Solar System
Planets
Moon/Tides
Sun/EM Spectrum
Planets Continued
100
How was the solar system primarily formed?
Through the condensation of a giant cloud of gas and dust called a solar nebula.
100
Which planets has an atmosphere of mostly hydrogen and helium?
a. Mercury
b. Venus
c. Jupiter
d. Mars
c. Jupiter
100
A full moon occurs once every 29.5 days. If 15 days have passed since the last full moon, which of the following is most likely occurring?
A. Neap tide because there is a quarter moon
B. Neap tide because there is a new moon
C. Spring tide because there is a new moon
D. Spring tide because there is a full moon
C. Spring tide because there is a new moon
100
Which of the following processes primarily powers the Sun and produces its energy?
Nuclear fusion
100
How does Earth's tilt primarily impact sunlight and affect life on Earth?
Earth's tilt causes variations in the intensity of sunlight received by different parts of the planet, leading to seasonal changes in temperature and weather patterns.
200
According to the solar nebula theory, which sequence of events best describes the formation of the solar system?
The gravitational collapse of a rotating cloud of gas and dust, forming a flattened disk from which planets accrete.
200
Earth’s orbit has an eccentricity of 0.017 while Mercury has an eccentricity of 0.21. Which of the following most accurately describes the planet’s orbital paths?
A) Earth’s orbit is closer to circular than Mercury’s orbit because Earth’s orbit has a lower eccentricity.
B) Mercury’s orbit is closer to circular than Earth’s because Mercury’s orbit has lower eccentricity.
Earth’s orbit is closer to circular than Mercury’s orbit because Earth’s orbit has a lower eccentricity.
200
What phase is the moon in during a solar eclipse?
New Moon
200
During fusion, which energy conversion is taking place?
A) Chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
B) Nuclear energy is converted into electromagnetic and thermal energy.
C) D) Thermal energy is converted into nuclear energy.
No energy conversions are taking place.
B) Nuclear energy is converted into electromagnetic and thermal energy.
200
Why are the rocky planets found close to the sun, and the gas giants found farther away?
Density: the heavier elements were pulled more towards the gravity of the sun, while the lighter elements were blown outwards with the solar winds.
300
What is accretion?
Accumulation of particles or matter into planets
300
Which of Kepler's laws of planetary motion describes the relationship between a planet's orbital period and its distance from the Sun?
Kepler's Third Law
300
Why do we only see one side of the moon from Earth?
The moon rotates and revolves at the same rate.
300
Explain how incoming solar radiation directly interacts with Earth systems to support life?
By providing energy for photosynthesis in plants, which is essential for the production of oxygen and food.
300
What theory explains the beginning of the Universe?
Big Bang Theory
400
Why was the geocentric model accepted for such a long time?
Because it looks like the sun, stars, and planets orbit the Earth.
400
How does the rotation and revolution of the Earth contribute to the occurrence of day and night?
Revolution causes the Earth to tilt on its axis, causing different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight, resulting in the alternation of day and night.
400
Why is it important to understand the tide tables at the beach?
Varies
400
What is the H-R diagram, and what factors are included on it?
The H-R diagram is a way to sort stars by temperature and brightness, and it helps us to understand where a star is in it's life cycle.
400
What are Kepler's 3 laws?
1st: orbits are ellipses
2nd: Planets move faster when they are closer to the sun
3rd: Planets take longer to orbit when they are farther way from the sun.
500
Label the aphelion and perihelion on a diagram of a planetary orbit around it's star.
500
Define the following: Barycenter, precession, nutation
Barycenter: center of gravity between two celestial objects.
Precession: change in the direction of the axis (new North star in 14,000 years)
Nutation: Wobble in the tilt of the earth, caused by the moon, cycles every 18-19 years.
500
Name the 8 phases of the moon, in order, starting with the phase where the moon is between the Earth and the Sun.
500
What is the correct order of the EM spectrum, in order of lowest to highest energy?
Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Visible Light, UV, X-rays, Gamma-rays
500
What is parallax?
Parallax is the way celestial bodies appear to change position relative to each other due to the Earth moving in it's own orbit. It is used to help determine how far away those celestial bodies are from Earth.