Term 4 Flashcards
Astronomer
An expert in the scientific observation of celestial bodies
Asteroid
A small body of rock floating in space between 775km and 1.6km in diameter and orbiting the sun, mostly found between Mars and Jupiter
Axle
A shaft-like piece of machinery by means of which a pair of wheels rotates
Celestial
Pertaining to the sky or visible heaven
Chassis
The frame on which a body is supported
Crater
the round hole at the top of a volcano, or a hole similar to this
Crescent moon
the curved sickle shape of the waxing or waning moon
Cylinder
a solid or hollow tube with long straight sides and two circular ends the same size
Dwarf planet
Celestial bodies resembling small planets but lacking certain technical criteria that are required for them to be classed as such
Elliptical
a flattened circular path taken by a celestial body
Energy transformation
the change of energy from one state to another
Equator
an imaginary line cutting the Earth into two halves and which is equal in distance from both the North and South Poles
Equinox
the time when the sun crosses the Earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the Earth, occurring around 21 March and 22 September
Full moon
the Moon when it is shaped like a complete disc or a time when it is
Gibbous moon
having the illuminated part greater than a semicircle and less then a circle
Kinetic energy
the energy of a body or system with respect to the motion of the body or of the particles of the system
Meteorite
a mass of stone or metal that has reached the earth from outer space
New moon
the Moon when it is shaped like a crescent or a time when it is shaped like this
Photo-voltaic
the process by which light or electromagnetic radiation comes into contact with two different materials and in turn produces an electromotive force
Potential energy
the energy generated in an electrical cell
Radiate
to produce heat and / or light
Revolution
one complete circular movement of something for example a wheel
Robotic Rover
A mechanical vehicle used to explore the surface of a celestial body. Can either be remote-controlled or programmed to fulfill certain functions
Rotation
a complete circular movement around a fixed point
Satellites
natural or man-made objects moving round a larger object in space
Seasons
Four periods of the year, spring summer autumn and winter
Solar panels
the plates used to absorb energy from the sun
Solar system
the sun, the group of planets, asteroids and comets which move around it
Solstice
either of the two times during the year at which the sun is at its furthers point from the equator
Star
a very large ball of burning as in space which is usually seen from Earth as a point of light in the sky at night
Telescope
an optical instrument for making distant objects appear larger and therefore nearer
Terrestrial planet
planets with similar characteristics to that of Earth
Universe
everything that exists especially all physical matter including all the stars, planets, galaxies etc
Wanes
the Moon wanes when it gradually appears less and less round, after the full moon
Wax
when the Moon waxes it gradually appears larger and rounder each day
