The Solar System Flashcards
(3) A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust from which stars are formed.
Describe the energy changes involved when a main sequence star forms from
gas and dust.
{gravitational (potential)
energy / GPE} of gas and
dust (1)
• (GPE) changes to kinetic
energy (1)
• (ke) changes to
thermal/heat/light (1)
• (hot enough to release)
nuclear energy (1)(3) Describe how the mass of a main sequence star will affect what the star finally
becomes.
reference to stars of different
sizes (1)
• {Sun/small/medium}
becoming {white / black}
dwarf (1)
• more massive becoming a
neutron star / black hole (1)(6) ) While the origin of stars is well understood, there is still much debate about the
origin of the Universe.
Two major theories about the origin of the Universe are the Big Bang and the
Steady State theories.
Some evidence supports both theories.
Other evidence supports only one theory.
By considering the evidence, discuss why one of these theories is preferred by
most scientists.
red shift • linked to movement • both theories have expanding Universe • redshift support both CMB • linked to ageing Universe • Big Bang ageing , SS not • CMB supports Big Bang only • because only Big Bang has single origin
(2) The electromagnetic radiation from most galaxies has a red-shift.
Suggest why, when a galaxy has a very large red-shift, some of its visible light
is not detected through the Earth’s atmosphere.
light might be shifted into infrared region (1) • (some) infrared is (strongly) absorbed by atmosphere (1)
(1) A supernova is
the explosion of a massive star
(3) Explain how using these different telescopes gives a better understanding of the
Universe.
discovery of objects not detectable by visible light (1) • more information / data can be collected (1) • different (electromagnetic) waves can give different types of information (1) • produce magnified images (1) (space telescopes) produce clearer images / images unaffected by Earth’s atmosphere (1)
(2) Most space telescopes orbit the Earth but the Spitzer telescope stays behind the
Earth to hide from the Sun.
Suggest why this is necessary
• Spitzer observes /uses infrared (1) • infrared is heat (1) • Sun produces (large amounts of) heat / infrared (1) • small amount of heat from distant galaxies would not be detected (amongst radiation from the Sun) (1)
(2) Outside our Solar System, the star closest to Earth is called Proxima Centauri.
Light from this star takes 2 200 000 minutes to reach the Earth.
Light from the Sun takes 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth.
The speed of light is 18 000 000 km/minute.
By calculation, compare the distance of Proxima Centauri from the Earth with
the distance of the Sun from the Earth.
calculate one distance (1) e.g. 1.49 x 108 or 3.96 x 1013 evaluation (1) e.g. (3.96 x 1013 ÷ 1.49 x 108 ) = 265 000 e.g. inverse (1.49 x 108 ÷ 3.96 x 1013) 3.77 x 10-6 e.g. from comparison of times (2 200 000 ÷ 8.3) = 265 000
(1) A light year is the distance that light travels in one year.
Astronomers usually give the distance from stars as a number of light years
instead of a number of kilometres.
Suggest a reason for this.
the stars are so distant that a
large unit of distance is needed
(2) Galileo used a telescope to observe Jupiter.
His observations provided evidence to support the idea that the Earth is not the
centre of the Universe.
Explain how Galileo’s observations supported this idea.
moon(s) (1) • (appear to) orbit Jupiter (not Earth) (1) • (therefore) not everything orbits the Earth (1)
(2) Bode’s rule works well for all objects between Mercury and Uranus.
From scientific measurements, however, the actual mean distance from the
Sun to Neptune is 30 A.U.
Some scientists think that Neptune was not part of the original Solar System.
Explain how the predicted value for Neptune supports the view of these
scientists.
actual value for Neptune is
{different from / lower
than} predicted value (1)
with one of these
• (so) the rule does not work
(for Neptune) (1)
• the rule gives too high a
value (1)
• (so) Neptune might have
been {captured / entered}
from outside the original
Solar System (1)(6) Scientists are using a variety of methods to search for life beyond Earth.
Discuss the problems involved in using these methods.
• Methods o space probes o soil experiments by landers o SETI o telescopes o robotic machines • Problems • expense / international collaboration needed • large distances involved o if problem difficult to correct o time to react to problem is long o time to respond to any communication would be long o complex technology for human visit for robot investigation fuel • recognition of alternative life-forms • pattern recognition o for SETI o communication if intelligent life-form • possibility of cross-contamination
(2) Galileo also used his telescope to observe the …………………………………………….. of Jupiter.
His observations provided evidence to support the …………………………………………….. model
of the Solar System.
moons (1)
heliocentric (1)
(2) Describe how a reflecting telescope is different from the simple telescope
which Galileo used.
Reflecting telescope has mirror(s) (1) Galilean telescope has only lenses (1) Reflecting telescope can gather more light / can have a larger objective (1) Image viewed from the side of reflecting telescope (1) Image viewed from end of Galilean telescope. (1)
(1) Which row of the table shows these objects in the correct order of size?
smallest ->biggest
Solar System, Milky Way, Universe
