The Universe

Question 1

What galaxy is Earth located in?

Answer 1

The Milky Way

Question 2

What is the Big Bang Theory?

Answer 2

It’s the most widely accepted theory about the creation of the Universe. It states that all the matter in the Universe was concentrated into one singular point which eventually exploded (13.8 billion years ago), making all the matter scatter everywhere. It has cooled down, but the Universe continues to expand.

Question 3

How many kilometers are in an Astronomical Unit (AU)?

Answer 3

150 million which is also the distance between the earth and the sun.

Question 4

Define a light year (LY) and how many kilometers does it equal?

Answer 4

A light year is how far light manages to travel in a year. It equals 9460 billion km.

Question 5

What are Astronomical Units (AU) used for?

Answer 5

To measure distances within our solar system.

Question 6

What are light years (LY) used for?

Answer 6

To measure big distances outside our solar system (for example, the Milky Way)

Question 7

Define a galaxy.

Answer 7

A group of stars, gas, and dust.

Question 8

What is the Milky Way’s diameter and how far is Earth away from its center?

Answer 8

Its diameter is 130 000 lightyears and Earth is 32 000 light years away from its center.

Question 9

What is the Local Group?

Answer 9

It’s a cluster of galaxies the Milky Way is a part of. It contains about 50 galaxies in total.

Question 10

Define a galaxy cluster.

Answer 10

It’s a group of galaxies held close together by gravitational forces in the same sector of the Universe.

Question 11

Define a supercluster and which one the Local Group is a part of.

Answer 11

The Local Group is apart of the Local Supercluster. It’s a group of galaxies that are held together by gravitational forces. It can contain a billion galaxies and there are millions of them.

Question 12

What does a planet require to be ideal for life?

Answer 12

-It needs to be in the Habitable Zone

-A circular orbit

-An atmosphere

-Gravitational Field

-The Ideal Mass

-Water

-Lithosphere

Question 13

What is the habitable zone and how do you find it?

Answer 13

The habitable zone is the distance from a star where liquid water could exist on orbiting planets’ surfaces.
It varies depending on the strength and size of the star.

Question 14

Why is a circular orbit important?

Answer 14

The shape of a planet’s orbit determines how the quantity of energy they receive will change, thus influencing the temperature.

Question 15

Why is an atmosphere important?

Answer 15

A planet’s atmosphere must protect life forms from dangerous solar radiation and allow the water cycle to take place.

Question 16

Why is planet mass important?

Answer 16

To maintain liquid water on its surface, and an atmosphere, a planet has to have enough mass, otherwise, the water and atmosphere will simply drift off into space. But if a planet becomes too massive, its gravity could be too strong, meaning that it builds a thick, deep atmosphere, resulting in crushing atmospheric pressures on the surface.

Question 17

Why is water important?

Answer 17

Liquid water is essential to the development of the first molecules that life forms need.

Question 18

Why is a Lithosphere important?

Answer 18

A planet needs a solid surface for simple molecules to evolve into much more complex ones.