Space Flashcards
What are the planet names in order from the sun outwards?
Murcury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Pluto (dwarf planet)
How many planets are in our solar system?
8 planets, 1 dwarf planet.
What is a nebula?
A cloud of dust and gas that gets pulled together under gravity.
What heats the gasses in a nebula as it is pulled together?
Friction.
How hot must the core temperature be for nuclear fusion?
Over of 10 million degrees.
What is the definition of a planet?
- It orbits a central star
- Have enough mass to remain roughly spherical (to assume hydrostatic equilibrium)
- Has a clear orbit
What is the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet?
Dwarf planets don’t have clear orbits.
Where is the asteroid belt located?
Between Mars and Jupiter.
Why do objets orbit the earth?
They move fast enough to constantly fall towards Earth but never hit it due to its curved surface.
What force acts on objects in circular motion?
A centripetal force.
What is a satellite?
An object that orbits a planet.
How is a star formed?
A nebular is pulled together under gravity, friction heats the hydrogen until it hot enough for nuclear fusion to happen.
Once a star is formed, how does it reach equelibrium?
The star becomes stable as gravity acting inwards balances the force of radiation from nuclear fission acting outwards.
What are the two types of sattilite?
Natural (like the moon) or artificial.
What are the two types of artificial satilite?
Geostationary and monitoring
How often does a geostationary satellite orbit the earth?
Every 24 hours. It stays in the same position above the earth’s surface.
How often does a monitoring satellite orbit the earth?
Every 2-3 hours.
How does distance to Earth effect satellite speed?
Satellites closer to Earth move faster.
What are geostationary satellites used for?
Communications.
What are monitoring satellites used for?
Weather monitoring and forecasting.
