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GCSE Edexcel Physics > TOPIC 3: Astronomy (TRIPLE) > Flashcards

TOPIC 3: Astronomy (TRIPLE) Flashcards

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1
Q

Planets

A

Large objects that orbit a star. There are 8.

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2
Q

Dwarf planets

A

Planet-like objects that aren’t big enough to be planets.

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3
Q

Moons

A

A natural satellite that orbits planets in almost circular orbits.

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4
Q

Artificial satellite

A

Normally man-made objects orbiting the earth in generally circular orbits.

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5
Q

Asteroids

A

Lumps of rock and metals that orbit the sun found in the asteroid belt.

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6
Q

Comet

A

Lump of ice and dust that orbits the sun in a very elliptical orbit

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7
Q

Geocentric model

A

The Ancient Greek model of the universe suggesting that the sun, moon, planets and stars all orbit around the earth in perfect circles.
People didn’t have telescopes so was believed till 1500’s

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8
Q

Heliocentric model

A

Suggests that the sun’s at the center of the solar system and everything else had a Circular orbit around it.
Galileo found evidence in jupiter’s moons disproving the geocentric model.
Technological advances face more evidence.

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9
Q

Current universe model

A

Suggests that everything is in orbit around the sun in an elliptical orbit and the sun isn’t the actual center of the solar system.
(Heliocentric model)

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10
Q

Steady state theory

A

Suggests that universe always has existed like it is now and matter is constantly being created, expanding universe.
Density is always same w no beginning or end to universe.

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11
Q

Big Bang theory

A

All matter in universe was in v small space, v dense and hot.
14 billion years ago Space exploded and started universe’s expansion.
Current theory of creation

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12
Q

Doppler effect

A

Change in frequency/wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the source.

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13
Q

First stage of lifecycle of a star and define

A

NEBULA- Cloud of dust and gas

Gas is mainly hydrogen

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14
Q

The second stage in the lifecycle of a star.

How?

A

PROTOSTAR- gravity pulls dust and gas together w rising temp causing more particles to collide due to increasing density/ energy.
When gets v hit, star undergoes nuclear fusion to form helium nuclei and to keep star’s core hot.

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15
Q

3rd stage in lifecycle of a star.

How

A

Main sequence star.
Enters a long stable period as nuclear fusion energy tries to escape the star, it balances gravity’s force pulling everything inwards.

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16
Q

How does the star’s mass affect its amount of time in main sequence?

A

Heavier star = shorter time in main sequence

More gravity force

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17
Q

4th stage of main sequence of a star

A

Eventually hydrogen in core runs out and gravity overcomes the outward pressure, compressing the star to make it dense/hot enough so the energy and pressure causes it to expand and become either a RED GIANT or a RED SUPERGIANT

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18
Q

What stage is the sun @

A

Main sequence star

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19
Q

Gravity

A

The universal force of attraction between masses.

Greater mass involved, greater the force.

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20
Q

Mass formula

A

Moles * molar mass

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21
Q

Satellite

A

An object that orbits a larger object in space.

Eg: moon is earth’s natural satellite

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22
Q

Gravity’s role between planets

A

Centripetal force between planets and sun or planets and satellites.

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23
Q

Stage after a RED GIANT

A

It becomes unstable and so ejects outer layer of dust and gas, leaving a hot and dense solid core
A WHITE DWARF

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24
Q

Stages after RED SUPERGIANT

A

Glows brightly again as undergoes more nuclear fusion for heavier elements and expands/contracts several times as balance shifts between thermal expansion and gravitational collapse. Exploding in a supernova

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25
Q

Stages after a supernova

A

Throws outerlayers of dust and gas away to form a v dense core, A NEUTRON STAR
If star is massive enough, can collapse to form a black hole

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26
Q

Order of planets

A

Mercury, Venus, Earth, mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune (Pluto)

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27
Q

Difference between Ptolemy and Copernicus ‘ model

A

Ptomely produced the geocentric model (earth is center) whereas copernicus formed the heliocentric model (sun is center).
Ptomely’s model’s planets moved in small circles as they orbited the Earth whereas Copernicus’ model just moves in large circles around the sun.

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28
Q

The solar system

A

Everything orbiting the sun

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29
Q

Planets

A

Large objects that orbit a star in almost circular orbits

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30
Q

Dwarf planets

A

Planet like objects that aren’t big enough to be planets.

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31
Q

Moons

A

Orbit planets w almost circular orbits

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32
Q

Asteroids

A

Lumps of rock and metals that orbit the sun (found in asteroid belt).

33
Q

Comets

A

Lumps of ice and dust that orbit the sun w highly elliptical orbits.

34
Q

Why do the planets stay on their almost circular orbits?

A

Because gravity is their centripetal force between the planet and the sun/the planet and the satellites

35
Q

What two factors does the gravitational force depend on?

A

Mass and distance.
Larger mass= stronger its gravitational field
Closer to star/ planet= stronger gravitational field strength

36
Q

How does the force affect instantaneous velocity in orbits?

A

Greater force = higher instantaneous velocity needed to balance it

37
Q

How does speed affect the radius of the orbit?

A

Change in speed leads to change in radius of the orbit because faster moving satellites have a more stable smaller radius to orbit.
Inverse relationship
Greater speed= smaller radius

38
Q

Redshift

A

The observed increase in wavelength of light from distant galaxies and how patterns have been shifted towards the red end of the spectrum.

39
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
40
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

41
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

42
Q

The Doppler effect

A

The changing in wavelength from a source relative to an observer.

Causes lower frequencies when sources are travelling away.
Higher frequencies when sources are travelling towards you.

43
Q

What does redshift show? Why?

A

That all distant galaxies are moving away from us v quickly and universe is expanding because distant galaxy’s wavelengths are longer (red end of spectrum).

44
Q

How does the distance away from the galaxy and redshift relate?

A

Further galaxy= greater redshift

45
Q

What’s cosmic background radiation?

A

Low frequency em waves from all parts of the universe in microwave part of em spectrum.

46
Q

How does cmb radiation show evidence for the Big Bang?

A

ONLY SUPPORTS BIG BANG MODEL

Shows universe has a beginning.

47
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
48
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

49
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

50
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
51
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

52
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

53
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
54
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

55
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

56
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
57
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

58
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

59
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
60
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

61
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

62
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
63
Q

Proof of universe expansion

A

Red-shift

64
Q

What does an absorption spectrum show?

A

Different elements absorbing different frequencies/wavelengths of light, also shows dark lines in pattern of frequency visible light absorbed.

65
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
66
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
67
Q

3 things in solar system

A 
Sun 
Moons
Planets
Comets
Asteroids
Natural/man made satellites 
Dwarf planets
68
Q

Optical telescopes

A

Telescopes detecting visible light

69
Q

How do telescopes work ?

A

Using reflection and refraction.

70
Q

How do you improve telescope image quality?

A
  1. ) increase aperture of the telescope

2. ) use a higher quality objective lens

71
Q

Aperture

A

Diameter of the objective lens (at the end).

72
Q

Why can’t you stargaze with a normal optical telescope?

A

Because earth’s atmosphere absorbs light from space before it reaches us. (Have to go above atmosphere).
Also there’s light pollution/ air pollution so it’s harder to pick out dimmer objects and the air can absorb/reflect light from space.

73
Q

What telescopes give you the best view and why?

A

Space telescopes on top of mountains (less atmosphere) in dark places (away from light pollution).
Even in space (past atmosphere)

74
Q

Earliest telescopes

Function

A

Optical telescopes - used to look at close by objects in other galaxies.

75
Q

Why can’t optical telescopes be used to look at all objects in the universe?

A

Because many objects aren’t detectable using visible light

76
Q

X Ray telescopes function

A

To see violent, high temp events (eg. Exploding stars)

77
Q

Radio telescopes function

A

To discover cmb radiation so scientists can learn more about origins of universe.

78
Q

How do computers help w telescopes

A

Create clearer and sharper images to be captured/analysed while storing huge amounts of data.

GCSE Edexcel Physics (10 decks)

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