Big Bang Theory
What is the Big Bang Theory?
describes the formation of the universe
What name describes light waves that are shrinking and being compressed, as an object moves towards you?
blueshift
When looking at a star, what layer do we normally see?
Photosphere
What is the order of the planets of our solar system?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
All stars and planets begin their lives in what?
a nebula (cloud of gas and dust)
How long ago did the Big Bang occur?
13.8 Billion Years ago
low
How often do sunspots cycle?
11 years
What is the difference between a meteor and meteorite?
Meteors burn up in the atmosphere and meteorites have landed on the ground.
How does a solar system form according to the nebular theory?
A large cloud of gas (nebula) contracts under gravity, forming a flattened, spinning disk. Eventually planetessimals form from the disk and planets after that.
What is the percent composition of the universe?
75% Hydrogen 25% Helium <1% every other element
Which type of light has the shortest wavelength and highest energy?
gamma rays
What is the temperature and luminosity of a red giant star?
cool temperature (red color) and high luminosity (giant size)
What is the difference in location between a comet and an asteroid?
Asteroids are found between Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belt.
Comets are found on the outskirts of our solar system in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.
What is Kepler's 1st Law of Planetary Motion?
All planets have elliptical orbits.
In what direction is the universe and everything in it, moving?
the universe is expanding outwards
How is light from distant galaxies being observed?
all light is redshifted as all galaxies are moving away from us
What type of star is our Sun currently and what will it become next?
Main Sequence -> Red Giant
How does distance affect the gravitational pull of the Earth on the Moon?
The closer the Moon, the stronger the gravitational pull.
The further the Moon, the weaker the gravitational pull.
Why does Mercury have the fastest orbital velocity and shortest period of revolution?
Mercury is the closest to the Sun so it has the strongest gravitational pull (fastest velocity) and the shortest orbital path (period of revolution).
What is the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB)?
the leftover energy from the Big Bang
Name 6 out of 7 types of light on the electromagnetic spectrum.
radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma
What are the three possible final stages of a star's life cycle? (include high and low mass stars)
black dwarf, neutron star, black hole
The more massive the planet, the stronger the gravitational pull.
The smaller the planet, the weaker the gravitational pull.
When referring to Kepler's 2nd Law of Planetary Motion, what does "Equal Areas in Equal Time" mean?
A planet's orbital velocity changes as the planet orbits the Sun due to its elliptical orbit.