Space Flashcards
Largest to Smallest
Universe Supercluster Group or Cluster Galaxy Star
Universe
Everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, and all forms of matter and energy
Supercluster
A gigantic cluster of 4-25 groups or clusters that are hundreds of millions of light years in size
Group or Cluster
As little as 20-3- galaxies or as large as several thousands galaxies (Clusters are more massive than groups)
Galaxy
a collection of stars, planets, gas, and dust that is held together by the galaxy
Solar System
the sun with all the planets and other celestial objects (moons, comets, asteroids) that are held by the sun’s gravity and orbit around it
Celestial Object
Any object that exists in space
stars, asteroids, moon, planet, etc.
Solar System Members
Star (Sun)
Planets (Inner Planets/Outer Planets)
Dwarf Planet
Small Solar System Bodies
Star
a hot ball of gases that gives off a large amount of energy
Planet
a celestial body that
- orbits a star
- has enough mass so that its gravity pulls it into a round or spherical shape
- clears other celestial objects out of its orbit
Inner Planets
Rocky (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)
Outer Planets
Gaseous (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
Dwarf Planet
a spherical or round object that
- orbits the sun
- has enough mass to assume a nearly spherical shape
- has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit
- is not a moon
Small Solar System Bodies
asteroids, comets, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud
Asteroids
- left over from the formation of the solar system
- originate from Asteroid Belt
- made up of metals and rocky material
- irregular shapes and different sizes
Asteroid Belt
a region of rocky debris that forms a ring around the Sun, between Mars and Jupiter
Meteoroids
- pieces of rock moving through space
- chunks that have broken off asteroids and planets
Meteors
- meteoroids that hit the Earth’s atmosphere
- burn up due to friction with atmosphere
Meteorites
large meteors that reach the ground without burning up
Comets
- originated from Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud
- eliptical orbit
- ice, dust, rocky material
- when close to sun, will vaporize ice on comet
- release of dust and gas creates the comet tail
Trans Neptunian Objects
objects that circle the Sun beyond the orbit of Neptune
located in Kuiper Belt
Kuiper Belt
a disc shape region of icy objects beyond the orbit of Neptune
-made of material left over from the formation of the solar system
Oort Cloud
spherical cloud of icy fragments of debris at the edge of the solar system
Astronomical Unit (AU)
average distance between the Earth and Sun
1AU= 150 000 000 km
Light Years
distance light travels in 1 year
1 Light year= 9500 000 000 000 km
1 Light year= 63 241 AU
Why are outer planets the larger planets?
planet is mostly gas and turns to ice, making it bigger
Order of planets from the Sun?
MVEMJSUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Star Properties
Luminosity, Colour, Surface Temperature, Mass
Luminosity (Star)
Measure the total amount of energy it radiates per second
Brightness of stars
Sun=1
Colour (Star)
determine stars surface temperature
Blue, Red, Yellow
Blue= Hot
Red= Cooler
Surface Temperature (Star)
3000C- RED
18000C- BLUE
Mass (Star)
- Low Mass, Intermediate Mass, High Mass
2. Solar Mass
Life Cycle of Star
(depends on when the star was originally formed) Red Dwarf Red Giant White Dwarf Black Dwarf Neutron Star Black Hole
Red Dwarf
low mass star
Red Giant
dying star that becomes large in diameter and cool on surface
White Dwarf
small, dim, hot star
Black Dwarf
a white dwarf that runs out of heat and energy
Neutron Star
a dense star that only has neutrons in core
Black Hole
region where gravitational force is so strong where nothing can escape it
Hertspurng-Russell Diagram
shows the trends in the evolution of stars
y axis: luminosity
x axis: surface temperature and colour
Main Sequence Stars
central band of stars stretching from upper left to lower right.
- stable, main part of their life cycle
Solar Nebula Theory
- about 5 billion years ago, a massive cloud of gas and dust (nebula) began to form masses
- temperature and pressure in the centre of the mass increases
- Centre becomes a protostar (hot and condensed object)
- Nuclear fusion occurs between hydrogen nuclei in center
- Sun began to form
- Remaining materials around Sun lump to form planets
Sun’s Layers
Core Radiative Zone Convective Zone Photoshpere Chromosphere Corona
Core
Inner part, high pressure and temperature
Radiative Zone
all energy is carried outwards by radiation in all directions
Convective Zone
hot plasma rises, carrying energy towards surface
- constant circulation of plasma is called convection
Photosphere
Photo meaning light, visible surface
- part of the sun we see
- sends light and heat
- sunspots on this layer
Chromosphere
Chromo meaning coloured
Corona
Outermost layer
Sunspot
area of strong magnetic field on Sun’s surface (photosphere)
Prominence
a slow, low, energy ejection of gases from photosphere and forms a loop outwards into atmosphere
Solar Flare
intense ejection of high energy charged particles
Coronal Mass Ejection
large clouds of extremely high speed charged particles erupted from corona into space
Solar Wind
steady stream of high speed charged subatomic particles
- affects flight paths and damages electronic equipment
- disrupts/damages power grids, satellites
- creates aurora borealis and aurora australis
What is a star called during its earliest stage of formation?
protostar
What is Earth’s 2 types of motion?
Rotation around its axis
Revolution around Sun
What is Moon’s 2 types of motion?
Rotation around axis
Revolution around Earth
Stages of the Moon
First Quarter Waxing Crescent New Moon Waning Cresecent Third Quarter Waning Gibbous Full Moon Waxing Gibbous
Lunar Eclipse
when Earth’s shadow covers the Moon
only happens during full moon
Solar Eclipse
when Moon’s shadow covers the Earth
only happens during new moon
Umbra
region of complete shadow, which a complete eclipse will occur
Penumbra
a fringe region of partial shadow, which a partial eclipse will occur
Tides
caused by gravitation force
large object attracts water closer to it, making tide higher
Every day= 2 high tides and 2 low tides
Why do we only see one side of the moon?
the moon rotates once while it completes one orbit around Earth
Summer in northern hemisphere
Earth is tilted TOWARDS the Sun
Winter in northern hemisphere
Earth is tilted AWAY from the Sun
Direct Benefits of Space Research and Exploration
learn about the universe
national pride
Indirect Benefits of Space Research and Exploration
communication: artificial satellite tracking device robotic technology imaging consumer goods
Costs of Space Research and Exploration
Space Junk
Human Cost
Very Expensive
Issues of Space Research and Exploration
political issues (who owns space) ethical issues (more important to explore space than to feed people?) environmental issues (sustainable use of space and its resources?)
Artificial Satellite
device placed in orbit by humans around Earth or other celestial object to allow radio, TV, phone and internet signals to be transmitted through space
Effects of Space on Unprotected Human Body
Breathing
Blood and Body Fluids
Body Temperature
Solar Radiation
Breathing Effects
due to lack of pressure, oxygen would quickly be used up
after 9-12 seconds you would pass out
Blood and Body Fluids Effects
fluids may be boiled due to vacuum
body might be expanded to twice its size due to effect
Body Temperature Effects
although its cold in space, it would take time before your body cooled
frost can occur on limbs
Solar Radiation
can cause sunburn effects
skin can even burn within seconds
