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Physics > Space Physics > Flashcards

Space Physics Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the structure of the Solar System (sun and planets) - Space Physics

A

The Sun is the largest object in the solar system, with a huge gravitational field which keeps the planets orbiting around it

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2
Q

What happens to the temperature of a planet, and the time to orbit the Sun as the distance of planets from the Sun increases? - Space Physics

A

The temperature of the planet decreases, whilst the time taken to orbit the sun increases

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3
Q

What is a satellite? - Space Physics

A

A satellite is a body that orbits a planet (eg moon/communication satellites)

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4
Q

What are asteroids? - Space Physics

A

Asteroids are small objects which orbit the sun elliptically (in oval shaped) made from large metals and rocky materials

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5
Q

What are comets? - Space Physics

A

Smaller, rocky objects also made from dust and ice. As they near to the Sun, they vaporise producing a gas and distinctive tail

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6
Q

What happens in nuclear fusion in the Sun? - Space Physics

A

Hydrogen nuclei join together to form helium nuclei, which emits energy as radiation

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7
Q

What happens if objects in orbit travel too fast/slow? - Space Physics

A

If the satellite moves too quickly, the gravitational attraction will be too weak. The object will move into space.
If the satellite moves too slowly, the gravitational attraction will be too strong, and the object will move back to Earth

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8
Q

What is a stable orbit? - Space Physics

A

A stable orbit is an orbit at which the object is moving at just the right speed to remain in the Earth’s orbit

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9
Q

Why does the velocity of an object in orbit constantly change even if it’s speed is constant? - Space Physics

A

Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning that it has a direction which constantly changes even if the speed remains the same

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10
Q

Why do objects in small orbits travel faster than objects in larger orbits? - Space Physics

A

As 2 objects are closer together, they have a stronger force of gravity between them. The greater force means GREATER ACCELERATION. Greater acceleration means GREATER VELOCITY

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11
Q

What are the 2 types of orbit around the earth? - Space Physics

A

Polar orbits (around the poles) and geostationary orbits (orbiting at the same rate as the planet)

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12
Q

How long does a geostationary satellite take to orbit Earth? Why is this? - Space Physics

A

24 hours

Because a geostationary satellite orbits at the same rate as the Earth

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13
Q

What is a nebula? - Space Physics

A

A cloud of gas (mainly hydrogen) and dust in outer space, which can collapse under gravity to form a protostar

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14
Q

What is a protostar? - Space Physics

A

A mass of gas which is spinning, yet is not yet fast enough for nuclear fusion to occur

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15
Q

What is a main sequence star? - Space Physics

A

A stable stage in the life cycle of a star, in which nuclear fusion occurs, fusing hydrogen nuclei into helium which releases energy. The outwards radiation and inward gravitational force are balanced, keeping the star stable

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16
Q

What is the difference in low mass and high mass stars? - Space Physics

A

After being a main sequence star…
Low mass stars -> red giant, white dwarf, black dwarf
High mass stars -> red super giant, supernova, neutron star/black hole

17
Q

What is a supernova? - Space Physics

A

Elements heavier than iron are fused at this stage. A large explosion at the end of a star’s life which distributes elements formed by nuclear fusion across space

18
Q

How is a protostar formed? - Space Physics

A

Gravity begins to pull the dust and gas of a nebula together and gets warm, starting to spin

19
Q

How is a main sequence star formed? - Space Physics

A

The protostar heats up and begins to spin. When it is hot enough and spinning enough, nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium occurs, emitting energy

20
Q

What happens to form a red giant star? - Space Physics

A

When all hydrogen has been used up, larger nuclei begin to be fused together and the core of a star becomes unstable and it begins to contract. The outer areas of the star expand

21
Q

How does a white dwarf form? - Space Physics

A

When all nuclear reactions are over, a small star like the sun will contract under the pull of gravity. The star fades, becoming white as it is still hot

22
Q

What is a black dwarf? - Space Physics

A

A black dwarf is a white dwarf which has contracted further and cooled

23
Q

How does a main sequence star remain the same size? - Space Physics

A

The gravitational attraction which collapses the star is balanced by the radiation emitted which expands the star

24
Q

What causes all the naturally occurring elements in the universe to form? How are they on Earth? - Space Physics

A

All naturally occurring elements are formed by nuclear fusion reactions. They are found on Earth as a supernova explodes, throwing elements out across the universe

25
Q

What sort of elements are formed as a star runs out of hydrogen to fuse into helium? - Space Physics

A

Elements heavier than hydrogen and helium are fused once a star runs out of hydrogen

26
Q

What is a neutron star? - Space Physics

A

A small, highly dense object constructed from closely packed neutrons formed by gravitational collapses of supernovas

27
Q

What is a black hole? - Space Physics

A

An object with such high gravity that it collapses to a single point. So strong that nothing can escape a black hole

28
Q

What order do the stages of a life cycle of a LOW MASS STAR go in? - Space Physics

A

Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star, Red Giant, White Dwarf, Black Dwarf

29
Q

What order do the stages of the life cycle of a HIGH MASS STAR go in? - Space Physics

A

Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star, Red Supergiant, Supernova, Neutron Star/Black Hole

30
Q

What is red-shift? - Space Physics

A

The RED light emitted from a galaxy moving away from us, with light waves with long wavelengths as they are not compressed by movement behind it

31
Q

What is blue-shift? - Space Physics

A

The BLUE light emitted from a galaxy travelling towards us. The blue light with a shorter wavelength is because it is compressed by the movement behind it

32
Q

What is true of more red-shifted (lines closer together in red wavelengths) spectra? - Space Physics

A

The more red-shifted a spectra is, the faster a galaxy is moving away from us

33
Q

What is true of more blue-shifted (lines closer together in blue wavelengths) spectra? - Space Physics

A

The more blue-shifted a spectra is, the faster a galaxy is moving towards us

34
Q

What is believed happened in the Big Bang? - Space Physics

A

It is thought that the whole universe was a very small, dense region which has expanded out to what it is today

35
Q

What does red-shift give evidence of? - Space Physics

A

Red-shift gives evidence that galaxies are moving further away from us at high speeds, meaning that the Universe itself is still expanding

36
Q

What is CMBR? - Space Physics

A

CMBR is cosmic microwave background radiation. This comes from all directions, spread thinly across the universe in space and is the remains of thermal energy of the Big Bang

37
Q

What is dark energy? - Space Physics

A

An unknown form of energy, used as a solution to the problem of why the universe is expanding. Dark energy is thought to cause the universe to continue to expand faster

38
Q

What is dark matter? - Space Physics

A

An unidentified form of matter which accounts for galaxies rotating faster than their mass should cause. Invisible to scientific instruments

Physics (10 decks)

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