Space quiz Flashcards
The gaseous planets are those found closest to the sun
False
A star is nonluminous because we can only see light reflected off at
False
One astronomical unit (AU)is the average distance between earth and the moon
False
Meteoroids are large chunks of ice, dust and rock that orbit the sun
False
The closer a planet is to the sun the longer the planet will take to orbit the sun
False
The apparently daily motion of the sun across the sky is caused by earths rotation around its axis
True
We observe retrograde motion from Mars when earth passes Mars during their orbits around the sun
True
The sun is greater than one light year from earth
False
Stars were first classified by how bright they appeared in the sky
True
Relatively hot stars appear blueish
True
Stars are formed inside gas and dust clouds called quasars
False
The hotter main sequence stars are the more luminous they are
True
The solar system was formed about 5 million years ago
False
The giant gas planets were formed by gases blown off the desk at the centre of the solar system that became the sun
False
An area between Mars and Jupiter where chunks of rocky matter orbit the sun in a band
Asteroid belt
A small piece of metal, rock in the solar system that usually a size of a dust particle it burns up on entry into the earths atmosphere
Meteoroid
Mainly occur when clouds of particles left behind by comments enter the atmosphere of a planet
Meteor shower
The remains of larger objects that do not burn up completely after passing through earths atmosphere
Meteorite
Objects smaller than a planet but they still orbit the sun
Asteroid
Dominate their orbital path and have clear them of any other larger objects due to their gravity
Planets
Large chunks of ice dust and rock that orbit the sun
Comets
Orbits a star and is large enough to be pulled into a spherical shape by his own gravity but does not dominate its orbit
Dwarf planet
What is the difference between a meteor meteoroid an meteorite?
Meteor - A small piece of metal or rock in the solar system that burns up coming to earth
Meteoroid- rock metal object that is floating in space
Meteorite - what is left (rock/metal)when the meteor burns up coming to Earth
How can you distinguish a planet from a star in the night sky
You can distinguish plants from stars in the night sky because for the most part planets are brighter than stars and you might see a slight change in colour/glow
What are Pointer stars and why are they important to astronomers
Porter stars are certain stars answer and constellations that when you draw a line through them at certain angles they will lead you to other constellations. They are important to astronomers because they will make it easier for them to find other constellations quicker and more accurately they also lead to Polaris
