The Earth and Space Flashcards
what is our solar system’s dwarf planet?
Pluto is our solar systems only dwarf planet
What is a satellite?
a satellite is an object that orbits a planer, star or moon. it can be natural or unnatural for example the earths Moon
what is a constellation?
Constellations are groups of stars that form a recognizable shape usually named after greek or roman mythology.
what is a galaxy?
Is a cluster of billions of stars and there solar systems that are held together by gravity
How is distance in space measured?
Distance in space is measured with, light years
which is the distance light travels across in one year which is 9.4607 × 1012 km
What is the scale of the universe?
The observable universe is 93 billion light years
what is the cause of the seasons?
The earth spins on a 12 degree axis,
when it spins around the sun the area closest to the sun is summer whilst the area furthest from the sun is winter
what are the phases of the moon?
The new moon The waxing crescent The first quarter The waxing gibbous The full moon The waning gibbous The third quarter The waning crescent
how are solar eclipses created?
When the moon blocks out the sun it creates a dark area on earth in the umbra
How are lunar eclipses created?
When the earth blocks out the sun for the moon, in the umbra the moon appears red.
what is the structure of the earth?
- inner core: solid iron
- outer core: liquid iron
- mantle: molten rock
- crust
What is the earth’s magnetic field?
It is a magnetic field that extends from the earth’s poles and protects the earth from solar winds
What is gravity?
Gravity comes from mass, the more mass of an object the more gravitational pull.
Earth’s gravity is what keeps everything on the surface. Every object has some gravity.
What is the difference between mass and weight?
Weight is a measurement of an object’s size whilst mass is how much matter an object has
What is the speed of light?
The speed of light is 300,000,000 miles per second.
