Term
| What aspects of the SS tell us how it was formed? |
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Definition
| Its flattened plain shows us how it was formed by a rotating gas cloud. |
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Term
| What are the basic types of planents in out SS? |
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Definition
| Small rocky Terrestrail planets and big gassy Jovian |
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Term
| Why are there different types of planents in out SS? |
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Definition
| becuase of how far out the panents were formed the inner Closely spaced (terrestrial) planets were formed in high temperatures where only rock and metal could condense. THe widely spaced Jovian planets formed futher out, having bigger cores, were formed in cold temperatures, allowing ices to condense and draw in hydrogen and helium gas. |
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Term
| What do asteroids and comets have to do with planets? |
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Definition
| They are leftovers from the formation of planets and they rotate like planets. |
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Term
| Where else in our SS do we think there might be life? |
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Definition
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Term
| Are thre other planetary systems besides ours? |
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Definition
| There have been detections of systems with plaents around other stars. |
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Term
| Have we found evidence of life beyond earth? |
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Definition
| No but controversial claims that there were martians in Antarctica. |
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Term
| Why are some planets/moons geologically active and others dead? |
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Definition
It's a matter of how quickly you lose the heat you have. The bigger the better it maintains heat. smaller bodies become geologically dead faster
(however there are moons much smaller than ours but are geographically active) |
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Term
| Is our sun an unusual or typical star? |
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Definition
| its pretty typical not extreamly luminous |
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Term
| What is the evidence for climate change on earth? |
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Definition
| 2010 tied for warmest year on Earth. Sea level rise, global temp rise, waming oceans, ocean acidificiation, melting ice, glacier rereating |
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Term
Do all the planets revolve around sun in same direction?
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Definition
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Term
Do all planets rotate about themselves in the same direction?
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Definition
| No some rotate backwards. |
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Term
What aspects of SS suggest that it formed from a rotating gas cloud?
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Definition
The fact that all planets are in a flat plain orbiting in same direction.
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Term
Earths surface is unique among the planets b/c?
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Definition
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Term
| How do we know Earth used to be fully molte ? |
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Definition
| It's differentiated so all the layers settle in the middle. |
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Term
Our atmosphere is unique b/c?? |
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Definition
| byproducts of biological out casting. |
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Term
What two molecules make up most of our atmosphere? |
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Definition
| Nitrogen and oxygen (more nitrogen) |
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Term
of nitrogen where did come from? |
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Definition
Volcanoes and animal decay.
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Term
Volcanoes on mars are so huge compared to earth b/c: |
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Definition
low gravity and no continental drift.
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Term
Mars atmosphere to earths-
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Definition
| much thinner and less dense |
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Term
True about Mar’s atmosphere:
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Definition
| likely that running water has been there recently. |
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Term
Which terrestrial plan has water frozen in permafrost? |
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Definition
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Term
Jupiter is mostly made of: |
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Definition
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Term
What is great red spot on Jupiter? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
The amount of methane absorbs red light, reflecting only blue light
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Term
| Neptune’s closest twin is: |
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Definition
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Term
Io so volcanically active b/c:
|
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Definition
| it’s squeezed and heated by tidal forces from Jupiter. |
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Term
On what moons are oceans of liquid water thought to be beneath surface? |
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Definition
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Term
Why haven’t Saturn’s rings collected into single moon? |
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Definition
Accumulation would be torn apart form tidal forces.
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Leftover terrestrial planet building blocks |
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Term
| At given temperature which atom moves fastest? |
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Definition
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Term
| why is the moon geologically dead compared to earth? |
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Definition
| its smaller so loses internal heat faster |
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Term
| the moon lacks an atmosphere becuase.... |
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Definition
| its too hot and its gravity is too small to keep an atmosphere - hot on one side not the other |
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Term
| why does the moon have many more impact crateres than the earth- |
|
Definition
| the moon has much less erosion than the earth |
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Term
what is easy way to tell which areas of the moon are younget than others- |
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Definition
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Term
| the atmosphere of venus is hot and dense as an example of... |
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Definition
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Term
| why are some volcanos on mars so huge compared to earth? |
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Definition
mas has weaker gravity and no contintal drift
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Term
| mars atompshere compared to eath is... |
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Definition
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Term
| Earth has a molten core that we're having a charge shows solid-no magnetic field |
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Definition
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Term
| Jovian-fluid - far more magnetic field |
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Definition
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|
Term
| Marsoffers widest range of appearance of any planet closest to us. range (.5) |
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Definition
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Term
| Mars: planets of same temp but with 100 times less density you feel cold b/c you have less energy |
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Definition
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|
Term
What are the most basic and obvious features of our Solar System?
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Definition
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|
Term
| How many planets are there in our Solar System? |
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Definition
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Term
| What aspect(s) of our Solar System tell us how it was formed? |
|
Definition
| How it was a flattened plain shows us how it was formed by a rotating gas cloud. |
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Term
| What are the most obvious features of the distribution and motions of our Solar System planets? |
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Definition
Sun has 99.9% of mass in Solar System, Planet orbits lie in planes, Planets revolve & rotate (mostly) in same sense.
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Term
How and why does the composition of the "gas giants" differ from that of the "ice giants"? |
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Definition
the gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn) are made up of H and He. Ices are made up of water(h2o) ammonia(NH3), and methane(CH4), much bigger planet cores can develop.
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Term
| Why are planets differentiated (layered)? |
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Definition
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Term
What processes shape the surfaces of terrestrial planets? |
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Definition
Gas being hotter closer to the forming sun, rocks and metals. (volcanoes, tectonics, erosion, cratering)
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Term
What are the most important internal sources of heat in terrestrial planets? |
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Definition
1)accretion (at formation), 2)gravitational compression (at formation), 3)gravitational settling (differentiation) , 4)radioactivity
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Term
What determines how readily planets lose their heat? |
|
Definition
The size, bigger=maintain heat longer.
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Term
Where do terrestrial planets get their atmospheres?
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Definition
From gases released from their interiors |
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Term
Which terrestrial planets are known to have active volcanoes? |
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Definition
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|
Term
Which terrestrial planets have evidence of liquid water, in the past or present? |
|
Definition
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|
Term
How can there be moons as small as our Moon and Mercury with atmospheres? |
|
Definition
B/c it is further away from the sun *************
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Term
Which planets have ongoing volcanic activity?
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Definition
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|
Term
Which moons have atmospheres? |
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Definition
Saturn's largest moon Titan, thicker atmosphere than ours. (dense nitrogen and methane), and
Neptune's largest moon Triton, wispy (tenuous nitrogen and methane).
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Term
| What generates magnetic fields in planets? |
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Definition
| Charged particles from space |
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Term
How is Earth's surface unique among the planets? |
|
Definition
| Broken into sliding plates, 70% water |
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|
Term
Why is the Earth geologically active? |
|
Definition
| It is big so it maintains its heat |
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|
Term
When were Earth's continents last combined into one? |
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Definition
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|
Term
How do we know the Earth used to be fully molten? |
|
Definition
| B/c it is differentiated in layers. It had so much heat built up. The fact that temp moved to the center. (its continuing to lose its heat now but was once so hot that it melted) |
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Term
What is particularly unique about the Earth's atmosphere? |
|
Definition
| Biproducts of biological out casting / breathing and decay |
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Term
What two molecules make up most of the Earth's atmosphere and where do they come from? |
|
Definition
| Nitrogen volcanic burps) and Oxygen(plant breath). |
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Term
What is the main source of heat for the Earth's atmosphere? |
|
Definition
THE SUN indirect is -- Accretion (at formation), gravitational compression(at formation), gravitational settling(differentiation), and Radio activity.
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Term
Where and why does the Earth's atmosphere absorb light (heat) from the Sun? |
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Definition
| *****Ionosphere, magnetic field traps charged particles from space(aurora) The earth’s magnetosphere absorbs light(heat) from sun. Convections is where it is absorbed. Greenhouse gases absorb?? |
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|
Term
What are some examples of greenhouse gases?
|
|
Definition
| carbon dioxide (CO2) water vapor (H2O)methane (CH4) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) |
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Term
What gas is most responsible for increasing our global warming? |
|
Definition
| CARBON DIOXIDE Methane (Syberian tundra melting) |
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|
Term
Where is the bulk of the carbon dioxide on the Earth's surface? |
|
Definition
| In rocks on seafloor(the new carbon dioxide that we omit into the atmosphere is the prob not recycled |
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Term
Could the Earth's atmosphere ever get as thick and hot as Venus'? |
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Definition
| Yes if all the carbon dioxide was released in our atmosphere. It would be much less dense and MUCH hotter |
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|
Term
How does the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere protect us? |
|
Definition
| It absorbs UV from the sun |
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|
Term
What has been destroying the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere? |
|
Definition
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|
Term
What drives the Earth's weather?
|
|
Definition
| The sun (solar energy, light) |
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Term
Why do Mercury and the Moon have virtually no atmospheres?
|
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Definition
| Gravity too weak for how hot it is (also small, not much ability to maintain heat) It is geographically dead. |
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Term
Why does the Moon have many more impact craters than the Earth? |
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Definition
| It was blasted by a giant impact. |
|
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Term
Is there any erosion on the Moon? |
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Definition
| Micrometeorites are the ONLY source of erosion on the moon. |
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|
Term
How did the Earth-Moon system form? Why do we think so? |
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Definition
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|
Term
What are the dark patches on the Moon?
|
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Definition
| Made up of smaller circular patches that are associated with giant craters. (blasted by craters then billion years later filled up with lava, the spots) |
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Term
How do we estimate the ages of various parts of the Moon's surface? |
|
Definition
| By studying lunar craters. |
|
|
Term
| biggest difference between moon and earth |
|
Definition
Earth is active, moon is almost geographically dead |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| moons density is like our own crust, no dark side of moon, it is somewhat differentiated |
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Term
Why is the atmosphere of Venus so hot? |
|
Definition
| B/c it is made up of mostly Carbon Dioxide with a runaway greenhouse effect. |
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|
Term
The atmospheres of Mars and Venus are mostly made of what greenhouse gas? |
|
Definition
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|
Term
Why do we think Venus rotates backwards compared to most of the other planets? |
|
Definition
| all of the planets are turning in a counter-clockwise direction. Except Venus. It's rotating in a clockwise direction. Venus rotates very slowly. While a day on Earth takes just 24 hours to complete, a day on Venus is 243 of our Earth days |
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Term
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Definition
| B/c it is rusty covered in iron oxide. |
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Term
Have we found running water on Mars? |
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Definition
| We think there is occasional liquid water but doesn’t last long. |
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Term
Why do we think Mars used to have substantial amounts liquid water on its surface? |
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Definition
Pools of liquid water in the northern hemisphere. Pictures of sand dunes that have disappeared leading to thinking occasional liquid water. Clouds are made of water ice. We can see ice caps covered by dust.
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|
Term
Where is most of the water on Mars now? |
|
Definition
| Permafrost (frozen seas, glaciers), and polar caps(water ice below, carbon dioxide ice on top) |
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Term
What has happened to Mars' atmosphere over time? |
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Definition
| It has thinned. (less dense) thought that it use to be able to keep liquid water but not anymore. It use to be warmer. Atmosphere leaked away(no magnetic shielding and weak grav.) |
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Term
Are there active volcanoes on Mars? . |
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Definition
| No, none have proven active |
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Term
Why are the volcanoes on Mars so huge compared to Mars' size? |
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Definition
| B/c, Mars has weak gravity so structures can be taller and also there is no continental drift so hotspots may have stayed in particular spots under the surface and built up huge volcanoes. |
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Term
How substantial is the atmosphere of Mars? Why? |
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Definition
| Liquid water cant survive very long b/c of the thin atmosphere. Things freeze on surface and dust storms. |
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Term
What are the Jovian planets mostly made of? How are they structured? |
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Definition
| Density’s very similar to stars (less dense than us) |
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Term
How does the composition of Jupiter and Saturn differ from Uranus and Neptune? |
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Definition
| Jupiter and Saturn is made up of H,HE, NH3(hydrogen gases) made of metallic hydrogen while Neptune and Uranus are most made of ices, water(h20), methan(NH3), and methane(CH4)(rock metal and ices) |
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Term
What causes the banding in Jupiter's and Saturn's atmospheres? |
|
Definition
Motions are being kicked off by coming from below,. Mainly b/c the fast rotation. convection
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Term
Why is Jupiter's magnetic field so strong? |
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Definition
| B/c it has circulating electronic charges. The layer of metallic hydrogen inside Jupiter creates the very strong magnetic field observed around Jupiter. |
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Term
Jupiter's moon Io is smaller than our Moon. How then can Io be so volcanically active? |
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Definition
| There is is differential gravity from Jupiter that squeezes and heats it. They’re being worked on from host planets. |
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Term
Why are some of the icy Jovian moons so geologically active? |
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Definition
| Because the Johavians planets have more mass that produce tital heating replacing lost heat of the smaller moons. |
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Term
Where do the rings of Jovian planets come from? |
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Definition
| Dust from moons and volcanic explosions from Io |
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|
Term
Why haven't Saturn's rings collected into a single moon? |
|
Definition
| Accumulation would be torn apart form tidal forces. |
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|
Term
What are Uranus and Neptune mostly made of? |
|
Definition
| Mostly ices-water (h20),ammonia(NH3), Methane(CH4) |
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|
Term
Why are Uranus and Neptune blue? |
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Definition
|
|
Term
What was the Great Dark Spot of Neptune?
|
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Definition
| Large regions of high altitude clouds swirling around. Disappeared in the 90’s. |
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Term
Jupiter 10 times bigger than us and has 1000 times our volume, and 300 times our mass. Way less dense. Interior: hydrogen of various flavors. Hydrogen acts as a metal. As you dig deeper it gets denser and denser. The core is a rocky, metallic, icy core. Same compesition of a star but doesn’t have fusion reactions, it needs to be larger 70% the mass to have fusion reactions. |
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Definition
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|
Term
*Uranus visible to naked eye but Neptune not.
and rotates backwards |
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Definition
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|
Term
| stars twinkle, planets dont |
|
Definition
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|
Term
Amount of moons Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune have |
|
Definition
| Jupiter has 4 big, Saturn has 1, Neptune has 1……… |
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Term
4 Galilean Moons - Closest to furthest , they have trend similar to solary system themselves.
Inner rocky, outer icy. |
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Definition
- Io(volcanic),
- Europa(oceans of liquid water),
- Ganymede(icy,craters, measurable magnetic fields inner oceans but deep),
- Callisto(icy, craters, measurable magnetic fields, inner oceans but deep).
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Term
Saturn’s important moons. |
|
Definition
- Titan(very thick atmosphere, thicker than ours) largest moon on Saturn.
- Enceladus-most shiny thing in solar system.
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Term
|
Definition
Neptune’s Triton-largest on Neptune has atmosphere that’s wispy. and rotates backwards. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Jupiter's volcanically active moon Io (tenuous sulfur dioxide), Jupiter's ice-coated moon Europa (tenuous oxygen) |
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Term
How does Pluto differ from Terrestrial and Jovian planets? |
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Definition
So small, the density is neither rocky/icy like others(its both), the atmosphere is most eccentric and has an elliptical orbit tilted 17 degrees. |
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Term
Why was Pluto demoted from planet hood? |
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Definition
| The discovery of Eris further out. |
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Term
What are asteroids and where are they? |
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Definition
Leftover terrestrial planetestimals (inner ,rocky) from solar system formation. They are in a thick belt between Mars and Jupiter/ Icy like Johovian moon.
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Term
Why is there an asteroid belt where it is? |
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Definition
| The asteroid belt is in a place where the asteroids can maintain long-term stable orbits without being chaotically perturbed by the current planets. It’s Between Mars and Jupiter. |
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Term
Why are large asteroids spherical and smaller asteroids irregularly shaped? |
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Definition
| Smaller asteroids lack the mass to deform their materials into balls and are therefore have irregular shape. Bigger ones have more gravity to pull into a spherical shape. |
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Term
What are comets and where are they? |
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Definition
| Small objects that orbit the sun and are made largely out of ices mixed with rock. They are located in the Kuiper Belt or an area called the Oort cloud. |
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Term
What are Kuiper belt objects? |
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Definition
| Icy objects(mostly comets) within the area known as the Kuiper belt |
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Term
Have we found other planetary systems? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
How do we search for other planetary systems? |
|
Definition
| indirectly, looking for wobbling stars |
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|
Term
Have we directly observed any planets around other stars? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
How do extrasolar planets compare to the planets in our own Solar System? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
before kepler, most planets found were massive like Jupiter and closer to their stars |
|
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Term
|
Definition
- comet tail can be the largest things in a solar system, basically like dirty snowballs
- smooth comet tail has dust kicked back by sunlight
- patchy comet tail has fried ions released by the comet head
- 2 types of comets: oort cloud and Kuiper belt
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|
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Term
|
Definition
| leftover Jovian planet building blocks |
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|
Term
when a comet is close enough to the sun to have a tail, the tail... |
|
Definition
| always points away from the sun |
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|
Term
what causes meteor showers?
|
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Definition
| the earth passing thru dust trails left behind by comets |
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|
Term
full moon is 8 times more bright as the 1st quarter |
|
Definition
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