Solar System Flashcards
Name all the main parts of the Solar system
The Sun, 8 planets (name them), small bodies like moons, dwarf planets asteroids and coments
What is Revolution in the Solar system
The planets all revolve around the Sun and the moons revolve around the planets. The Earth makes one revolution every 365.25 years. The moon makes one revolution every 28 days.
What is Rotation in the Solar System
All the bodies of the Solar system rotates around their own axes. The Earth rotates around its axis every 24 hours and the Moon rotates once every 28 days. Because its revolution and rotation rates are the same, it always shows the same side to the Earth.
Does the moon and planets create their own light?
No, we see the light reflected from the Sun.
Explain who Galileo Galilei was and what his contribution was to the understanding of our Solar System.
Galileo was an Italian astronomer who improved the telescope and discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter
Identify the three main types of telescopes.
Optical telescopes, radio telescopes and space telescopes
Explain how the different types of telescopes gather information.
Optical:
An objective (or primary) lens gathers information and a secondary lens focuses the image into the eye.
Radio:
The dish reflects and focus the radio signal to the receiver which is in front of the dish
Name and identify important telescopes in South Africa.
Discuss reasons why the SALT telescope is located where it is.
SALT: South African Large Telescope in Sutherland.
It is there because of the clear skies and no light pollution
SKA: Square Kilometer Array (many dishes, covering a square kilometer). Near Carnarvon in the Karoo
Name a famous space telescope.
The Hubble Space Telescope. The latest is the James Webb Space Telescope
Explain how the astronauts on the Moon got around on their first mission, compared to later missions.
They had to walk around because they did not have a lunar rover vehicle (LRV). They had to pull a cart with their tools for collecting rocks.
Discuss how the use of LRV’s helped astronauts on their missions to the Moon.
They could drive around to cover more areas of the moon (their time was limited due to the amount of oxygen that they could take). They could take more tools with them.
Describe some of the features of the rovers used on Mars.
They had 6 wheels, each with its own electric motor. It had video cameras and an arm that could dig on the surface of Mars to analyze samples of soil. The rovers are powered by solar panels.
Explain how the scientists on Earth communicate with the Mars rovers.
Through radio waves to a satellite that orbits Mars, which then relayed the signals to the rovers
Name some of the Mars rovers.
Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity
Design (draw a diagram) your own Mars rover that can collect samples and capture video footage
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