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SC120 > Midterm > Flashcards

Midterm Flashcards

1
Q

Astronomy

A

the study of cosmos phenomena

observation and math

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2
Q

Science

A

Explain nature by examining natural causes

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3
Q

Field of view

A

the diameter of the visible area of the image for a subject a certain distance away

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4
Q 
Giga
Million
Kilo
Metre
Centi
Milli
Micro
Nano
A 
G- 1 000 000 000
M - 1 000 000
K- 1000
M- 1
c- .1
m- .01
mi- .001
n- 10^-9 m
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5
Q

Astronomical unit

A

the measure of distance between the earth and the sun

1.5 x 10^8 km

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6
Q

Light year

A

the distance light can travel in a vacuum in one year
10^13 km
63 000 AU

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7
Q

Planet

A

small, nonluminous body

travel in elliptical orbits around a star

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8
Q

Star

A

a self-luminous ball of gas
born in clouds of dust as they pass through the spiral arms of the galaxy
the nearest star to Sun is 4.2 ly

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9
Q

Star System

A

star and gravitationally held bodies

Our star system- Solar System

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10
Q

Galaxy

A

cluster of stars, dust, and bodies orbiting a centre mass

Our galaxy- the Milky Way Galaxy

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11
Q

Spiral arm

A

one part of the galaxy

looks like a spiral from far away

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12
Q

supercluster

A

clusters of clusters of galaxies

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13
Q

13.8 Gy

A

beginning of the universe

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14
Q

4.6 gy

A

the birth of our solar system

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15
Q

3.8 gy

A

when life appeared on Earth

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16
Q

Scientific Notation

A

representing large numbers by using powers of ten

Gets rid of all the 0’s

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17
Q

Space

A

void, nearly empty of all matter, a vacuum

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18
Q

Moon

A

a natural satellite in orbit around a planet

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19
Q

Cluster

A

galaxy group

eg a few dozen galaxies

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20
Q

Filaments and walls

A

long cloudy masses of superclusters outlining ear empty voids

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21
Q

Cosmic calendar

A

place the universe timeline of events on 12 month calendar

developed by astronomer Carl Sagan as a public education tool

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22
Q

Constellation

A

sky region and/or star pattern which are recognized by the International Astronomical Union
eg Ursa Major

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23
Q

Asterism

A

a star group which is not a primary constellation
it may cross regions
it is not officially recognized by the IAU
Eg the Big Dipper (inside Ursa Major)

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24
Q

Magnitude scale

A

the objective brightness of a celestial body, on a scale

1 = bright, 6 = dim

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25
Q

Apparent visual magnitude

A

a measure of brightness of an object as perceived by the human eye

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26
Q

flux

A

the measure of light energy per metre2 per second

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27
Q

celestial sphere

A

ancient belief the sky is a ceiling surrounding Earth with attached object
now is known as a scientific model to describe the observed sky

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28
Q

scientific model

A

a proposed mechanism for how something works

a way to think about nature, but may not be true

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29
Q

zenith

A

centre of the sky above

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30
Q

nadir

A

centre of the sky below

exact opposite of the zenith- hidden from our view

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31
Q

precession

A

slow circular sweep in orientation of Earth axis of rotation

like a top- the Earth sways as it spins

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32
Q

Cardinal Directions

A

north, east, south, west points

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33
Q

declination

A

latitude in degrees from the celestial equator
a way of locating objects in the sky
arc min., arc sec. or north (+) or south (-) of celestial equator

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34
Q

right ascension

A

extension of longitude from the spring equinox
a way of locating objects in the sky
hours, min, sec. within 24 h

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35
Q

celestial equator

A

the path the sub takes around the Path (in general)

Created by the earth’s rotation

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36
Q

rotation

A

motion around an axis (Earth produces day and night)

24h, 1700km/h

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37
Q

ecliptic

A

Earth’s orbit projected on the celestial sphere

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38
Q

revolution

A

orbital motion about a point outside a body

Earth’s revolution is almost a perfect circle, travels at 30 km/s

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39
Q

vernal/autumnal equinox

A

The days of the year where there are equal amounts of day and night
March 20- vernal
September 22- autumnal

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40
Q

summer/winter solstice

A

The longest and shortest days of the year
June 22- summer
December 22-Winter

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41
Q

perihelion

A

when one part of the Earth is about 1.7% closer to the sun

in NA this occurs on Jan 3

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42
Q

aphelion

A

when one part of the Earth is about 1.7% further from the sun
In NA, this occurs on July 5

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43
Q

Moon Phases

A 
New Moon (dark)
Waxing crescent
First Quarter
Waxing gibbous
Full moon (fully lit)
Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter
Waning crescent
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44
Q

solar eclipse

A

moon passes between the Earth and Sun- always occurs at new Moon

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45
Q

penumbra

A

Eclipse when the moon is partially in front of the sun

partial shadow

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46
Q

umbra

A

eclipse when the moon is completely in front of the sun

full shadow

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47
Q

annular eclipse

A

total eclipse where the full annulus “ring” of the sun’s atmosphere is visible around the Moon

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48
Q

lunar eclipse

A

moon moves through the shadows the Earth, always at new moon, up to 1h45 min
blood moon

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49
Q

Saros cycle

A

18y 11.5 days pattern of solar and lunar eclipses, due to moon tip of 5 degrees to the ecliptic

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50
Q

solar day

A

average length of time between successive passes of Sun across local meridian
approximately 23 hr 52 min

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51
Q

sidereal day/month/year

A

Sidereal day- time of successive passes for a star across the local meridian, 23hr 56 min
Sidereal month- time for Moon to orbit Earth once relative to a star, 27.32 days
Sidereal year- time for a complete orbit of Earth around the Sun relative to the stars, 365.26 days

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52
Q

tropical year (solar year)

A

time between successive spring (or autumnal) equinoxes

365.25 days

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53
Q

apparent solar time

A

used most, Sun on the local meridian

AM, noon, PM

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54
Q

Ancient view of the universe

A

around 15 000 BCE is the earliest evidence of humans watching the sky
sky used for timekeeping and navigation

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55
Q

Geocentric universe model

A

the uniform circular motion of the Sun and other planets/stars around the Earth

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56
Q

Geocentric universe model

A

the uniform circular motion of the Sun and other planets/stars around the Earth
55 spheres turning at different rates in perfect circular motion

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57
Q

Aristotle- first principle

A

Aristotle believe the heavens are perfect

First principle- natural phenomena appear obvious, explained with no further examination

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58
Q

Ptolemy- retrograde motion,

A

the appearance that planets move “backwards” in the sky at one point in their rotation
solved by epicycle theory

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59
Q

Ptolemy- epicycle

A

the movement of planets- small circular movement around a larger circle called the deferent

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60
Q

Copernicus- heliocentric universe model

A

sun as the centre of the universe

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61
Q

paradigm

A

commonly accepted scientific ideas and assumptions

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62
Q

Tycho Brahe

A

Rich man who wanted to be an astronomer; worked with Kepler

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63
Q

parallax

A

the apparent motion of an object because of the motion of the observer

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64
Q

Johannes Kepler

A

Brahe’s assistant

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65
Q

empirical

A

described on observation only, without account for why occur

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66
Q

ellipse

A

orbits are not circular, a closed elongated curve

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67
Q

semi-major axis

A

half the longest diameter of the ellipse

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68
Q

eccentricity

A

half the distance between the foci divided by the semi-major axis
1=long, 0=circular

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69
Q

Laws of planetary motion

A
  1. Planet orbits are ellipses with the sun at one foci
  2. line from planet to the sun sweeps over equal areas in equal periods of time
  3. Plane’ts orbital period squared is proportional to its average distance from Sun cubed
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70
Q

Galileo Galilei

A

used telescope lenses recreated in his workshop
saw the moon was not perfect
observed that Venus goes through moon-like phases, confirms heliocentric universe

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71
Q

level of confidence

A

different levels of confidence in our scientific thoughts

sometimes used inaccurately

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72
Q

question

A

wondering how or why something is

an observation

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73
Q

hypothesis

A

a claim or guess that can be tested against reality with observation and experimentation

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74
Q

theory

A

system of rules and principles applicable to many situations

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75
Q

natural law

A

many tests, refinements, and confirmations, suh that great confidence as a fundamental principle

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76
Q

speed

A

rate of movement is distance over time

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77
Q

velocity

A

the speed and direction of an object

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78
Q

acceleration

A

rate of change of velocity with time, or turning

slowing is negative acceleration or deceleration

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79
Q

Isaac Newton

A

studied math, physicals, physical phenomena

developed math solutions

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80
Q

laws of motion

A
  1. Body continues at rest, or in a uniform motion in straight line, unless acted upon by some force
  2. body’s change of motion is proportional to the force acting on it, and the direction of the force
  3. body exerting force on a second body receives back an equal and opposite force from body contact
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81
Q

law of universal gravitation

A

universal mutual gravitation

objects pull together- the Earth pulls on the Moon, and the Moon pulls on the earth

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82
Q

mass

A

the matter which makes up an object

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83
Q

weight

A

the force gravity exerts on an object

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84
Q

inverse square relation

A

strength of effect decreases in proportion as the distance squared increases
things which are farther from Earth have less

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85
Q

centre of mass

A

objects orbiting each other actually revolve around a mutual point, which is determined by the individual mass of each object

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86
Q

circular velocity

A

velocity required to keep circular orbit above the atmosphere

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87
Q

geosynchronous orbit

A

eastward rotation with earth

all the planets orbit the same way

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88
Q

closed orbit

A

returns to the starting point (ellipses circle) make a circular orbit

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89
Q

escape velocity

A

the velocity required to break out of an orbit and escape the planet

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90
Q

open orbit

A

parabola or hyperbola

the object does not return in a full orbit

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91
Q

tidal force- spring tide, neap tide

A

gravitational force from the Moon and Sun (less) causes the ocean to bulge
spring tide- new and full moon align with the Sun to create larger/extreme range tide
neap time- smaller tidal range and first and third quarter moon

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92
Q

Electromagnetic radiation

A

the combination of electric and magnetic waves, spreads fro source

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93
Q

wavelength

A

period between waves

light- .005mm

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94
Q

photon

A

a particle of light, a quantum (smallest) bundle of electromagnetic waves

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95
Q

infrared

A

light in the range of 700 nm to 1mm

beyond red light- cannot be seen, felt as heat

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96
Q

light

A

a wave phenomenon

the visible portion of the EM spectrum

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97
Q

ultraviolet

A

waves shorter than a violent wavelength

cannot be seen

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98
Q

x-ray

A

waves shorter than UV light

difficult to focus because they pass through most mirrors

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99
Q

gamma ray

A

higher frequency and shorter wavelength than X-Ray

carries more energy

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100
Q

atmospheric window

A

wavelength at which our atmosphere is transparent to EM radiation

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101
Q

speed of light

A

300 000 km/s in space

true of all EM radiation

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102
Q

Electromagnetic spectrum

A

the types of EM waves arranged in order of wavelength

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103
Q

Spectrograph

A

spreads light out according to wavelength into a spectrum for analysis

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104
Q

light

A

a wave phenomenon
the visible portion of the EM spectrum
between 400nm and 700nm

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105
Q

optical telescope

A

lenses and//or mirrors are needed to gather light

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106
Q

radio telescope

A

gather intensity of radio radiation (energy) from a spot in the sky

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107
Q

interferometer

A

two or more telescopes combine to make diameter equal to the distance between them

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108
Q

refracting telescope

A

lens gathers and bends light to concentrate it to make an image at an eyepiece

109
Q

reflecting telescope

A

mirror gather and bounce light to concentrate it to make an image

110
Q

primary lens

A

objective lens- the main collecting lens (at front)

111
Q

primary mirror

A

the main collecting mirror at the bottom

112
Q

prime focus

A

the area in a reflecting telescope where the light is focused

113
Q

eyepiece

A

the lens to magnify an image, a short focal length lens

114
Q

power

A

main function is to make faint things brighter and to improve the diameter

115
Q

light-gathering power

A

diameter (light bucket) is proportional to the area of the primary objective

116
Q

resolving power

A

the diameter of the telescope objective to reveal fine detail and eliminate diffraction fringe

117
Q

magnifying power

A

least important power, ability to make the image large

focal length of the primary divided by the focal length of the eyepiece

118
Q

focal length

A

distance from a lens or mirror to the formed image

119
Q

diffraction fringe

A

blue fringe caused by wave property of light

120
Q

seeing

A

condition of atmospheric turbulence that causes star twinkle

motion makes poor observing mountain location above atmosphere

121
Q

adaptive optics

A

rapid computer controlled calculation and adjustment correcting for poor seeing

122
Q

sidereal tracking

A

nonstop movement pointing telescopes at stars as earth rotates

123
Q

photometer

A

to measure the brightness of individual objects

precise

124
Q

charge-coupled device

A

image recording devise and photometer

basically a camera on the telescope that captures everything

125
Q

secondary mirror

A

in a reflecting telescope, redirects light down into a hole on primary instruments

126
Q

Cassegrain focus

A

where the light is redirected by the secondary mirror in a reflecting telescope
selected down to the bottom

127
Q

Newtonian focus

A

used in smaller telescopes, where the image is directed to an eyepiece on the side

128
Q

Atom

A

smallest unit of a chemical unit

129
Q

Subatomic particle

A

a portion of an atom

130
Q

proton

A

atomic particle in nucleus, has a positive charge, Hydrogen has one

131
Q

Neutron

A

atom in particle in nucleus, no charge, similar in mass to the proton

132
Q

Electron

A

atomic particles making a cloud surrounding the nucleus, negative charge, low mass

133
Q

Nucleus

A

massive central core of an atom

134
Q

Molecule

A

two or more atoms bonded together

135
Q

Ion

A

an atom which has lost or gained electrons

occurs through ionization

136
Q

Isotopes

A

the same element with different numbers of neutron

137
Q

heat

A

stored energy in matter
thermal energy- agitation among particles
flow from high to low

138
Q

temperature

A

the measure of the agitation among particles

measure of heat

139
Q

Celsuis scale

A

international system for temperature measurement, relative to water freezing/melting point

140
Q

Kelvin temperature scale

A

temperature scale starting at an absolute zero (-273)

1K = 1C

141
Q

absolute zero

A

theoretical lowest possible temperature, when material contains no extractable energy

142
Q

Ways of Energy Transportation

A

Conduction- touch
Radiation- radiant energy
Convection- movement and change of location

143
Q

Blackbody radiation

A

emission (temperature) by a hypothetical perfect radiator

it is a continuous spectrum

144
Q

wavelength of maximum intensity

A

wavelength at which perfect radiator emits maximum energy

145
Q

Wien’s Law

A

the hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength of maximum intensity
inversely proportional to its temperature

146
Q

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

A

hotter objects emit more energy than cooler objects of the same size, in proportion to the fourth power of temperature

147
Q

Doppler Effect

A

reveals object motion, change in wavelength of a source
object travelling toward- compressed
object travelling away- spread out

148
Q

Blueshift

A

compressed light waves travelling toward and observer are bluer

149
Q

Redshift

A

light waves travelling away from an observer are red

150
Q

Radial Velocity

A

the greater the shift, the greater the speed

this is a component of object velocity

151
Q

Sun

A

great ball of hot high pressure gas producing energy (radiation and heat) in core by nuclear fusion
mass is 333 000times earths
density only slightly more than water

152
Q

transit of venus

A

when planet Venus crosses the face of the sun

originally used to measure the size of the Sun

153
Q

Quanta

A

the amount of binding energy in a particle

154
Q

Quantum Mechanics

A

the study of particle behaviour and laws

155
Q

Coulomb Force

A

the force that holds electrons in the electron shell around the nucleus
an electrostatic force

156
Q

Energy levels

A

the amount of energy an electron has determines which electron shell it stays in

157
Q

Permitted Orbits

A

the electron shells

the only place in the electron cloud where electrons are allowed to be

158
Q

Ground state

A

electron in the lowest energy level/orbit

159
Q

Quantum Leap/ Transition

A

jump of an electron from one orbit to another

changes the energy stored in the atom

160
Q

Excited atom

A

energy is added, moves the outermost electron to a higher energy level
the more excited, the atoms can display different colours

161
Q

Balmer Series

A

visible UV light
red blue violet
appears visible as pink
The Balmer Lines are seen on the spectrum of light released from the sun- based on Hydrogen alpha

162
Q

Joseph von Fraunhofer- Solar Spectrum

A

colour spectrum is missing about 600 lines (certain colours)

related atoms in the Sun’s atmosphere that absorb photons of light of specific spectra (colour)

163
Q

Kirchhoff’s Laws

A

Three types of Spectra

  • Continuous spectrum- rainbow of colour
  • EmissionSpectrum
  • Absorption Spectrum
164
Q

Continuous Spectrum

A

solid, liquid, or gas excited to emit light at all wavelengths
hot incandescent light bulb emits blackbody radiation, the continuous (full) spectrum

165
Q

Emission Spectrum

A

Bright-line Spectra
photos emptied by low density gas at specific wavelengths
spectral line- line at a specific wavelength, product of energy emission or absorption by atom

166
Q

Absorption Spectrum

A

dark line spectra
light pass through cool low-density gas, absorbing the photon
Absorption line- lines missing from certain wavelengths of the spectra, missing wavelength

167
Q

Solar wind

A

breeze of material, extend corona moving past Earth at 300km/s to 800km/s (up to 1000km/s)
sun loses a minor amount of mass

168
Q

Corona

A

the outermost part of Sun’s atmosphere
record to 20 solar radii
reveal that sunspots are linked to features in corona and chromosphere
not very much light because its a low density

169
Q

Chromosphere

A

irregular layer, average depth less than Earth’s diameter
at solar eclipse can see with naked idea as a thin layer of pink
Kirchoff’s second law- excited, transparent low-density gas

170
Q

Photosphere

A

bright visible surface, source of Earth’s sunlight, less than 500km deep
Sun “surface” is gas, very low density gas

171
Q

Granulation

A

bright regions of convection that coolant sink at darker edges
use Doppler effect to ensure rising and falling

172
Q

Filtergram

A

photograph made using light in one of the dark absorption lines to isolate solar layer detail

173
Q

Filaments

A

long dark line solar eruption

Hydrogen Alpha Balmer line filter gram reveals these

174
Q

Spicules

A

5-15 min flame-like jet from super granule edge

cooler gas from lower chromosphere

175
Q

Convective zone

A

moving material bringing photons to the surface from deep under photosphere

176
Q

Dynamo effect

A

rotating conductor, stirred by convection, convert some energy to magnetic flow out similar process in olden iron of Earth’s core

177
Q

Helioseismology

A

interior motion makes vibrations, about 15km on the surface, measured by Doppler shift
period of vibration 5 min, ives temperature, density, rate of rotation of interior

178
Q

Magnetic carpet

A

network of small magnetic loops covering Sun surface from below photosphere

179
Q

Differential rotation

A

rotation period differs depending on the proximity to the equator

180
Q

Babcock model

A

Progressive tangling and untangling of magnetic fields as gas moves at different rates
Field frozen into he gas that moves faster at equator and wraps magnetic lines around sun
as gas rises and falls it twists fields that burst through surface, making sunspots

181
Q

Sunspots

A

Darker region with less light (Wien Law), redder than average = cooler (Stefan Boltzmann Law)
linked to cyclical strengthen and weakening of Sun’s magnetic field
Run N-S- for 11y N leads in N hemisphere, and then field reverses for 11 y
Dark centre umbra outer region penumbra

182
Q

Prominence

A

ionized gas from photosphere into lower corona, pink colour

183
Q

Flare

A

where opposite fields meed and cancel out, may last minutes to an hour
Magnetic loop breaks

184
Q

Coronal Mass Ejection

A

large amount of ionized gas is blown out by reconnection (flare)

185
Q

Aurora

A

northern and southern lights, eerie

electrical currents in Earth’s magnetic field deflect CME to the north and south poles

186
Q

Comparative planetology

A

comparison of one planet with another, Earth as the template

187
Q

Earth

A 
home
third rock from the Sun
water planet
thin atmosphere altered by life
largest terrestrial
188
Q

Earth- active core

A

refers to a geologically mobile, as heat stirs and makes its way out of the interior

189
Q

Earth- mantle

A

deep layer; Earth’s dense rock, properties of solid but capable of flowing slowly (like asphalt)

190
Q

Earth- Crust

A

rocky, low-density surface
radiates heat out into space
smooth surface is younger (lava flow) than cratered area (LHB)

191
Q

Earth- Plate tectonics

A

crust plates floating on mantle

100s m.y. of movement- 1/45th the age of Earth, so sections of crust in rapid motion

192
Q

Earth- atmosphere

A

larger size and cooler temperature of planet important to retaining gases
gases originate from formation, space deliveries, evolution of the planet, appearance of life

193
Q

Earth- primary atmosphere

A

planet’s first atmosphere, gases from solar system nebula
outgassing of CO2, N, H2O vapour, etc. cooked out of hot planet rock
accreting planetesimals rich in volatile materials

194
Q

Earth- Secondary atmosphere

A

replaces the primary atmosphere

Earth’s relatively thin, mainly nitrogen, significant oxygen from biological processes

195
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

CO2 rich atmosphere traps heat and raises planet surface temperature
visible wavelength sunlight comes through and heats interior
we need greenhouse effect- without it, we would not be able to survive- humans augmenting the impact

196
Q

global warming

A

gradual increase in surface temperature of Earth cause by human modifications
concept no longer used by science- claimed to link all climate change directly to human action

197
Q

surface evolution

A

report of changes that destroys traces of earlier formation processes

198
Q

Moon

A

a planet-like companion to Earth made of Earth’s ocean crust

low albedo

199
Q

Albedo

A

ratio of light reflected from an object to the amount received
perfectly black = 0, perfectly white = 1

200
Q

Anorthosite

A

light-coloured, aluminum and calcium-rich silicate rock, first solidified, float to top
Earth ocean crust made of this- so is moon

201
Q

Breccia

A

fragments of older broken rock bound together by other rocks
Moon is made of this
low-density rock

202
Q

Maria

A

smooth lunar lowlands of successive flows of dark lava

203
Q

Micrometeorites

A

meteorite of microscopic size

204
Q

Large Impact Hypothesis

A

Moon formed when Thea (Earth’s companion planet) crashed into Earth and the separated chunks formed moon

205
Q

Magma Ocean Exterior- Moon

A

newborn moon was formed of a shell of molten rock, 100’s of km thick

206
Q

Late Heavy Bombardment

A

impacts from possible final accretion and migration of Uranus and Neptune
impacted many planets

207
Q

multi ringed basin

A

large impact feature- 2+ concentric rims, fracture of planet crust, 100s kms in diameter

208
Q

Mercury

A

metal planet- cooling and shrinking against cold of space
smallest planet
fast orbit- 88 days
very dense, suffuses large metallic core
inactive due to lost internal heat, core contracted, crust compressed and broke in long shrink ridges

209
Q

Venus

A

initially a water planet, clouding over and heating now dry
runaway greenhouse effect
hot surface
coronae- large round geological faults in the crust (volcanoes)

210
Q

Mars

A 
small water planet without atmosphere, cold desert
volcanism- all shield volcanoes
high in iron oxide
outflow channels
valley networks
permafrost
satellite system- moons- tiny irregular
211
Q

Shield Volcanoes

A

wide, low-profile volcanic cone from highly liquid lava

212
Q

Iron Oxide

A

reddish-orange mineral caused by oxidation of iron in the presence of free O2 molecules

213
Q

Outflow channels

A

geological surface feature flow of c=vast amount of water released suddenly

214
Q

Valley Networks

A

system of drainage channels, resemble beds of rivers and tributary systems on Earth

215
Q

Jupiter

A 
massive, largest planet in solar system
liquid metallic hydrogen
extensive moon system
sidereal rotation period 10 hours- fast
oblate
heavy element core
belt-zone circulation
rings
216
Q

Oblateness

A

flattening of a spherical body caused by rotation, fraction equatorial diameter exceeds polar

217
Q

Liquid Metallic Hydrogen

A

liquid hydrogen under very high pressure, good conductor of electricity, stirred by convection currents and spun by planet’s rapid rotation drives dynamo effect

218
Q

Magnetosphere

A

magnetic field volume of space around planet, traps solar winds to create aurora

219
Q

Belt-Zone Circulation

A

cloud belts and zones form stripes that circle the planet parallel to equator
ammonia and water
belt- darker descending gas lower in atmosphere
sone- brighter, rising gas cloud high in atmosphere, reflects stronger sunlight near surface to viewer
has embedded circulating storms

220
Q

Forward Scattering

A

optical property, finely divided particles, direct light in direction light is travelling

221
Q

Roche Limit

A

minimum distance planet to a satellite that can hold itself together by its own gravity
satellite within Roche limit is pulled apart by tidal forces

222
Q

Tidal heatin

A

heating of a planet or satellite because of internal friction due to gravitational tides

223
Q

Io

A

moon of Jupiter
larger than Moon
dense rock and metal
intensely heated by tidal forces, not much internal ice

224
Q

Europa

A 
moon of Jupiter
smaller than Moon
mostly rock with thin ice crust, visible surface very clean with few craters
crust breaks with tidal force
liquid ocean under surface of moon
225
Q

Saturn

A

massive,
visibly bright ice-particle ring
ball of liquid metallic hydrogen
extensive moon system

226
Q

Ring System

A

multiple rings
golf ball size chunks of ice mainly, sometimes rock, down to dust from broken satellites
Gaps between rings are not empty- small moons inside

227
Q

Shepherd satellite

A

body that confine rings, gravitationally usher stray particles back into the rings

228
Q

Titan

A

largest moon of saturn
surface fluid circulation system and erosion
liquid methan/ethane- hydrocarbon at a very cold temperatures

229
Q

Enceladus

A

moon of Saturn
signs of recent geological activity
fewer craters
tiger stripe- tidal force fissure or crustal crack where liquid water erupts as geyser

230
Q

Uranus

A

Ice giant
rich in solid and liquid water
trace methane
rings- not clear, shepherd satellites

231
Q

Trace methane

A

small quantity of methane causes a teal, or green-blue, or green colour

232
Q

Occultations

A

passage of a larger body in from of a smaller one, planet in front of star

233
Q

Miranda

A

innermost moon of 5 around uranus

ovoid- surface marks groves, oval features may have been caused by internal heat, convection

234
Q

Neptune

A

ice giant
rich in solid and liquid water
rings very faint
Great Dark Spot

235
Q

Pluto

A

dwarf planet- it doesn’t clear its orbit, so its not a full planet
has moons, orbits sun

236
Q

Dwarf Planet

A

body orbiting Sun, not satellite of a planet, round but not massive enough to clear its orbit

237
Q

Plutino

A

one of the icy Kuiper belt objects caught in a 3:2 orbital resonance with Neptune

238
Q

Terrestrial Planet

A

Earth-like, small diameter, dense (of rock or metal), rocky, little or no atmosphere

239
Q

Crater

A

impact site, nearly every firm surface in solar system has them

240
Q

Asteroids

A

small rocky world, most orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belts

241
Q

Meteoriod

A

small bit of matter (dust, sand, pebble, most less than 1 gram) in space

242
Q

Meteor

A

meteoroid falling into Earth’s atmosphere

friction heats it to incandescent vapour

243
Q

Meteorite

A

meteor large enough that a portion survives fall through atmosphere, strikes ground

244
Q

Carbonaceous chrondrite

A

type of meteor rock

contains small glassy spheres called chrondrules and volatiles

245
Q

Volatile

A

easily vaporized compounds, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ammonia

246
Q

Meteor shower

A

meteor display appear to originate from on region in the sky, cometary debris

247
Q

Half-life

A

time requires for half of radioactive atoms in a sample to decay
used to understand age

248
Q

Jovian Planet

A

liquid giants (compressed gas) words of the outer solar system (resemble Jupiter)

249
Q

comet

A

small icy body orbits the sun

produce tails of gas and dust when they approach the Sun

250
Q

Kuiper belt

A

collection of icy planetesimals orbiting just beyond Neptune to +50 AU

251
Q

Oort Cloud

A

hypothetical source of distant comets
icy bodies
spherical shell to 100 000 AU from Sun
edge of Solar System

252
Q

Solar Nebula Theory

A

rotating cloud gas/dust gravitationally collapse and flatten, around forming Sun
disk rotates counter clockwise
all planets revolve in same direction, rotate as well (2 exceptions)

253
Q

Uncompressed density

A

density a planet would have if its gravity were not compressing it

254
Q

Ice line

A

boundary beyond which water vapour could freeze to form ice grains

255
Q

condensation

A

growth of a particle by addition of material from surrounding gas, atom by atom

256
Q

condensation sequence

A

distance from proto-sun that different materials condense in the solar nebula

257
Q

Accretion

A

sticking together of solid particles to produce larger particles

258
Q

Planetesimals

A

small body formed of dust grains (not gas) in the solar nebula, eventually protoplanet

259
Q

Protoplanet

A

coalescence of planetesimals in solar nebula, massive object, destined to become planet

260
Q

gravitational collapse

A

forming body, gravitationally captures gas rapidly from the nebula

261
Q

heat of formation

A

heat released by inflating matter during planet body formation

262
Q

Differentiation

A

melting of most of a planet permitting separation of material according to density

263
Q

Outgassing

A

release of gasses from a planet’s interior (eg volcano)

264
Q

Impact

A

meteor of comet body that reaches the surface of another solar system object, usually violent

265
Q

late heavy bombardment

A

crater evidence intense comet and asteroid hits in first .5by of solar system

266
Q

Near Earth objects (NEO’s)

A

small solar system body (comet, asteroid) orbit that poses threat, collision

267
Q

Evolutionary theory

A

phenomenon involving slow, steady, races of sort seen happening present day

268
Q

Catastrophic theory

A

phenomenon involving special, sudden, perhaps violent events

SC120 (2 decks)

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