Space Flashcards
What are the main objects in our solar system
Sun planets moons asteroids comets
What object is the sun
A star
Which galaxy is the solar system in
The Milky Way
What do all stars start off as
Huge clouds of gas and dust called nebulas
Which force is responsible for forming a protostar from a nebula
Gravity
What kind of reaction causes expansion of a star
Nuclear fusion
How does a main sequence star remain stable
Fusion reactions produce outwards forces which balance the gravitational forces pulling it inwards
What determines the life cycle of a star
Mass
What is the life cycle of a star with about the same mass as the sun
Protostar>main sequence star> red supergiant> supernova> neutron star or black hole
How are naturally occurring elements formed
From nuclear fusion during the life cycle of stars
Which elements are only produced in a supernova
Elements heavier than iron
How are the elements distributed throughout the universe
Massive stars going supernova
How does the force of gravity make objects in orbit change their velocity but not their speed
Gravity provides a centripetal force which keeps thhe orbiting objects moving in a circle- they are constantly changing direction
To change the speed of a stable object what factor must change
Radius of orbit
What is red shift
Wavelengths of light get longer is the light source I’s moving away from the observer
