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Physics > Space Physics > Flashcards

Space Physics Flashcards

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1
Q

Which galaxy is our solar system part of?

A

The Milky Way galaxy

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2
Q

How many planets make up our solar system?

A

Eight

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3
Q

What do the planets in our solar system orbit around and what type of body is it?

A
  • planets orbit around the Sun
  • The Sun is a star
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4
Q

What type of force pulled together the cloud of dust and gas to form the Sun?

A

Gravitational force of attraction

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5
Q

What word is used to describe a cloud of dust and gas?

A

A nebula

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6
Q

What type of reactions take place at the start of a stars life cycle as dust and gas is drawn together?

A

Fusion reactions

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7
Q

What factor determines the type of lifecycle a star undergoes?

A

The size of a star

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8
Q

Which two phases do all stars of the same or greater size than the sun undergo?

A
  1. Protostar phase
  2. Main sequence phase
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9
Q

What do stars of a similar magnitude to the Sun become at the end of their life cycle?

A

A black dwarf

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10
Q

What two things can stars much bigger than the sun become at the end of their lifecycle?

A
  1. Neutron star
  2. Black hole
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11
Q

What two phases do stars of similar size to the Sun go through between being a main sequence, star and a black dwarf

A
  1. Red giant
  2. White dwarf
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12
Q

What two phases do stars of greater size than the Sun go through between being a main sequence star and a neutron star/black hole?

A
  1. Red super giant.
  2. Supernova.
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13
Q

What are produced during the fusion processes in a star?

A

All of the naturally occurring elements

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14
Q

What condition is required for fusion reactions to occur in a star?

A

Very high temperatures

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15
Q

How are elements heavier than iron produced?

A

In a supernova

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16
Q

What type of nuclei fuse together to form heavier elements in a star?

A

Hydrogen nuclei fuse to form heavier elements

17
Q

How are elements distributed throughout the universe?

A

Through the explosion of a massive star (supernova)

18
Q

What allows planets and satellites to maintain circular orbits?

A
  • gravity provides the gravitational force that acts as the objects centripetal force
  • The presence of a centripetal force allows for the object to maintain its circular orbit
19
Q

What type of satellite can a planets moon be described as?

A

A natural satellite

20
Q

Give two examples of artificial satellites.

A
  1. TV satellites
  2. Satellites used for satellite imaging.
21
Q

Explain why for a stable orbit, the radius of orbit must change if the speed changes.

A
  • at higher speeds, the object requires a greater centripetal force
  • For a greater centripetal force, the gravitational force must increase
  • This is achieved by the radius of the orbit being reduced
22
Q

Explain how the force of gravity acting on a satellite affect its speed and velocity

A
  • The force can alter its velocity since the direction is continually changing
  • It can’t cause a change of speed since there is no force component in that direction of motion
23
Q

What is red-shift?

A

An observed increase in the wavelength of light from distant galaxies

24
Q

What two things can be said about the motion and wavelength of emitted light from a galaxy the further away it is?

A
  • For further away a galaxy is the faster it is moving
  • For further away a galaxy is the greater the observed increase in wavelength
25
Q

What does red-shift provide evidence for?

A
  • provides evidence that the universe is expanding
  • Supports the big bang theory
26
Q

What does the big bang theory suggest?

A

The entire universe started from a very small, hot and dense region in space

27
Q

Compare the observed red-shift of two galaxies, one further away than the other

A
  • The galaxy that is further away is travelling faster
  • The observed red-shift is greater the further away it is
28
Q

What did scientists observe to provide evidence that the universe is expanding at an even faster rate?

A

They observed supernovae, which suggested that galaxies are moving away at an ever faster rate

29
Q

Prior to observations of supernovae, what was believed about the rate of expansion of the universe, and why?

A
  • The rate of expansion was expected to occur at an even slower rate
  • It was thought that gravitational forces would cause this slowing down
30
Q

What two ideas could explain the universe is ever increasing rate of expansion?

A
  • The existence of energy and mass that we can’t detect, known as dark matter and dark energy
  • These ideas are still being developed by scientists and are not yet fully understood

Physics (8 decks)

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