Structures of the Universe
What is the name of our home galaxy?
Milky Way
What tool did Galileo use to study the sky?
Telescope
Is a galaxy larger than a solar system?
Yes
What is gravity?
A force that pulls objects toward each other
What does the Big Bang explain?
How the Universe began
What object produces light and heat through nuclear fusion?
Star
What space telescope lets us see deeper into space than ever before?
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
What unit do astronomers use to measure huge distances?
Light-year
What causes gravity?
Mass of objects
About how old is the universe?
13.8 billion years
What is a nebula and what forms inside one?
A giant cloud of gas and dust where stars are born
Which technology allows us to study the chemical makeup of stars?
Spectroscopy
Approximately how long does light take to reach Earth from the Sun?
8 minutes
Why don’t planets float away?
Gravity holds them in orbit around the Sun
What evidence shows the universe is expanding?
Redshift of galaxies
Arrange from smallest to largest: galaxy, star, nebula, solar system
Star → solar system → nebula → galaxy
Why are satellites important for astronomy?
They avoid atmospheric distortion and collect clearer data
Why don’t scientists use kilometres for space distances?
Distances are too huge to measure practically
Which has stronger gravity — the Moon or Earth — and why?
Earth, because it has more mass
What is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation?
Heat leftover from the Big Bang found throughout space
Name two different galaxies besides the Milky Way.
Eg: Andromeda, Triangulum, Sombrero
Give two examples of how technology changed our understanding of the universe.
Eg: Finding exoplanets, measuring cosmic background radiation, seeing distant galaxies
Compare: Which is bigger – Earth or Jupiter, and by about how much?
Jupiter – about 11x wider than Earth
How does gravity affect galaxies?
It holds stars together and prevents galaxies from breaking apart
Name two pieces of evidence supporting the Big Bang.
Redshift + CMB radiation + distribution of galaxies