Astronomy Unit (Geosystems) – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Wavelength
answer
The distance between successive crests of a wave
question
Frequency
answer
The number of waves that pass by per second (hertz)
question
Electromagnetic Spectrum
answer
The continuum of three electrical magnetic waves that transfer energy
question
Red shift
answer
A Doppler shift towards lower frequency (longer wavelength)
question
Blue shift
answer
A Doppler shift towards a higher frequency (shorter wavelength)
question
Big Bang
answer
The universe began with an explosion creating matter, space, and time
question
Evidence for the Big Bang
answer
1)1929 Edwin Hubble:all galaxies are moving away from each other 2)Hydrogen and Helium levels in the universe are 75% hydrogen and 25% helium and satisfy calculations 3) Cosmic Radiation: afterglow of the Big Bang
question
Spectroscope
answer
An optical device for producing and observing a spectrum of light or any radiation
question
Emission spectrum
answer
The spectrum of frequency of electromagnetic radiation emitted due to an atom or molecule making a transformation (high frequency to low frequency)
question
Fusion
answer
The process of joining two or more things together to form a single entity
question
Main Sequence
answer
Series of start types to which most stars belong to (Hertzsprung-Rustell diagram)
question
Red Giant
answer
Very large star of high luminosity and low surface temperature (Fusion: He->C)
question
White Dwarf
answer
A small very dense star that is typically the size of earth
question
Nebula
answer
A cloud of gas and dust in space (first stage)
question
Supernova
answer
A star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of it's mass
question
Neutron Star
answer
A celestial object of very small radius and very high density composed mostly of closely packed neutrons
question
Pulsar
answer
A celestial object thought to be a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits regular pulses of radio waves
question
Black hole
answer
a region of spaces having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape
question
Constellations
answer
A group of stars forming a recognizable patter that is traditionally named after it's shape
question
Hubble Space Telescope
answer
A space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation
question
Evolution of an average star (our sun)
answer
1)Nebula (gas and dust) 2)Protostar (no fusion) 3) Main Sequence (Fusion 4H-> 1He) 4) Red Giant (Fusion He-> C) 5) White Dwarf 6) Brown Dwarf
question
Evolution of a Large mass star
answer
1)Nebula (gas and dust) 2) Protostar (no fusion) 3) Super Blue Giant (Fusion H-> He) 4) Super Red Giant(Fusion He->C->elements-> Fe) 5) Supernova 6) Neutron Star OR Black hole
question
Circumpolar Constellations
answer
Visible all year (Ex:Ursa Major)
question
Zodiac Constellations
answer
Constellations that lie in the ecliptic
question
Ecliptic
answer
The path of the sun across the sky
question
Right Ascension
answer
Altitude
question
Azimuth
answer
Declination
question
North Pole
answer
Zenith
question
South Pole
answer
Nadir
question
3 Main types of Galaxies
answer
1) Spiral (Milky Way) 2) Elliptical 3) Irregular
question
3.26 light years
answer
1 parsec
question
Any object that is 300 light years or less is measured with
answer
Parsecs
question
Stars are
answer
Huge spheres of glowing gas
question
What is the chemical composition of most stars
answer
Hydrogen and helium
question
How do stars generate their light and heat energy
answer
By fusion (2H-> 1He)
question
What are four characteristics that astronomers use to classify stars
answer
Color, temperature, size, and brightness
question
What reveals a star's surface temperature?
answer
It's color
question
Stars that are much larger than the sun are called
answer
Giants and supergiants
question
Apparent Brightness
answer
Brightness as seem from earth
question
Absolute brightness
answer
The brightness the star would have if all stars were the same distance from earth
question
What two things do astronomers use to calculate Absolute brightness
answer
Apparent brightness and distance
question
A light year is the same as 9.5 million million kilometers
answer
...
question
Three types of spectrums
answer
Continuos Spectrum, Omission Spectrum, Absorption Spectrum
question
Prism (spectroscope)
answer
Separates white light into wavelengths
question
Solar Wind
answer
Pressure of flow of charged particles from the sun
question
Plasma
answer
atoms stripped of their electrons
question
Photosphere
answer
Light we see
question
Solar Flare
answer
Mass ejection
question
Chromosphere
answer
Sun's atmosphere
question
Convective Zone
answer
Boiling
question
Corona
answer
Outer most part of sun
question
Fusion at sun's core
answer
Oh-> He
question
Sun spots
answer
Spots on sun's surface
question
Solar prominence
answer
Loop of gas from sun
question
Sun
answer
1) sunspots 2)solar prominence 3) solar flare
question
The earth ___ on it's axis
answer
Rotates
question
The earth ___ around the sun
answer
Revolves
question
One rotation of the earth makes
answer
24 hours (a day)
question
One revolution of the earth around the sun equals
answer
365 days (a year)
question
March 21
answer
Spring Equinox
question
December 21
answer
Winter Solstice
question
September 23
answer
Autumnal Equinox
question
June 21
answer
Summer Solstice
question
First phase
answer
New Moon
question
Second phase of moon
answer
Crescent moon (four days old)
question
Third Phase of moon
answer
First Quarter (7 days old)
question
Fourth phase of moon
answer
Gibbous moon (10 days old)
question
Fifth phase of moon
answer
Full moon (14 days old)
question
Sixth phase of moon
answer
Gibbous Moon (18 days old)
question
Seventh phase of moon
answer
Last quarter (21 days old)
question
Eighth phase of moon
answer
Crescent moon (25 days old)
