Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Honors Earth and Environmental > Unit 2: Astronomy > Flashcards

Unit 2: Astronomy Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Big Bang Theory?

A

The theory that the universe was the size of a penny and 15 billion years ago it suddenly started expanding outward very quickly.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a Nebula?

A

A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust.

Nebulae form from gas and dust thrown out by the explosion of a dying star.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Nebular Hypothesis

A

The theory that out solar system originated from the collapse of a nebula.

Came from Kant (Immanuel Kant) and Laplace (Pierre Simon Laplace) in the 1800’s.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Galaxy

A

Groups of stars, dusts, and gases, held together by gravity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Universal Hierarchy

A

Universe
Galaxy
Solar System
Planets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Geocentric Model

A

The Earth is motionless and the center of the universe with everything revolving around it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Heliocentric Model

A

The Sun is motionless and it the center of the universe with everything revolving around it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Copernicus

A

Came up with the heliocentric model

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Johannes Kepler (1600)

A

Came up the three planetary laws of motion and determined that the planets orbit the sun in and ellipse not a circle.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Kepler’s First Law

A

Stated that the orbits of the planets are elliptical
The sun is one of the foci of the ellipse
The major axis is the line that goes through both ends of the ellipse and the both foci
Each planet has a different orbital size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Astronomical Units

A

A planets average distance from the Sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Kepler’s Second Law

A

A line between the sun and a planet sweeps equal areas in equal times.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Kepler’s Third Law

A

Kepler discovered a relationship between a planet’s ellipse and its orbital period.
P^2=a^3
P is a unit of time measured in Earth years, and a is a unit of length measured in astronomical units.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Eccentricity

A

The length of the major axis of the elliptical orbit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Perihelion

A

The point where a planet is closest to the Sun in its orbit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Aphelion

A

The point where a planet is the farthest away from the Sun in its orbit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the speed of light?

A

670,000,000 miles per hour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Precession

A

A wobble in Earth’s rotation. A slow motion of Earth’s axis that traces out a cone over a period of 26,000 years.
Caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon on Earth.
The change in direction of the axis not the change in the tilt.
Think of a spinning top.

19
Q

Nutation

A

A wiggle of the precessional axis
1/2 degree change in tilt every 9 years
Takes 18 years for a cycle to complete
Causes El Nino and La Nina (increases seasonal effects)
Occurs due to the gravitational pull of the moon

20
Q

Barycenter

A

The common center of mass which two or more objects revolve around
The Sun also rotates around a center of mass due to the pull of the planets

21
Q

Rotation

A

The turning or spinning of an object on its axis

Gives us day and night

22
Q

Revolution

A

A planets orbit around the sun

23
Q

Solar Day

A

The time period from sunrise to sunset

24
Q

What is the shape of the Earth?

A

The Earth is not a perfect sphere but is instead a sphere that is flattened at the poles and has a bulge around the equator. Earth’s circumference is bigger around the equator than around the poles because of the poles.

25
Q

What is the tilt of Earth’s axis?

A

Earth’s axis is tilted to about 23.5 degrees.

26
Q

How long does a complete cycle of the moon take?

A

29.5 Days

27
Q

Perigee

A

The closest point in the Moon’s orbit to the Earth

28
Q

Apogee

A

The furthest point in the Moon’s orbit to the Earth

29
Q

Nuclear Fusion

A

The process of combing two Hydrogen molecules to form a Helium molecule.
Some neutrons are lost and released as energy which is what creates solar energy.

30
Q

Corona

A

Outer layer that creates solar wind

It’s temperature can go over 1 million degrees Celsius

31
Q

Photosphere

A

Surface layer that is responsible for most of the Sun’s visible light.
Its temperature is about 6,000 degrees Celsius.

32
Q

Sunspots

A

Cooler areas of the Sun’s surface that appear darker

The study of sunspots lead to the discovery that the Sun rotates

33
Q

Solar Flares

A

Explosive outbursts from the Sun containing UV rays, radio waves, and x-ray radiation that take about one day to reach Earth.

34
Q

Differential Heating

A

Land and water surfaces absorb heat at different rates.
Land absorbs heat quickly but cools quickly too.
Water absorbs heat slowly but also cools slowly.

35
Q

Electromagnetic Radiation

A

Heat energy from the Sun

36
Q

What is Solar Radiation composed of?

A

40% at wavelengths of infrared (IR) or longer
50% at visible wavelengths
10% at wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV)

37
Q

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

A 
In terms of shortest wavelength to longest wavelength
Gamma Rays
X-Rays
UV Rays
Visible Light (ROYGBIV)
Infrared Waves
Radio Waves
38
Q

What parts of the atmosphere absorb gamma rays, x-rays, and ultraviolet rays?

A

The Thermosphere and Mesosphere

39
Q

What part of the atmosphere absorbs UV rays?

A

The Stratosphere

40
Q

True or false:

Infrared radiation can be absorbed by carbon dioxide and water vapor.

A

True

41
Q

Totals of Solar Energy

A

20% of energy is absorbed by the atmosphere
30% of energy is scattered back to space
50% of energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface

42
Q

Solar Winds

A

A continuous stream of electrically charged particles that are given off by the Sun’s magnetic field
It takes solar winds 4.5 days to reach Earth.

43
Q

Spring Tide

A

When the difference between high tides and low tides is the greatest.
Occurs during a tidal bulge

44
Q

Neap Tide

A

When the difference between a high tide and a low tide is the highest.

Honors Earth and Environmental (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions