Term
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Definition
| Nuclear fusion – The process by which two or more small nuclei fuse to make a bigger nucleus |
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Term
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Definition
| Nuclear fission – The process by which a large nucleus is split into smaller nuclei |
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Term
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Definition
| Critical mass – The amount of isotope necessary to sustain a chain reaction |
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Term
| Define Absolute Magnitude |
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Definition
Absolute magnitude – The brightness of a star, corrected for distance, on a scale of -8 to +19. The smaller
the number, the brighter the star. |
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Term
| Define Apparent Magnitude |
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Definition
Apparent magnitude – The brightness of a star as seen in the night sky. The smaller the number, the brighter the star
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Term
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Definition
| Light year – The distance light could travel along a straight line in one year |
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Term
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Definition
| Galaxy – A large ensemble of stars, all interacting through the gravitational force and orbiting around a common center |
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Term
| What nuclear process occurs in the sun’s core? |
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Definition
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Term
Know the difference between Nuclear Fission
and Nuclear Fusion
See next 2 cards |
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Definition
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Term
A 251Cf nucleus is bombarded with a neutron. It breaks down into a 124Sn nucleus, a 120Cd nucleus and seven neutrons.
Is this nuclear fission or nuclear fusion?
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Definition
| Since a large nucleus split into two smaller nuclei (and a few neutrons), this is nuclear fission. |
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Term
Two 4He nuclei collide and turn into a 7Be nucleus and one neutron.
Is this nuclear fission or nuclear fusion?
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Definition
| Since two small nuclei became a bigger nucleus (plus a neutron), this is nuclear fusion |
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Term
| From the inside to the outside, name the four regions of the sun. |
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Definition
the core,
the radiation zone,
the convection zone, and
the photosphere |
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Term
For both the nuclear fusion that occurs in the sun and the nuclear fission that occurs in a nuclear power plant, what can we say about the mass of the starting materials compared to the mass of what’s made in the end? |
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Definition
In both processes, mass is converted into energy. Thus, the mass of the starting materials is larger
than the mass of the materials the process makes. |
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Term
| Why is it impossible for a nuclear power plant to have a nuclear explosion? |
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Definition
It is impossible for a nuclear power plant to experience a nuclear explosion because a power plant does not have significantly more than the critical mass of the large nucleus that is breaking apart. |
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Term
Study questions #11-15 on your study guide. There will be similiar questions on test
Be able to identify :
Red giant, Main sequence, Supergiant, White dwarf
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Definition
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Term
| The sun is most like a ________ ______ star. |
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Definition
| The sun is most like a MAIN SEQUENCE star. |
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Term
| Where would you find the hottest star in a H-R Diagram? |
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Definition
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Term
| Where would you find the brightest star in a H-R Diagram? |
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Definition
| The highest point on the chart. |
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Term
| Name two types of variable stars |
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Definition
| Pulsating variables and novas |
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Term
| What are Cepheid variables, and why are they important in astronomy? |
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Definition
Cepheid variables are variable stars whose magnitude and
period have a direct relationship. They are important in astronomy because that relationship can be used to measure long distances in the universe |
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Term
| What are the four basic types of galaxies? To which type does the Milky Way belong? |
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Definition
The four galaxy types are:
spiral, lenticular, elliptical, and irregular.
The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy. |
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Term
| What is the name of the galaxie that Earth belongs to? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
The red shift is the phenomenon in which light that comes to the earth from other galaxies ends up having longer wavelengths than it should. |
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