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What is a decibel?
a unit that measures volume
Each full circle around Earth that the ISS (International Space Station) makes is called a(n):
orbit
FUN FACT!!!! It takes just 90 minutes (1 1/2 hours) for it to make one oribit around Earth. It moves at a speed of 17,200 miles per hour
What are biofuels?
Fuels that make use of wood, grasses and other plant-based materials to produce heat- have been used for centuries
How does air pollution affect weather and climate?
Some pollutants trap heat in the atmosphere, which can contribute to changes in Earth's climate.
The term "terrestrial" means:
of the Earth- we call the 4 inner planets "terrestrial" planets b/c they are made with Earthlike materials --> rocks & metals
What do solar rays do?
They collect sunlight and turn it into electricity to power the ISS (International Space Station)
What are the 3 basic types of pollution?
land, water and air
What is the name of our galaxy?
The Milky Way
WHY? Long ago people looked up at the night sky and saw a faint, glowing band stretching across the stars. The ancient Romans called it via lactea, which means “milky road” or “milky way”.
Venus (2nd planet from the sun) 243 days to equal 1 Earth day (24 hrs). WOAH! Why might this be if it is closer to the sun than Earth?
2 reasons:
1) REALLY strong tidal forces from the sun which causes a LOT of friction
2) and the dragging of its VERY thick atmosphere (much more dense than Earth's)
FUN FACT!!!! Did you know that Venus rotates backward? Scientists believe that it was hit by something that reveresed its spin and slowed the planet's speed!
Why are the inner planets, such as Mercury and Mars, composed of a very dense (compact) core?
Think of it as a "space oven" --> the closer an object is to the something very high in temp (in this case, the sun), the hotter it gets. The 4 rocky inner planets were created b/c it was too hot for gases to stick around (evaporation occurred). This left only heat-resistant materials like solid rock and metals.
What caused the human population to grow at a faster rate, after the Industrial Revolution?
better quality food, cleaner water and improved medicine (less deaths)
What is gravity?
Gravity is a force that pulls everything with mass toward each other. For example, it keeps you on the ground when you jump and makes things fall when you drop them.
What are some simple actions people can take to reduce pollution?
recycle, reduce amount of waste, properly dispose of trash, use cleaner energy sources
What might cause water pollution?
harmful substances that enter rivers, lakes, oceans or groundwater (such as trash, chemicals, oil spills or wastewater from nearby factories)
How can the use of sonar from boats, etc. impact marine mammals?
This use of sonar pulses can confuse and disorient them, causing communcation issues (Ex. they may end up in the wrong location due to the communication interference)
Why do the stars appear to move/constellations change during certain seasons?
Stars appear to move across the night sky due to the rotation of the Earth.
Why is habitat fragmentation so concerning for scientists?
fragmentation isolates a species, making it harder for them to survive and reproduce
Explain why the ISS is so important to us?
The International Space Station is a research center that orbits Earth. Astronauts take turns spending time up there doing experiments and collecting data to develop ideas/learn more detail about space.
revolution (one full orbit)
Why do scientists who study space often use AUs as a measurement tool (astronomical units)?
Because 1 AU = 93 million miles
It is much easier for space scientists to use AUs instead of having to say/write out really really really large numbers :)
One day (one full turn) of Earth is known as a ______, which is = to approximately 24 hours.
rotation (this provides us with day and night)
The # of people on Earth is rising which means that resources such as energy sources, food, and water will be in greater demand. We have to keep seeking out alternative resources to meet everyone's needs.
What are some of the major differences between the inner and outer planets?
INNER: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars are all terrestrial planets (meaning "of the Earth"), rocky, more dense (compact), smaller in size
OUTER: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune are gas/ice giants, most larger than the inner planets, less dense (compact)
Why is fossil fuel use unsustainable?
b/c fossil fuels take millions of years to form and being used up too fast- we can't replenish the supply fast enough
Explain the two models of our solar system that were developed long ago with the help of Aristotle, Copernicus, Ptolemy & Galileo.
Heliocentric model- belief that the sun was at the center of our solar system and the Earth and planets revolved around it (this ended up being CORRECT :) YAY!
Geocentric model- belief that the Earth was at the center of our solar system and that the sun and planets revolved around it- which was WRONG