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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 (plus the dwarf planets)

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3
Q

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

A

The 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 star’s 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 the 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

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 siize 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 object’s 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 planet’s 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 affects 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 the 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

the further away a galaxy is, the faster it is moving
The 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 Band 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 han 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 ovserve 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 ever slower rate
It was thought that gravitational forces would cause this slowing down

30
Q

What two ideas could explain the universe’s 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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