Space Exam Flashcards
Saturn is a
d) rocky planet
A comet can be distinguished from a meteor or an astroid because
B) It develops a gaseous tail that points directly away from the sun
The change in temperature of earth during the year is caused by
c) the tilt of the earth with respect to the sun
Pointer stars are
Used to find other stars
A planisphere shows the exact location of
Stars at a given date and time of night
Why did early astronomers at first not understand what caused retrograde motion?
They thought planets revolves around Earth
Use the following diagram to explain how the seasons on Earth are caused by orbital . Mark the seasons on the diagram
Each planet spins on its own axis. The ellipse represents the earths path orbiting around the sun. The left hand side is the northern hemisphere summer, and the right northern hemisphere winter. The the hemisphere tipped towards the sun is summer and away is winter
Describe the big bang theory. Provide two pieces of evidence to support this theory
All matter and energy in the universe expanded from a hot dense mass with an incredibly small volume. It occurred between 13.6 and 13.8 billion years ago at this first instead of time and space universe was extremely hot and energy was spreading out very quickly as the universe cooled. energy began turning in the matter mainly hydrogen. Over hundreds of millions of years this matter formed clumps, which eventually formed the stars and galaxies that we see today
Evidence 1: scientists experimenting with a super sensitive antenna thought it was malfunctioning because it picked up radiation from all over the universe ( echo). They determined interference was energy released by the initial expansion of space
Evidence 2: satellite COBE measured temperature of background microwave radiation, and matched evidence of the antenna scientists
Describe the solar nebula theory for the formation of our sun and the planets of our solar system. Provide two pieces of evidence to support this theory
Solar system formed @ 5 billion years ago by a massive cloud of gas and dust that began to contract. might have been a shockwave from a nearby supernova. Clumps began to form. One became a protostar and the gas and dust was pulled in by gravity. Temp and pressure in its core increased. Particles were attracted to the protostar and it continued to co tract from its own gravity. It’s counterclockwise spin increased. As loud collapsed it spun faster further increasing temp and pressure at its core. Became hot enuf for nuclear fusion, causing contracting material to form a disc of gas and dust around its core. The sun is the disc at the centre of the whirling mass, surround by planets etc
Evidence 1: other planetary system are in various stages of this formation
Evidence 2 computer simulation result in planetary systems we see today
What are pointer stars
Pointers are the brightest stars and are used as guides to point direction through knowledge of placement/angles of constellations (navigation) Example is Polaris
Is Pluto a planet
No it is a dwarf planet because it does not dominate its orbit as does a true planet
What is an example of the suns effect on earth
Aurora borealis: Earth is surrounded by atmosphere containing atoms from different gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide) and by a magnetic field that is strongest near the north and south poles. Solar winds travel towards earth follow these lines of magnetic force. When they come in contact with the particles from the earths atmosphere they produce a light display
