Space Flashcards
What is a star
A massive ball of gas mainly containing hydrogen helium undergoing nuclear fusion
What is the life cycle of our sun
Nebula, Protostar, Main sequence star, Red Giant, White Dwarf, Black Dwarf
What is the life cycle of a large star
Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star, Red Supergiant, Supernova, Neutron Star/ Black Hole
What is a nebula
A cloud of dust and gas where starts form
What force causes a nebula to collapse into a protostar
Gravity
What happens during the main sequence phase
Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium provides an outward force that balances gravity
What happens when a star runs out of hydrogen fuel
It expands into a red giant or red supergiant as it starts fusing heavier elements
What is a supernova
A massive explosion that occurs when a red supergiant collapses
What is a white dwarf
A hot dense core left behind after a red giant sheds its outer layers
What is a black hole
A region of space with gravity so strong even light cant escape
What is the big bang theory
The idea that the universe began from a single point (the singularity) and has been expanding ever since
What is the redshift
Is observing an increase in the wave length of light from most distant galaxies
How does the red shift support the big bang theory
As it shows galaxies are moving away suggesting the universe is expanding
What is a galaxy
A large collection of stars gas and dust held together by gravity
What is the name of our galaxy
The milky way
What makes up a solar system
The sun, planets, moons asteroids, comets and dwarf planets
Why do planets orbit the sun
As gravity provides the centripetal force that keeps them in orbit
What are our Planets
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
