PHS 200 Test 1 Study Deck

Question 1

Weather (definition)

Answer 1

state of atmosphere at a give time or place (varies daily)

Question 2

Climate (definition)

Answer 2

aka “average weather”; generalization of weather conditions (based on gradual observations); variations and extremes are included; ex: rainfall, dryness of atmosphere, air quality, humidity

Question 3

Elements (definition)

Answer 3

quantities or properties that are measured regularly (of weather/climate: 6 types = air temperature, humidity, type/amount of cloudiness, type/amount of precipitation, air pressure, and speed/direction of wind

Question 4

Perihelion vs Aphelion (definitions)

Answer 4

Perihelion = point of Earth CLOSEST TO Sun (summer); Aphelion = point of Earth FARTHEST FROM Sun (winter); (both while in points of orbit)

Question 5

Cause of Seasons

Answer 5

• Gradual change in angle (altitude) of Sun above horizon
  -Daylight changes

Question 6

Earth’s Orbit Angle (Inclination of axis)

Answer 6

23.5 degrees; pointed toward North Star

Question 7

Solstices and Equinoxes

Answer 7

-Solstices = summer (June 21st) and winter (December 21st)
-Equinoxes = spring (March 21st) and fall (September 21st)

Question 8

Constellations and Zodiac (definitions)

Answer 8

-Constellations = patterns of stars in the night sky; ex: Orion the Hunter
-Zodiac = planets, Sun and Moon = all appear in band in sky (ex: Capricorn, Scorpio)

Question 9

Celestial Sphere (definition)

Answer 9

Imaginary hollow sphere (stars = hung and carried around Earth); N and S celestial poles; celestial equator
-Measurements = direction (degrees clockwise from due North) and altitude above horizon (location of astronomical objects); angular size and distance

Question 10

Mean Solar Day vs. Sidereal Day

Answer 10

-Mean Solar Day = average time between two passages of Sun across local celestial median
-Sidereal day = period of Earth’s rotation with respect to the stars

Question 11

Orbit of Earth/planets

Answer 11

Ecliptic orbits

Question 12

Synodic month (definition)

Answer 12

period of revolution of the Moon in respect to the Sun; 29.5 days

Question 13

Sidereal month (definition)

Answer 13

Revolution of Moon around Earth in respect to the stars

Question 14

Phases of Moon/# of phases

Answer 14

6 phases; crescent (2 days after New Moon), waxing (1 week after Crescent Moon), first-quarter (1 week after waxing moon), full moon (one week after first-quarter moon), waning (1 week after Full moon), and new moon (1 week after waning moon)

Question 15

Eclipses

Answer 15

-Solar eclipse (called “umbra”; eclipse of Sun; Moon hides Sun; partial shadow = “penumbra”)
-Lunar eclipse (eclipse of Moon)

Question 16

Moon’s diameter (in respect to Earth’s diameter)

Answer 16

1/4 of Earth’s diameter (due to low mass and extreme density)

Question 17

Maria (definition)

Answer 17

smooth surfaces of Moon; thought to be seas (orignially)

Question 18

Relationship between Earth and Moon

Answer 18

-Isotopic twins (made of same materials)
-Moon = composed of remnants from Earth exploding
-Earth’s lunar orbit = moving outward (increases daylight hours)

Question 19

Lunar Perigee (definition)

Answer 19

point of orbit of Moon or satellite nearest to Earth

Question 20

Jovian vs. Terrestrial Planets

Answer 20

-Jovian = larger planets (Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus); farther away from Sun (outside asteroid belt)
-Terrestrial = closer to Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)

Question 21

1 AU

Answer 21

distance from Earth to Sun

Question 22

Nicholaus Copernicus (definition)

Answer 22

-orbits of planets = circular
-Heliocentrism creator (Sun = center of Universe)
-“On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres)

Question 23

Tycho Brahe (definition)

Answer 23

-created pointers (telescopes) to measure locations of celestial bodies

Question 24

Stellar Parallax

Answer 24

star position = shifted (also known as star displacement)

Question 25

Johannes Kepler (definition)

Answer 25

-3 laws of planetary motion 1.) Planet orbit = ellipse 2.)Planet's orbital speed = depends on distance from Sun (faster = closer to Sun; slower = farther from Sun) 3.) Planet's orbital period = proportional

Question 26

Galileo Galilei (definition)

Answer 26

- "Dialogue of the Great World Systems" (Geocentrism vs. Heliocentrism) -Jupiter = 4 moons -Planets = spheres -Venus = same phases as Moon -Moon's surface - not smooth -Sun has sunspots -First scientist to use telescope in Astronomy

Question 27

Sir Isaac Newton (definition)

Answer 27

-3 laws of motion 1.) Object in motion stays in motion; object at rest will stay at rest 2.) Force = mass * acceleration 3.)Every action has an equal or opposite reaction

Question 28

Earth's spheres

Answer 28

1.)Hydrosphere (water portion; precipitation, condensations, and evaporation) 2.) Atmosphere (gas portion; shallow layer; protects against Sun's UV rays; gives air to breathe) 3.) Geosphere (solid part; Earth = chemical and physical properties) 4.) Biosphere (all life on Earth; helps life adapt to different environments)

Question 29

Earth System (definition)

Answer 29

dynamic system of interacting parts and processes

Question 30

Freshwater from hydrosphere

Answer 30

1.)Glaciers 2.)Groundwater 3.)All other freshwater

Question 31

Earth's layers

Answer 31

1.) core (iron/nickel) 2.) mantle (3 layers; solid lower, high-density rock mantle, and solid upper) 3.) crust (high and thin outer layer of Earth)

Question 32

Hydrologic cycle (definition)

Answer 32

subsystem (matter = repeatedly recycled) -precipitation (rain or snow) -transpiration (water vapor released by plants) -infiltration -groundwater -surface flow -evaporation -condensation (cloud formation)

Question 33

Planet Order Mneumonic

Answer 33

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)

Question 34

Planetesimal (definition)

Answer 34

solid celestial body; 1st stage of planetary formation

Question 35

Kuiper Belt (definition)

Answer 35

region outside of Neptune (origination of short-period comets)

Question 36

Oort Cloud (definition)

Answer 36

location of comets that orbit Sun (very far away from Sun)

Question 37

Meter vs. Meteroid

Answer 37

-Meteor: aka shooting star -Meteoroid: small solid particles; have orbits in solar system; orgin = comet remains

Question 38

Meteorites (definition)

Answer 38

irons, stony, or stony-irons; remains of meteoroids