The Universe Flashcards
Asteroid
small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun
Asteroid belt
the region of interplanetary space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in which most asteroids are found
Big Bang
The theory of how the universe started through the expansion of matter through a extremely hot and dense spot
Comet
Comets are large objects made of dust and ice that orbit the Sun
Galaxy
A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems, all held together by gravity
Kuiper belt
The Kuiper Belt is a ring of icy objects around the Sun, extending just beyond the orbit of Neptune from about 30 to 55 AU.
Meteor
A space rock or meteoroid that enters Earth;s atmosphere.
Meteoroid
Pieces of rock or iron floating around space.
Meteorite
Meteorites are space rocks that fall to Earth’s surface.
Moon
the natural satellite of the earth, visible (chiefly at night) by reflected light from the sun.
Oort cloud
a spherical layer of icy objects surrounding our Sun, a star,
Quasar
a supermassive black hole feeding on gas at the center of a distant galaxy
Redshift
the wavelength of the light is stretched, so the light is seen as ‘shifted’ towards the red part of the spectrum
Revolve
move in a circle on a central axis.
Revolution
and object that goes around something else
Solar System
Universe
How old is the universe?
How old is our solar system?
4.5 billion years old
What is an AU?
Astronomical Unit
What is the average distance from the sun to the Earth?
How fast does a light year travel?
300,000 km
Identify what the cores of the inner planets are made of?
Identify what the cores of the outer planets are made of?
Identify what the “surfaces” of the inner planets are made of?
Identify what the “surfaces” of the outer planets are made of?
What two inner planets have similar atmospheres? What is this atmosphere made of?
What two inner planets are similar in size, mass, and density?
How many moons does each inner planet have?
Pluto is in what region of the universe?
Differentiate between asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
Asteroids are made of rock and float within space, Meteoroids are made of rock but they are within the earth’s atmosphere, and comets are icy dirt or rocks.
Why are inner planets closer to the Sun than outer planets?
They are smaller, rockier and can dense faster.
What are the three reasons that make Pluto a dwarf planet?
Mass, not clear orbital path, and not on the same plane as the other planets
