Shared Flashcard Set

Details

ISP205
Exam 2
55
Astronomy
Undergraduate 1
02/27/2011

Additional Astronomy Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
The sun is __% of the total mass of the solar system.
Definition
99.8%
Term
The planets all orbit the sun in the ______ direction.
Definition
Same
Term
The orbits of the planets (excluding ______) all lie in a thin plane.
Definition
Pluto
Term
Pluto's orbit is drastically _____ relatie to the planets' orbits.
Definition
Tilted
Term
Venus' rotation differs because
Definition
Retrograde motion, very slowly
Term
Uranus' rotation differs because
Definition
It is tipped on it's side
Term
Giant molecular clouds are made of dense concentrations of __, __, ____ and ____.
(Star Formation)
Definition
H2, CO, dust, other molecules
Term
A collapsing gas cloud forms a _____ ______.
Definition
Spinning disc
Term
Collisions of atoms convert kinetic energy to ____.
Definition
Light
Term
Light carries away ____, nebula gets _____, contracts because of ______.
Definition
Energy, cooler, gravity
Term
Angular momentum cannot collapse in direction ______ to spin axis disk.
Definition
Perpendicular
Term
The terrestrial planets include
Definition
Mercury, Venus, Erath, Mars
Term
The giant (Jovial) planets include
Definition
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Term
Terrestrial planets are small and rocky and are made of _____, _____, _____, etc.
Definition
Silicon, oxygen, iron
Term
Giant (Jovian) planets are large, primarily gas, ice, and liquid, and are made of _____ and _____.
Definition
Hydrogen and helium
Term
The solar system is mostly ____ and ____.
Definition
Hydrogen (75%) and Helium (23%)
Term
The composition of the Jovial planets are
Definition
Ice and rock at the core, helium gas and hydrogen on top
Term
Process of forming the planets:
Definition
Gas cloud collapses, forms spinning disc. Dust grains condense, comet asteroids form. Proto-planets form (Mars-sized objects). Final planets form, solar wind blows away remaining gas.
Term
The interior of the earth is composed of:
Definition
Crust, mantle, core
Term
Earth's crust is _____ thick under oceans, _____ thick under continents.
Definition
4 miles, 12-40 miles
Term
The mantle of the Earth is composed of
Definition
Slowly flowing semi-solid rock
Term
The Earth's core is ______ in diameter.
Definition
4000 miles
Term
The Earth's outer core is ____, the inner core is probably ____.
Definition
Liquid, solid
Term
Plate tectonics drift around
Definition
On top of mantle
Term
Rift zones are
Definition
Plates pushing apart
Term
Subduction zones are
Definition
Plates bashing together
Term
Fault zones are
Definition
One plate slides alongside another
Term
The Earth's atmosphere is made of __% ____, __% ____, ____, ____, ____, etc.
Definition
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, argon, H2O, CO2
Term
____ (O3) is critical for life
Definition
Ozone
Term
The ozone layer blocks
Definition
The Sun's UV radiation
Term
Highlands on the moon are
Definition
Low density rocky slag formed on top of molten Moon
Term
Maria on the moon are
Definition
Huge lava flows from vaolcanoes
Term
The Moon's crust is ____ thick on the nearest side to Earth, ____ thick on the farthest side.
Definition
0 miles, 70 miles
Term
The Moon is ____ in diameter.
Definition
2200 miles
Term
Most maria are on the side ____ to Earth.
Definition
Nearest
Term
Mercury is expected to be _____ thick.
Definition
400 miles
Term
The surface pressure of Venus is ___x that of the Earth's
Definition
92x
Term
There are tectonic plates on Venus. T/F
Definition
False
Term
The atmosphere of Mars is
Definition
Little air, very cold, almost no liquid water, no greenhouse effect, low atmospheric pressure
Term
The cores of the Jovian planets are __-__x more massive than Earth
Definition
13-15
Term
Jupiter has __ known moons, including the Galilean moons ____, ____, ____, and ____.
Definition
63, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto
Term
Saturn's rings are composed of ___ and are about ___ thick.
Definition
Ice, 100m
Term
The Asteroid Belt is located between ____ and ____.
Definition
Mars and Jupiter
Term
The approximate age of the solar system is
Definition
4.5 billion years
Term
Comets have a ____ ____ ____.
Definition
Small, icy nucleus
Term
Outer layers of comets vaporize when comets approach ___ ___.
Definition
The sun
Term
The head of the comet is often as large as ____.
Definition
Jupiter
Term
Hydrogen clouds around the head of the comet can get bigger than ___ ___.
Definition
The sun
Term
Dust tails of a comet can be up to ____ long, while ion (plasma) tails of a comet can be ____ long.
Definition
.1AU, a few AU
Term
Halley's Comet was first observed in
Definition
240BC
Term
Halley's Comet has a __ year average orbital period.
Definition
76
Term
THe 2 sources of comets are:
Definition
The Oort Comet Cloud and the Kuiper Belt
Term
The Kuiper Belt lies just beyond ____.
Definition
Neptune
Term
The composition of a comet is:
Definition
Silicates, Carbon, 75% empty space, very low density
Term
Meteor showers are the result of:
Definition
Earth passing through a trail of debris from an old comet.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!