Astronomy

Question 1

What shape is the earth

Answer 1

An oblate spheroid

Question 2

Why is the earth the shape it is?

Answer 2

It is squashed slightly by the earths spin

Question 3

The earths major divisions from the surface down

Answer 3

Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

Question 4

The depth of the centre of the earth

Answer 4

6500km

Question 5

What is the difference between 50°n and 50°s

Answer 5

50°n is 50° above the equator and 50°s is 50° below the equator

Question 6

What are the poles?

Answer 6

The poles are the points at which the axis of the earths rotation meets the surface. They are 90°N and 90°S

Question 7

What is the prime meridian?

Answer 7

A line of longitude. 0°E and 0°W. It runs through London and everywhere north or south of Greenwich.

Question 8

Define the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer

Answer 8

The Tropic of Capricorn is the most southerly line of longitude and the Tropic of Cancer is the most northernly line of longitude

Question 9

What is the arctic circle

Answer 9

Circles where there are days that the sun never rises and never sets

Question 10

What is twinkling

Answer 10

Light refracting through the atmosphere before it reaches the eye

Question 11

What is skyglow

Answer 11

Reflected light from things like street lamps or cities

Question 12

Why is skyglow a problem?

Answer 12

It reduces contrast and so you can’t see some dimmer stars

Question 13

Meteors

Answer 13

A trail of debris from a comet in space

Question 14

Meteoroid

Answer 14

a rock in a comets debris trail

Question 15

Meteorite

Answer 15

A rock that makes it to the earths surface

Question 16

Micrometeorite

Answer 16

A small rock that makes it to the earths surface

Question 17

A fireball

Answer 17

A very bright meteoroid

Question 18

What is solar wind made of?

Answer 18

Mostly electrons, protons and alpha particles.

Question 19

Where does solar wind come from

Answer 19

The suns corona

Question 20

How fast is solar wind?

Answer 20

Hundreds of km per second

Question 21

What does solar wind cause

Answer 21

Aroure

Question 22

Why does solar wind cause aurora boreal is?

Answer 22

The charged particles spiral down the magnetic fields of the earth before hitting the atmosphere. Particles in the atmosphere then excite and de excite releasing photons.

Question 23

Why is the magnetosphere stretched? (Magneto tail)

Answer 23

The force of the solar wind on the magnetosphere

Question 24

What are van Allen belts?

Answer 24

Some of the plasma gets stuck trapped around the magnetosphere. We get belts of charged particles in space near the earth.

Question 25

What are geomagnetic stormzys?

Answer 25

Geomagnetic storms are caused by the interaction of solar wind on the atmosphere. They are caused when the magnetosphere is compressed and solar wind shock wave happens. Low orbit Satellites will slow due to higher drag.

Question 26

What do geomagnetic storms do to elect citric supply?

Answer 26

Geomagnetic storms can induce electric currents in power grids and long conductors on Earth’s surface. These induced currents can overload electrical systems and transformers, potentially causing power outages or damage to the electrical infrastructure.

Question 27

How do geomagnetic storms affect aircraft?

Answer 27

The storms disrupt the Earth’s magnetic field, which may affect the accuracy of magnetic compasses and navigation systems that rely on magnetic references.