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9S1 Science > Space & Beyond > Flashcards

Space & Beyond Flashcards

(63 cards)

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1
Q

What is retrograde motion is?

A

Apparent backward movement of a planet in its orbit. (optical illusion because different orbital speeds e.g. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto)

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2
Q

Geocentric model?

A

Ptolemy 150 CE Earth is assumed to be center of the universe and other objects go around it

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3
Q

Heliocentric model ?

A

Nicolas Copernicus 15C suggested sun is the centre of the solar system instead of earth and planets orbit the sun

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4
Q

Describe how ideas about solar system changed

A

Nicolas Copernicus 1473-1543: Earth and all planets orbited the sun (heliocentric)
Giordano Bruno 1548 - 1600: Life may exist in other places in the universe
Galileo Galilei 1564 - 1642: Telescope improvement discovered 4 moons around Jupiter proving heliocentric model
Johannes Kepler 1571 - 1630: God created the universe, law of planetary motion describing planets orbiting the sun

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5
Q

What are the laws of gravity (Bhaskaracharya and Newton)

A

Bhaskaracharya first law 11th century
spherical earth is in middle of earth and all objects fall to the ground because of earth’s force of attraction.

Newton stated moon orbits earth and earth orbits the sun. The earth exerts a pull on the moon i.e. gravitational pull.

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6
Q

What is gravity?

A

Objects stay on earth because of the gravitational pull.

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7
Q

Planets of solar system

A

mercury
venus
earth
mars
jupiter
saturn
uranus
neptune

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming (Planets -although Pluto is no longer)

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8
Q

What is in our solar system?

A

Sun,
4 inner planets
4 outer planets
All planets orbit the sun
An asteroid belt

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9
Q

What are the 4 inner planets?

A

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars = terrestrial planets (rock) MVEM

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10
Q

What are terrestrial planets?

A

Planets made of rock

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11
Q

What are the 4 outer planets?

A

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune = gasous planets JSUN
Hydogen, Helium

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12
Q

Why do planets seem to wander across the sky?

A

Eclipse orbit (not quite round)… also appearance of retrograde motion

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13
Q

What is link between sun and temperature of planets?

A

Temperature decreases the further away from sun except Venus as it is very cloudy and has a dense atmosphere which likens to a greenhouse effect.

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14
Q

What is a moon?

A

A body that orbits a planet.
Earth has one; Jupiter has 4.

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15
Q

What is a satellite?

A

Objects that orbit around another body in space

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16
Q

What is an asteroid?

A

Small rocky objects that orbit the sun.
Most (600,000) found belt between mars and jupiter

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17
Q

What is a dwarf planet?

A

A celestial body resembling a small planet but lacks certain criteria e.g pluto
Celestial means relating to sky

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18
Q

How do you demonstrate earth is spinning?

A

Earth spins on its axis.
Take a photo over a long time, the stars appear to move in circles.
This shows Earth is spinning.

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19
Q

What is a comet?

A

Lump of frozen gas, rock and dust that orbits the sun.
Comet tail points away from sun because of sun’s radiation pressure.

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20
Q

Why is it hotter in summer and colder in the winter?

A

The earth axis is at a tilt 23.4 degrees, therefore sun’s rays spread over a smaller area and days are longer

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21
Q

Why is a shadow of a fence post shorter at noon in summer on the equator than noon in summer in UK

A

Earth is tilted at 23.4 degrees.
Sun is highest in the sky at noon as there is less tllt at equator, therefore shadow is shorter

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22
Q

What is a planetary system?

A

A star and all objects that orbit it.

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23
Q

What is a galaxy?

A

Huge collection of stars and their solar system.
Our solar system is a small part of the Milky Way Galaxy.

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24
Q

What are the phases of the moon shapes?

A

New moon (full) - crescent shape - full moon

The moon takes 29 1/2 days to orbit the Earth
Half of the moon is lit up by sun at all times. it’s orbit is slightly tilted.

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25
How much of the moon's surface is lit up by the sun during a new moon?
We see none but always half
26
Lifecycle of Large star (<~ sun) ?
Nebula Protostar -> Main sequence -> Red Giant-> White dwarf -> Black Dwarf
27
Lifecycle of stars bigger than sun?
Protostar -> Main sequence -> Red Super Giant -> Supernova -> Black hole / Neutron Star
28
What is a Protostar?
Gases (hydrogen and helium) and dust start to pull together because of gravity
29
What is nebula?
Gases
30
What is the main sequence star?
The hydrogen nuclei start to fuse to together to make helium when it is hot enough i.e. H + H = He + neutron This makes enough radiation and gas pressure to balance gravitational forces. This phase can last 100,000 years or 1 millions years in massive star. It is a stable / longest phase. The stars start to sine. 1. Gravitational attraction collapses star (pulls together) 2. Radiation pressure from fusion expands the star 3. Forces between both above are balanced The sun is main sequence star for billions of years.
31
What is a RED GIANT star?
Hydrogen begins to be used up. Helium starts to fuse into larger elements. This increases gas and radiation pressure. The star expands and as it cools turns red.
32
What is a White Dwarf?
Helium begins to be used up and reactions slow down/Nuclear fusion stops / no more radiation is released. A small star like the sun begins to contract under pull of gravity.
33
What is a Black Dwarf?
A white dwarf that has become cold.
34
What is a nebula?
Star forms from massive clouds of gases and dust.
35
What is a supernova?
A large star with more mass will continue nuclear reactions, getting hotter and expanding until it explodes.
36
What is a neutron star / black hole ?
The explosion compresses star into a proton star. Dependent on star's mass at start of life, a Supernova will either leave a neutron star or black hole. Gravitation field in black hole is so strong nothing can escape, not even light.
37
At start of universe, the Big Bang, only Hydrogen elements existed.. Now the Universe has >100 element. Question: Explain how atoms of Helium (He) element form a star ?
During the majority of the star's lifetime, the hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form a helium nuclei. this process is called nuclear fusion. This process release energy heating the star and preventing it to collapse under gravity (it is the balanced phase i.e. main sequence)
38
Explain how very heavy atoms e.g. gold (AU) were formed?
All naturally occuring elements apart from hydrogen have been formed by nuclear fusion in stars. Heavy elements are formed in supernova explosions of high mass stars. When a supernova explodes, all elements are thrown out into the universe.
39
Explain how and when atoms of different elements may be distributed throughout the universe
Supernova make elements but also distribute elements. Elements inside the star as well as elements from supernova explosions are spread out
40
What is the Big Bang theory?
The origin of the universe - All matter in the universe was concentrated into a single tiny point which began to enlarge quickly in a hot explosion (the big bang).
41
Describe start of the universe?
13.8 billion years all matter was concentrated into a tiny point. A tiny fireball of infinite density (singularity) exploded. Intense heat and light flew out in all directions Universe expanded rapidly. 300,000 years later temperatures reduced enough for atoms (protons, neutrons and electrons) to form. Hydrogen and helium gas were formed Several billion years later, matter began to contract creating stars and galaxies. Our galaxy 'Milky Way' was formed 10,000 million years ago. Solar system formed. Life first appeared on earth.
42
How does Edwin Hubble's 1929 theory support the beginning of the Universe ?
Discovered that the universe is constantly expanding . Galaxies are continuously moving from each other and the Earth. The further way the galaxies are, the faster they are moving (known as red shift).
43
What is the name given to Edwin Hubbles observation that light from galaxies move away from earth have longer wavelengths than expected?
Red Shift or The Doppler Effect
44
What is one strength and one weakness in using a balloon to model the expanding universe?
Strength: Good visual representation of expanding space Weakness: Implies there is only one expansion point. This is not the case as expansion occurs in all directions.
45
How does a refracting telescope work?
Refraction - light changes speed when hitting different substances, changing direction. Light enters through the aperture and is passed through the objective lens, undergoing refraction. This focuses light into a point in the optical tub. A second lens is then used to focus the image for viewing. Tube Eye Piece Lens Eyepiece focal length (shorter) Focus - image formed Objective focal length (longer) Objective Lens Parralel rays from object e.g. light
46
Major problem with refracting telescope?
Image may be distorted
47
Describe one similarity and one difference between reflecting and refracting telescopes?
Similarity - focus light to form an image Difference - refracting uses lenses to bend light and reflecting uses mirrors to reflect light
48
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) vs Kepler space observatory
HST general telescope for wider astronomical observations Kepler specifically designed to search exo planets (planet outside our solar system), via focussing on dimming of stars caused by planets moving over stars.
49
How do astronomers search for life on other planets?
Life on other planets dependent on how many stars have solar systems Do any planets have the right temperature Has life developed on any of the planets
50
What does SETI stand for?
Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence
51
What are the required conditions for a habitable zone?
Suitable temperature Liquid water Oxygen
52
What factors determine if life exists in the Milky Way?
Life forms try to communicate with us We can detect their communication When life forms on other planets they try to communicate with us
53
How do astronomers try to communicate with other possible life forms?
Message on aluminium plates Radio transmissions to star constellations Videotape of Earth and video recording of sounds Radio telescope to search for radio signals
54
Why is likely there is life in other places in the Universe?
Exoplanets have been found around lots of stars. There could be millions/billions of Earth-like planet in Milky Way alone
55
2 techniques astronomers use to search for extra-terrestrial life?
Mathematical models - equation showing how many planets are likely to have life on them Radio Telescopes - to detect other electromagnetic waves
56
Why light and radio signals are useful when communicating across the Milky way?
Radio waves let us send and receive information over long distances Light travels faster than any other means of communication
57
How can you get a satellite into orbit?
Launch a satellite by a rocket to carry it from earth into atmosphere. Once rocket reaches its specific location it will drop the satellite into orbit.
58
What forces act on rocket as it takes off?
Thrust pushes rocket upwards (gases are pushed down); 2. Weight is the force due to gravity pulling earth down towards Earth. 3. Lift and 4. Drag
59
What forces keep satellite in orbit?
Gravitational force that Earth pulls on satellites. 2. Centrifugal force is power that satellites tend to move away from earth.
60
Names 3 types of satellite orbits?
Geostationary orbit (GEO) Low polar orbit Low earth orbit (LEO)
61
What is a geostationary satellite (GEO)?
Orbits earth at a specific altitude (36,000km), east to west, directly above equator. appears stationary as it matches earth's rotation Good for telecommunication
62
What is a LEO satellite?
Low Earth Orbit Satellite Orbits much lower than GEO at (500-2000 km above earth Continues to orbit the planet Good for internet services
63
What is a low polar satellite?
Obits earth at 200-1000km in north/south direction passing over both poles Good for entire earth observation, high resolution images of earth, weather monitoring

9S1 Science (5 decks)

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