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Earth and Env. Honors > Unit 1 - Astronomy Review > Flashcards

Unit 1 - Astronomy Review Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Big Bang Theory?

A

The model explains the universe’s history from a tiny fraction of a second after it came into being up to the present time.

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2
Q

Why are Supernovas important?

A

They are one of the original sources of the elements heavier than Iron in the universe.

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3
Q

What is the Nebular Hypothesis?

A

How solar systems form, due to the rotation of a cloud of gas and dust rotating in space.

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4
Q

What is the shape of the Earth?

A

The Earth is an Oblate Spheroid.

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5
Q

What is the name of our Galaxy? Where is our solar system in it?

A

Our Galaxy is called The Milky Way. Our Solar System is on the outer edge of the Milky Way.

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6
Q

What is Rotation?

A

Turing or spinning of a body on its axis.

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7
Q

What is Revolution?

A

The motion of a body (like a planet or moon) along a path around some point in space.

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8
Q

What causes Seasons?

A

The revolution of the Earth and the axial tilt of the Earth is responsible for the seasons.

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9
Q

What is the Mass of a Photon?

A

The photon is a massless particle.

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10
Q

Why is Stellar Parallax important?

A

It gives more accuracy to the cosmic distance ladder and improves the knowledge of distances in the Universe.

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10
Q

What is Heliocentrism? Geocentrism?

A

Heliocentrism is Sun Centered and Geocentrism is Earth Centered.

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11
Q

What is Kepler’s First Law?

A

Law of Ellipses - The path of each planet around the Sun is an ellipse, with the Sun at one focus

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12
Q

What is Kepler’s Second Law?

A

Law of Equal Areas - Each Planet revolves so that an imaginary line connecting it to the Sun sweeps over equal areas in equal intervals of time. (Equal area, Equal time)

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13
Q

What is Kepler’s Third Law?

A

Law of Harmonies - The orbital periods of the plane and their distances to the Sun are proportional

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14
Q

What is Precession?

A

Precession is the change in the direction of the axis, without a change in tilt (does not affect seasons but does change the ‘northern star’).

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15
Q

What is Nutation?

A

Nutation is wobbling around the precessional axis by ½ degree in either direction over 18 years due to the Moon. Can vary slightly and influence seasonal effects (the wobble in precession)

16
Q

What is Barycenter?

A

The center of mass of two or more bodies, usually bodies orbiting around each other, such as the Earth and the Moon.

17
Q

How long does it take for the Moon to Revolve around Earth? What is special about this?

A

It takes the Moon 29 days to orbit the Earth. It is special because February has exactly 29 days each year.

18
Q

Describe the Phases of the Moon.

A
  • New Moon: Moon is almost directly between the Sun and Earth (start of cycle)

-Waxing Crescent Moon: A bit of the sunlight side of the moon shows on the right side

-First Quarter Moon: The Moon is a quarter of its way around the Earth. It is in its first quarter phase

-Waxing Gibbous Moon: The Moon is increasing in light between a first quarter Moon and a full Moon

-Full Moon: Two weeks have passed since the new Moon. We see the entire face of the Moon shining

-Waning Gibbous Moon: The Moon is decreasing in light between a full Moon and a last quarter Moon

-Last Quarter Moon: The Moon is three-quarters of its way around Earth. It is in its last quarter phase

-Waning Crescent Moon: A bit of the waning sunlight side of the moon shows on the left side

19
Q

How does the Moon affect tides?

A

Because the force of gravity decreases with distance, the side of the Earth closer to the Moon is slightly deformed. Because the position of the Moon changes only slightly during a single day, the Earth will “rotate through” the tidal bulge

20
Q

What is Nuclear Fission?

A

The process of splitting atoms

21
Q

The process of splitting atoms

A

Fusing atoms

22
Q

What is the Difference between Convection, Conduction, and Radiation?

A

Conduction is transferred through collisions, Convection, through the movement of a fluid, and Radiation, through waves or particles.

23
Q

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

A

The Electromagnetic Spectrum explains the types of energy that can be produced based on frequency.

Earth and Env. Honors (2 decks)

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