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Blue-white stars are typically ______ in temperature, while orange-red stars are typically ______ in temperature.
Hot; cool
What two elements make up most of the Sun?
Hydrogen and helium
What unit do scientists use to describe distances between planets and their star? Write the full name and abbreviation.
Astronomical unit (AU)
A planet has a higher density and lower mass. Is it more likely a terrestrial or jovian planet?
Terrestrial planet
Planet J is close to its star, while Planet K is far from its star. Based on the energy each planet receives, infer the most likely phase of water on each planet’s surface.
Planet J: gas (water vapor); Planet K: solid (ice).
What is the name of the explosive event that can mark the end of a massive star’s life?
Supernova
As planets get closer to the Sun, how does the velocity (speed) of their orbit change?
Increases / becomes faster
Which planet has the most circular orbit based on this eccentricity data? A (0.020), B (0.090), C (0.400), or D (0.950)?
Planet A
Which planet has the most elliptical orbit: A (0.03), B (0.12), C (0.35), or D (0.65)?
Planet D
What region around a star receives the right amount of energy for liquid water to potentially exist on a planet’s surface?
Habitable zone
Which star has the shortest lifespan: W (0.5 solar masses), X (1 solar mass), Y (5 solar masses), or Z (15 solar masses)?
Star Z
The asteroid Ceres lies at an average distance of 414 million kilometers from the Sun. The period of revolution of Ceres around the Sun is approximately... A. 438 days B. 687 days C. 4.6 years D. 12.6 years
C. 4.6 years!
Write down one of Kepler's Laws of Orbital Motion
Kepler's First Law - Planets move in elliptical (eccentric) orbits
Kepler's Second Law - Planets move faster or slower depending on their position in their orbit
Kepler's Third Law - Farther away planets have higher periods of revolution
Planet A orbits the Sun at an average distance of 0.4 AU, Planet B at 1 AU, and Planet C at 3 AU. Which planet has the greatest orbital speed?
Planet A
True or False: A planet moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to its star and slower when it is farther away.
True (Kepler's Second Law)
What two opposing "forces" help keep a main-sequence star at equilibrium? You must state the directions!
Gravity (inward); nuclear fusion force (outward)
According to your ESSRT, what is the last element a massive star can produce through fusion before fusion no longer releases energy?
Iron (Fe)
Using the equation e=f÷d scientists can calculate a planet’s orbital eccentricity. What do the variables f and d represent?
f = distance between the two foci
d = length of the major axis
Star 'X' is located to the left of the Sun on the HR diagram. Write down a possible temperature of this star in Kelvin!
Anything greater than 6,000K (5,778K)
What element is currently being formed in our Sun?
Helium!
Astronomers have determined that the star Arcturus has a surface temperature of 4560 K and a luminosity of 170. Based on these characteristics, Arcturus is classified as which type of star?
A Giant Star!
Stars are categorized into four main groups based on their placement and physical properties on the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram. What are the four groups?
Main sequence, white dwarfs, giants, and supergiants
Which star may once have been similar to our Sun in mass and luminosity? A. Deneb B. Spica C. Procyon B D. Proxima Centauri
Write down the star types (life stages) of the following stars: The Sun, Betelgeuse, Proxima Centauri
The Sun - Main Sequence
Betelgeuse - Super Giant
Proxima Centauri - Main Sequence
True or False - Betelgeuse has a longer lifespan than our Sun
False! The more massive a star, the faster it burns out (pg. 5 ESSRT)