Units 1-5

Question 1

Astronomy

Answer 1

study of the universe

Question 2

Earth

Answer 2

reference for other astronomical objects

Radius: 6371 km

Question 3

Satellite

Answer 3

an object that orbits another

Question 4

Earth’s moon

Answer 4

1/80th the mass of earth therefore less able to retain internal heat or atmosphere

Question 5

The sun

Answer 5

100x earths radius

Generates energy by the nuclear reaction converting H to He in the core

Question 6

AU

Answer 6

Earth’s distance from the sun ~150 mil km

Question 7

Exploded Stars

Answer 7

lead to new stars

• white dwarfs
• neutron stars
• black holes

Question 8

Light year

Answer 8

the distance light travels in one year

Question 9

The milky way galaxy

Answer 9

collection of several hundred billion stars, gas and dust all in a disk shape

Question 10

Virgo Cluster

Answer 10

central cluster of galaxies in relation to milky way

Question 11

Supercluster

Answer 11

collections of many galaxy clusters

Question 12

Order of orbit

Answer 12

• satellites around planets
• planets around stars
• stars around galaxies
• galaxies in clusters
• clusters in superclusters

Question 13

Big Bang

Answer 13

theory of an all encompassing explosion resulting in galaxies flying away from one another
space is always expanding

Question 14

Dark Matter

Answer 14

mass made from strange substances that cannot form stars or planets

Question 15

Parsec

Answer 15

invented as a unit to simplify the formula for the primary method we have for finding stars distances
parsec= 3.09 x 10^16 m

Question 16

universality

Answer 16

the idea that we can apply what we learn about nature on earth to the universe at large

Question 17

electromagnetic force

Answer 17

electric charges generate fields of magnetic force

infinite range

Question 18

strong force

Answer 18

binds protons and neutrons together, acts over short distances

Question 19

Radioactive decay

Answer 19

an atomic nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei, with the release of radiation

Question 20

Quarks

Answer 20

makes up atomic particles

Question 21

Particles that make up known universe

Answer 21

up quarks
down quarks
electrons
neutrinos

Question 22

constellation

Answer 22

recognized group of stars

Question 23

asterisms

Answer 23

unofficial names for groupings of stars

Question 24

celestial poles

Answer 24

celestial sphere rotates around these points

Question 25

celestial equator

Answer 25

lies directly above earth’s equator, stars on equator rise in east and set in west

Question 26

Right Ascension

Answer 26

defines a stars east and west position

1 hour=15 degrees

Question 27

Declination

Answer 27

defines a stars north and south position

Question 28

Proton particles

Answer 28

2 up quarks and 1 down quark

Question 29

neutron particles

Answer 29

composed of 2 down quarks and 1 up quark

Question 30

neutrinos

Answer 30

can go through matter

Question 31

Zenith

Answer 31

point straight up

Question 32

Nadir

Answer 32

point straight down