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GCSE Edexcel Astronomy > (A) Topic 1,2,3,4 wrong > Flashcards

(A) Topic 1,2,3,4 wrong Flashcards

1
Q

Define the term eclipse

A

When the shadow of a celestial body, such as the Earth or the Moon, obscures the light of another object in space

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2
Q

When do eclipses occur?

A

When the sun moon and earth are aligned with each other

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3
Q

Define the term ‘nodes’

A

points of intersection wherein the Moon’s orbit intersects the elliptic

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4
Q

Why do eclipses occur?

A

Occur because the bodies intersect each other

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5
Q

When do lunar eclipses take place

A

When the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, usually occurring during a full moon

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6
Q

What happens during the first contact in a lunar eclipse?

A

Moon enters earth’s penumbra

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7
Q

What happens during the second contact in a lunar eclipse

A

Moon moves into earth’s umbra.
Change in lunar surface colour due to refraction of sunlight caused by earth’s atmosphere

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8
Q

What happens during the third contact in a lunar eclipse?

A

Moon moves out of earth’s umbra

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9
Q

What happens during the fourth contact of a lunar eclipse?

A

Moon moves out of the earth’s penumbra

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10
Q

What happens during a partial lunar eclipse?

A

Earth’s shadow intrudes into Moon’s disc but doesn’t block it entirely

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11
Q

What occurs during an annular eclipse?

A

The appearance of a solar eclipse is that of a ring. Happens when the moon’s shadow is too small to cover the sun’s disc completely.

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12
Q

What is the line of totality?

A

the line on the Earth’s surface where the shadow is focused.

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13
Q

What happens during the first contact of a solar eclipse?

A

Moon becomes visible over the sun’s disc. sky darkens and temperature drops

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14
Q

What happens during the second contact of a solar eclipse?

A

the moon completely covers the sun’s disc. diamond effect and bailey’s beads produced. only sun’s corona is visible

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15
Q

What happens during the third contact of a solar eclipse?

A

Moon starts moving away, the sun reappears. Baileys beads and diamond effect produced again

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16
Q

What happens during the fourth contact of a solar eclipse?

A

Moon completely exits the sun’s disc. penumbra leaves

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17
Q

What causes precession?

A

Earth’s shape: oblate spheroid + the gravitational pull of the sun + moon. the gravitational pull of the sun and moon pulls on the earth’s equatorial bulge of which the west side gets pulled more (uneven), causing poles to move westwards along the elliptic

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18
Q

What is the precession of the equinoxes?

A

slight wobble in the earth’s axis every 26,000 years

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19
Q

Why do tides change their positions?

A

Moon is orbiting Earth, Earth rotates + water is attracted to and from Moon, Sun exerts a tidal force that is 40% that of the Moon.

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20
Q

What phase is the Moon in during Spring Tides?

A

Full + New Moon

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21
Q

What is the difference between Spring tides and Neap tides?

A

Spring tides: high tides are higher, low tides are lower
Neap tides: high tides are lower, low tides are higher

22
Q

Why do the Sun and Moon appear to be the same size in the sky?

A

Moon is 400x smaller than the Sun, but the Sun is approx. 400x further away from Earth than the Moon.

23
Q

How long is a day on the Moon?

A

27.3 Earth days

24
Q

How big is the diameter + depth of Copernicus?

A

86km diameter, 4.8km depth

25
Q

Why is Copernicus easy for astronomers to spot?

A

Slightly hexagonal shape + brighter than its surroundings

26
Q

How big is the Ocean of Storms?

A

2500km

27
Q

What is the Sea of tranquillity best known for?

A

Apollo landing site

28
Q

What are valleys on the Moon?

A

Long depressions on the Moon’s surface

29
Q

How are valleys thought to be formed?

A

Formed by ancient lava flows, collapsed lava tubes or geological faults

30
Q

How are mountains on the Moon thought to be formed?

A

impacts which released under the early lunar surface

31
Q

Describe the shape of a crater

A

Typically consist of a wall or rim, often have a central peak + slope leading to it

32
Q

What are the poles?

A

A point 90 degrees from the equator.

33
Q

Define prime meridian

A

Internationally agreed line of longitude from which measurements are taken. 0 degrees longitude

34
Q

What is a tropic?

A

A region where the sun is directly overhead in the zenith at least once a year

35
Q

Name the hottest part of the Earth and what element it’s composed of

A

Inner core: Iron

36
Q

What purpose does daylight savings time serve?

A

So we have more time during the summer months

37
Q

What is the difference between GMT and UTC?

A

UTC deviates to GMT by a second to account for earth’s rotation and is adjusted at times to account for leap seconds

38
Q

What happens when you move to a time zone east of your original position?

A

You gain time

39
Q

What happens when you move to a time zone west of your original position?

A

You lose time

40
Q

How many meridians is the world split into?

A

24 meridians

41
Q

Why did Harrison create the H4?

A

To tell time at sea

42
Q

How would a sailor calculate the Lunar Distance method?

A

Measure the altitude of a prominent star above the horizon, and then observe the angle between the Moon and the star. Then consult an almanac (table of contents) to work out the longitude

43
Q

Why does the Equinox change every year?

A

Due to precession, vernal equinox gets slightly earlier each year

44
Q

What is a solstice?

A

When the day is at its longest/ shortest

45
Q

What is an equinox?

A

When the sun passes over the celestial equator

46
Q

Define ecliptic

A

Path the sun appears to take over the course of a year

47
Q

Why do we have more daylight at different times of the year?

A

The daylight of a location on Earth receives depends on its position on earth, and the time or season of year

48
Q

What is the difference between a sidereal month and a synodic month?

A

Sidereal: Moon orbits the earth with respect to the background star
Synodic: the period between the same phase of the moon

49
Q

Why do moon phases occur?

A

Different amounts of sunlight reflected depending on moon’s position

50
Q

What causes the sundial to be accurate during the year?

A

the earth’s axis (obliquity of the orbit) and the earth’s orbit

51
Q

What are inaccuracies in apparent solar time caused by?

A

Caused by the earth’s elliptical orbit and axis of the earth.

52
Q

Why is Earth’s rotational period 4 minutes less than 24 hours?

A

Earth’s axis of rotation is fixed with respect to the background stars, not the sun

GCSE Edexcel Astronomy (22 decks)

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