Section 2 Flashcards
What is the Solar Nebula
The cloud of gas and dust out of which the solar system was formed
What are the two groups of planets based upon their physical properties
Terrestrials and Jovians
In which group of planets do they all have high densities and low masses
Terrestrials
In which group of planets do they all have low densities, rings and lots of moons
Jovians
What are the two groups of planets based upon their distances from the sun
Inferiors and Superiors
At what orbital position can you never see Saturn
Conjunction
At what orbital position is Venus at its best to view
Greatest elongation
What is the motion of the pieces of the Earth’s crust called
Tectonic activity
What removed most of the Earth’s early atmospheric CO2 gas
Earth’s oceans
Where did the Earth get the O2 present in its current atmosphere
From photosynthesis
Where is the ozone layer of the Earth located?
What does it do for us?
Upper Stratosphere.
It shields us from most of the Sun’s lethal UV light
What can we observe if the Sun sends too many charged particles towards the Earth
The aurora (“the northern lights” or “the southern lights”)
Does the moon rotate?
If yes, how does it rotate
Yes
Synchronous rotation
(1 rotation per 1 revolution around the Earth)
If you are on the far side of the Moon, can you see the Earth in your sky
No
Only the near side of the moon faces the Earth
Does the Moon have a magnetic field?
Why or why not
No
Due to its lack of iron and its very slow rotation
(No dynamo is created)
If the Moon is rising at sunset, what is the phase of the Moon
Full
If the Moon is at first quarter, which type of eclipse can possibly occur
Neither
If the Moon is new, which type of eclipse can possibly occur
Solar
During a typical total lunar eclipse, does the Moon completely disappear from view
No
It is usually dull reddish in appearance
If aliens stole our Moon, what would happen to the tides we experience on the Earth
They would be very small (due to the tides of the Sun)
What caused most of the craters we see on the Moon
Impacts
What is the Regolith
A powder of pulverized rock covering its surface
How did our Moon most likely come into existence
A major impact of the Earth long ago
On which planet can we find the Caloris impact basin
Mercury
Which planet has the highest range in temperature from noon to midnight? Why
Mercury, due to its very slow rotation and lack of atmosphere
In which two ways are Venus and Earth similar
Size and mass
How did Magellan map the surface of Venus
Using radio waves it generated a false color altitude map
What are Aphrodite Terra and Ishtar Terra
The two “continents” on Venus
What created most of the craters we see on Venus
Volcanic features
What makes up most of the atmosphere of Venus
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
What caused the surface of Venus to become so hot
A runaway greenhouse effect
What is unusual about the rotation of Venus?
What most likely caused this
It is very slow and backwards, most likely due to a major impact in the past
Which planet is the only one with surface details visible in telescopes on the Earth
Mars
Why was August 2003 a great time to view Mars through a telescope
It was near perihelion at opposition
In which two way are Mars and Earth similar
Axis tilt and rotation period
What did Lowell believe he was seeing on Mars
Canals (huge water channels built by Martians)
On which planet (other than Earth) is there evidence for surface liquid water in the past
Mars
Why does Mars appear notably reddish in color
Iron oxide in the soil
On which planet are both Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris?
What are they
Mars
These are the tallest volcano and the biggest valley/canyon in the solar system
Has life been verified to exist on Mars yet
No
Why did the moons of Mars most likely not form with Mars
They are more like objects found in the outer solar system
Jupiter is more massive than Earth, yet has a much lower density.
Why is this
It is mostly made out of hydrogen and helium
Jupiter and Saturn are noticeably oblate.
Why is this
They are made mostly of liquids and gasses and rotate very rapidly
What are the bands of Jupiter
Regions of rising and falling material
What is the Great Red Spot
The biggest storm system in the solar system
Why does Jupiter have such a large magnetic field
Its rapid rotation and vast region of liquid metallic hydrogen
Which moon of Jupiter is very volcanically active?
Why is this
Io
Due to tidal heating of its interior
Which of Jupiter’s moons has a good chance for life?
Why is this
Europa
Due to its liquid water and tidal heating
What is the largest moon in the solar system?
Around which planet does it orbit
Jupiter’s moon Ganymede
Which of Jupiter’s moons has the oldest, darkest and most cratered surface
Callisto
