Sophie Hanscom #2 Flashcards
(20 cards)
Cosmology
A branch of astronomy that studies the development and origin of the universe.
Universe
Everything that is included in space and time; stars, galaxies, planets, and all other types of energy and matter.
Big Bang Theory
A theory stating that the universe started as a small, singular particle that then exploded and inflated to become it’s current state.
Emission Spectrum
A spectrum of a source’s electromagnetic radiation.
Spectrometer
A system that records and measures spectra, usually for analysis.
Wavelength
The distance between crests of a wave, like points in a sound or electromagnetic wave.
Frequency
The number of times a repeating event occurs within an individual unit of time.
Matter
Any physical substance that takes up space and has a rest mass– NOT mind/spirit/energy.
Gravity
The force that a planet or other body uses to draw objects towards the center, which keeps the planets orbiting the Sun.
Expansion
The process of growing larger or more expansive.
Contraction
The act of becoming smaller.
Galaxy
Millions or billions of stars, gas, and dust that are held together by gravity.
Interstellar Cloud
A buildup of gas, plasma, and dust throughout our galaxy and other galaxies.
Red Shift
Electromagnetic radiation coming from an object experiences an increase in wavelength.
Blue Shift
A decrease in wavelength in the electromagnetic radiation from an object– the opposite of a red shift.
Doppler Effect
An increase or decrease in sound, light, and other wave type’s frequencies as the observer and source move further apart or closer together.
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
Every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with a force that’s proportional to the product of their masses and the square of the space between the two centers.
Plasma
Hot ionized gas that has around equal numbers of positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons considered a fourth state of matter.
Solar System
Eight planets and their moons that orbit around the sun alongside asteroids, meteors, comets, etc.
Absorption Spectrum
A spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is transferred through a substance and that shows lines or bands from specific wavelengths being absorbed.
