Space

Question 0

What is aether wind?

Answer 0

Result of Earth moving through aether. Like a car moving through air, it was expected to be detected. It was undetectable in the Michelson-Morley experiment

Question 1

Describe basics of the aether model.

Answer 1

Hypothetical, non-material fluid, permeated all space, having properties of electromagnetic waves. Invisible, low density.

Question 2

What is centripetal acceleration?

Answer 2

Acceleration directed towards the centre of a circle about which an object is moving.

Question 3

Centripetal Force?

Answer 3

Force directed towards the centre of a circle required for an object to travel in a circular path.
E.g. Gravity supplies centripetal force for satellites orbiting the Earth.

Question 4

Uniform circular motion?

Answer 4

The motion of an object in a circular path, at a constant speed.

Question 5

Escape velocity?

Answer 5

The velocity required for an object to escape from the Earth (or any other planet). It depends on the radius and mass of the planet, and the gravitational constant.

Question 6

Inertial frame of reference?

Answer 6

A frame of reference which is at rest or moving with constant velocity.

Question 7

Non-inertial frame of reference?

Answer 7

An accelerated frame of reference. In such frames, inertial forces are present.

Question 8

Geostationary orbits?

Answer 8

The satellite has a period of 24 hours and orbits in the equatorial plane about the Earth. To an individual looking up to the sky, the satellite appears to be stationary.

Question 9

G-forces?

Answer 9

Measured in units of the Earth’s gravitational acceleration, g.

Question 10

What is a gravitational field?

Answer 10

That region of space in which a mass experiences a force of attraction from other masses.

Question 11

Length contraction?

Answer 11

The length of a moving object appears to contract in the direction of motion relative to a stationary observer. Only happens at speeds close to the speed of light. Formula…

Question 12

Low-Earth orbit?

Answer 12

Have an altitude that ranges from 250km to 1000 km above the Earth’s surface.

Question 13

Mass dilation?

Answer 13

The mass of a moving object increases in relation to the stationary observer. Formula…

Question 14

Einstein’s mass-energy formula?

Answer 14

E = mc^2

Question 15

Michelson-Morley experiment?

Answer 15

An experiment conducted to measure the speed of the Earth through the aether. The inability of the experiment to find this speed led directly to Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity.

Question 16

Orbital decay?

Answer 16

Occurs when low altitudes orbiting objects such as satellites and discarded ‘space junk’ re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and ultimately burn up.

Question 17

Projectile?

Answer 17

Any objects moving under the influence of gravity only.

Question 18

Projectile motion?

Answer 18

Motion of a projectile. Best analysed by dividing it’s motion into two components: horizontal component of motion with constant velocity, and vertical component of motion with a constant acceleration.