1: Science and the Universe - A Brief Tour Flashcards
the study of objects that lie beyond planet Earth and how they interact with each other + the history of the universe
astronomy
a proposed explanation that can be tested
hypothesis
a large body that consistently produces its own light
star
enormous, highly energetic centers of galaxies that glow brightly
quasars
the smallest particles matter can be divided into while still retaining its chemical properties - made up of atoms
molecules
“rules” of nature that apply everywhere in the universe
scientific laws
cluster of 50+ galaxies including the Milky Way Galaxy and Andromeda galaxy
Local Group
system for writing large numbers that reduces the amount of zeroes (using powers of ten)
scientific notation
material in our Galaxy we cannot currently observe directly with instruments
dark matter
the distance that light travels in the universe over the course of one year (9.46 x 10^12 km)
light-year
a body of significant size that orbits a star and does not produce its own light
planet
the nearest large galaxy to our own, a little more than 2 million light-years away (M31)
Andromeda galaxy
collection of stars that includes our Sun and Solar System (“the Galaxy”)
Milky Way Galaxy
the smallest particles of an element that can still be identified as that element
atoms
unit of measurement representing the distance between Earth and the Sun (150 million km)
astronomical unit (AU)
