Physics space Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is the natural satellite that orbits the Earth?
The Moon.
Name the planets that are visible to the naked eye.
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
What is a galaxy?
A galaxy is a collection of stars, and there are billions of them in the Universe.
Describe the difference between a comet and a meteor.
A comet is a ball of ice and dust that orbits the Sun. A meteor is a bit of dust or rock that burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
How many planets are in the Solar System?
Eight planets.
List the planets in size order, starting with the smallest.
Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter.
What is the asteroid belt?
A region of space between Mars and Jupiter where many small rocky bodies are found.
What are the inner and outer planets?
Inner: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
Outer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
What is the mnemonic to remember the planets?
My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets.
How does the Earth spin?
The Earth spins on its axis.
In which direction does the Sun rise?
The Sun rises in the east.
Why does Earth have day and night?
Because it spins on its axis every 24 hours.
What causes the seasons?
The tilt of the Earth’s axis as it orbits the Sun.
List the phases of the Moon in order, starting with a full moon.
Full, gibbous, third quarter, crescent, new, crescent, first quarter, gibbous.
What is the far side of the Moon?
The side of the Moon that you never see from Earth.
Why do we see eclipses?
When the Moon or Earth blocks the Sun’s light.
What is the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks the Sun’s light. A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth blocks the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon.
What is the umbra?
The deep shadow that produces a total solar eclipse.
What is the penumbra?
The lighter shadow where only part of the Sun is blocked, causing a partial solar eclipse.
