Astronomy Unit Vocabulary

Question 1

Luminosity, objective, constant distance temperature & size determine the brightness of a star.

Answer 1

absolute magnitude

Question 2

How bright an object looks from Earth, photometer measure, Hipparchus scale

Answer 2

apparent magnitude

Question 3

microwave radiation that is a remnant of the big bang

Answer 3

background radiation

Question 4

A theory for the end of the universe. The universe will expand so much that it will separate and not be able to continue forming since everything is separated. More widely accepted/proven theory.

Answer 4

Big chill

Question 5

the theory for the end of universe that says universe will collapse back into a singularity.

Answer 5

big crunch

Question 6

the name given to the mysterious force that’s causing the rate of expansion of our universe to accelerate over time, rather than to slow down.

Answer 6

dark energy

Question 7

New moon and full moon cause maximum tide heights.

Answer 7

spring tide

Question 8

1st quarter and 3rd quarter moons that create 90 degree angles cause minimum tide heights.

Answer 8

neap tides.

Question 9

time between high and low tide. water level is decreasing

Answer 9

ebb tides

Question 10

a type of figure that is similar to a circle but has two foci instead of one focus. an orbit takes this path.

Answer 10

ellipse

Question 11

a planet that orbits a star that is not the sun

Answer 11

exoplanet

Question 12

when the sea level is increasing.

Answer 12

flood tides

Question 13

high tide- max height
ebb tides- decreasing
low tides- min. height
flood tides- increasing

Answer 13

ok

Question 14

a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction. might include other heavenly bodies.

Answer 14

galaxy

Question 15

when water levels reach their highest

Answer 15

high tide

Question 16

nuclear fusion balances pressure with gravity

Answer 16

Hydrostatic equilibrium

Question 17

the resistance to change in velocity e.g. earth rotation

Answer 17

inertia

Question 18

space between stars; the space where sun stops affecting things

Answer 18

interstellar space

Question 19

a planet’s orbit is an ellipse

Answer 19

Kepler’s first law

Question 20

objects go at different speeds at different points in their orbit

Answer 20

kepler’s 2nd law

Question 21

orbits that are closer move/orbit faster

Answer 21

Kepler’s 3rd law

Question 22

min height

Answer 22

Low tide

Question 23

earth’s natural satellite. reflects sun’s light. one of the causes of tides.

Answer 23

moon

Question 24

hydrogen atoms combine to become helium atoms and so on and forth.

Answer 24

Nuclear fusion

Question 25

the path that something takes when it moves around something else.

Answer 25

orbit

Question 26

a scale that goes from 0-1 that represents the shape of an orbit. 0: circle 1: straight line

Answer 26

orbital eccentricity

Question 27

balance between momentum and gravity

Answer 27

orbital equilibrium

Question 28

a celestial body

Answer 28

planet

Question 29

a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star.

Answer 29

satellite

Question 30

huge amt.(infinite) of matter in a small amt (almost zero) of volume

Answer 30

singularity

Question 31

gravitation-bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it. It formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud.

Answer 31

solar system

Question 32

robotic spacecraft that has no ppl. doesn't orbit earth

Answer 32

space probe

Question 33

spreads light into different wavelengths. exposes the composition.

Answer 33

spectroscope

Question 34

a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.

Answer 34

star

Question 35

an explosion of a star that releases high energy such as gamma rays.

Answer 35

supernova

Question 36

the theory that a singularity exploded and created the universe through expansion.

Answer 36

the big bang

Question 37

vertical difference between high and low tide (double the amplitude)

Answer 37

tidal range

Question 38

rise and fall of the sea level

Answer 38

tides

Question 39

common way to discover exoplanets dip in light of stars by exoplanets blocking our view of it.

Answer 39

transit photometry

Question 40

time space matter includes space matter and energy

Answer 40

universe