse can possibly occur

A

Solar

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19
Q

During a typical total lunar eclipse, does the Moon completely disappear from view

A

No

It is usually dull reddish in appearance

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20
Q

If aliens stole our Moon, what would happen to the tides we experience on the Earth

A

They would be very small (due to the tides of the Sun)

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21
Q

What caused most of the craters we see on the Moon

A

Impacts

22
Q

What is the Regolith

A

A powder of pulverized rock covering its surface

23
Q

How did our Moon most likely come into existence

A

A major impact of the Earth long ago

24
Q

On which planet can we find the Caloris impact basin

A

Mercury

25
Q

Which planet has the highest range in temperature from noon to midnight? Why

A

Mercury, due to its very slow rotation and lack of atmosphere

26
Q

In which two ways are Venus and Earth similar

A

Size and mass

27
Q

How did Magellan map the surface of Venus

A

Using radio waves it generated a false color altitude map

28
Q

What are Aphrodite Terra and Ishtar Terra

A

The two “continents” on Venus

29
Q

What created most of the craters we see on Venus

A

Volcanic features

30
Q

What makes up most of the atmosphere of Venus

A

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

31
Q

What caused the surface of Venus to become so hot

A

A runaway greenhouse effect

32
Q

What is unusual about the rotation of Venus?

What most likely caused this

A

It is very slow and backwards, most likely due to a major impact in the past

33
Q

Which planet is the only one with surface details visible in telescopes on the Earth

A

Mars

34
Q

Why was August 2003 a great time to view Mars through a telescope

A

It was near perihelion at opposition

35
Q

In which two way are Mars and Earth similar

A

Axis tilt and rotation period

36
Q

What did Lowell believe he was seeing on Mars

A

Canals (huge water channels built by Martians)

37
Q

On which planet (other than Earth) is there evidence for surface liquid water in the past

A

Mars

38
Q

Why does Mars appear notably reddish in color

A

Iron oxide in the soil

39
Q

On which planet are both Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris?

What are they

A

Mars

These are the tallest volcano and the biggest valley/canyon in the solar system

40
Q

Has life been verified to exist on Mars yet

A

No

41
Q

Why did the moons of Mars most likely not form with Mars

A

They are more like objects found in the outer solar system

42
Q

Jupiter is more massive than Earth, yet has a much lower density.
Why is this

A

It is mostly made out of hydrogen and helium

43
Q

Jupiter and Saturn are noticeably oblate.

Why is this

A

They are made mostly of liquids and gasses and rotate very rapidly

44
Q

What are the bands of Jupiter

A

Regions of rising and falling material

45
Q

What is the Great Red Spot

A

The biggest storm system in the solar system

46
Q

Why does Jupiter have such a large magnetic field

A

Its rapid rotation and vast region of liquid metallic hydrogen

47
Q

Which moon of Jupiter is very volcanically active?

Why is this

A

Io

Due to tidal heating of its interior

48
Q

Which of Jupiter’s moons has a good chance for life?

Why is this

A

Europa

Due to its liquid water and tidal heating

49
Q

What is the largest moon in the solar system?

Around which planet does it orbit

A

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede

50
Q

Which of Jupiter’s moons has the oldest, darkest and most cratered surface

A

Callisto

Class A (3 decks)

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