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Astronomy Exam 2
N/A
51
Astronomy
Undergraduate 2
10/18/2011

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Cards

Term
Cause of Earth's Spherical Shape
Definition
Gravity
Term
Cause of Earth's Equatorial Bulge
Definition
Spin
Term
Cause of Earth's High Core Pressure
Definition
Gravity
Term
Why do we think Earth's core is iron?
Definition
Studying Earth's density and earthquakes.
Term
How to deduce details about the interior of Earth
Definition
Earthquakes
Term
Most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere
Definition
Nitrogen
Term
What breaks up methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and oxygen molecules to change the atmosphere?
Definition
UV
Term
Greenhouse Gases
Definition
CO2 and H20
Term
Greenhouse Effect
Definition
Trapping of heat due to the presence of CO2 and H20
Term
Where does Earth's internal heat come from?
Definition
From radioactivity and residual from Earth's formation
Term
What causes the tectonic plates to move?
Definition
Shifting of the semi molten mantle
Term
Structure of the interior of Earth
Definition
Crust, mantle, molten core, solid core
Term
Source of Earth's magnetic field
Definition
Iron core spinning
Term
Effects of Earth's magnetic field
Definition
Auroras, magnetism
Term
Estimated age of Earth
Definition
4.6 billion years
Term
Precession
Definition
Top-like rotation of Earth's axis over 26,000 years. Caused by the sun and moon acting on the equatorial bulge.
Term
Effects of Coriolis Force
Definition
Hurricanes, ocean tides, and jet stream
Term
What happened to the craters on Earth?
Definition
Erosion, tectonic activity
Term
Source of Lunar Regolith and Lunar Rays
Definition
Pulverized blanket of rock from meteor impacts
Term
Lunar Rilles
Definition
Long, narrow valleys/lava channels or stretch cracks
Term
How are craters formed?
Definition
Impact of meteors, space dust, etc.
Term
Why does the Moon lack an atmosphere and significant internal heat?
Definition
It's too small
Term
Long term effects of tidal braking
Definition
Earth slows (at a very slow rate), moon gets farther away and becomes tidally locked
Term
How were lunar maria formed?
Definition
Ancient volcanic eruptions
Term
What are the effects of the moon's day and month being equal?
Definition
The same side of the moon is always facing Earth.
Term
Tidally locked
Definition
The same side of the moon is always facing Earth
Term
Theory about origin of the moon
Definition
Impact from a Mars-sized object
Term
Does the moon have a magnetic field?
Definition
No because the core is no longer molten.
Term
Phases of the moon during Neap tides
Definition
1st and 3rd quarters
Term
Phases of the moon during Spring tides
Definition
New and full moon
Term
Phases of the moon during eclipses
Definition
Solar eclipse = new moon
Lunar eclipse = full moon
Term
Types of eclipses
Definition
Total solar (umbral), total lunar (umbral), partial solar (penumbral), partial lunar (penumbral)
Term
What time of year do eclipses occur?
Definition
During equinoxes
Term
Which side of the moon is thicker?
Definition
The far side because there are more maria on the near side.
Term
Moon's gravity
Definition
1/6 of Earth's
Term
Moon's mass
Definition
1/81 of Earth's mass
Term
Moon's radius
Definition
1/85 of Earth's
Term
Solar day
Definition
Time from 'noon' to 'noon.' Varies a little bit depending on the time of year.
Term
Mean Solar Day
Definition
Time for Earth to make one rotation with respect to the sun. A little bit longer than 24 hours.
Term
Sidereal Day
Definition
Time it takes Earth to make one rotation with respect to the stars. About 23.9 hours.
Term
International Date Line
Definition
Longitude line on the east side of which the date is one day earlier than on the west. 180 degrees.
Term
Prime Meridian
Definition
0 degree longitude line used as a reference line from which longitudes east and west are measured.
Term
Roman Calendar
Definition
Consisted of 10 months. (No July and August).
Term
Julian Calendar
Definition
Roman calendar with July and August added by Julius Caesar. Also had a leap year every fourth year.
Term
Gregorian Calendar
Definition
Calendar we use today. Leap year every year that's divisible by 4 and 400. No leap year when it's divisible by 100.
Term
Julian Date System
Definition
Number of days since 4713 BC
Term
Why are leap days added?
Definition
So the calendar won't drift from the seasons (winter happens during the same months every year).
Term
How many days are in a Gregorian year?
Definition
Average of 365.25
Term
What culture is the source of our 24 hour day?
Definition
Egyptians
Term
What culture originated division of time into 60 parts?
Definition
Babylonians
Term
To which city in England are astronomical times referred?
Definition
Greenwich.
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