Solar System
A collection of planets, moons, and other small objects that around around a star is called a ________.
Solar System
Earth is the ____ planet from our sun.
3rd
What is a nebula?
A giant cloud of dust and gas in space.
The speed of an object in a given direction is its _____.
Velocity
What is one country (other than your home country) that participates in the International Space Station Program?
Europe, United States, Russia, Canada, and Japan
What do the inner planets have in common, in terms of their composition?
They are made of rocky materials.
What is different about Earth than other planets in our solar system?
Water...and life!
____ is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun.
Gravity
What are two factors that could delay a rocket launch?
Weather - rain, clouds, wind, etc.
Communication - radios might be down, etc.
Hardware - some tests on the rocket systems itself might show a problem
Interference - a boat or other airplane might be in the way
What are two careers in space science?
astronaut
engineer (telecommunications, satellites, aerospace, computer, mechanical, electrical, robotics. etc.)
communications
education
astronomor
AND MORE!!!
What is the difference between an asteroid, a meteor, and a meteorite?
An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the sun. If an asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it burns brightly (aka shooting star) and is called a meteor. If the meteor hits the surface of the Earth, it's called a meteorite.
What are two things that satellites orbiting Earth accomplish.
Track weather, provide GPS, communication, etc.
What is an astronomical unit (AU), and why do scientists use it?
1 AU = the distance from Earth's center to the sun.
Scientists use it for distances because it's easier to use smaller numbers!
Thrust is the force that pushes a rocket into the atmosphere. Explain which of Newton's Laws describes this phenomenon.
Newton’s third law explains how rockets produce thrust – for every force pushing on one object, there is an equal but opposite force pushing on another object. If the rocket pushes down, it will move up.
The CapCom, or CAPsule COMmunicator, is the person on Earth who has direct radio contact with astronauts in space. Why is it so important for only one person to have this access?
If everyone on Earth were talking to the astronauts in space, it would be too confusing, loud, and overwhelming. ONE person is designated to rely messages between Earth and Space.
Explain why an astronaut's weight changes when on another planet or moon.
Because the gravity is different! Mass stays the same, but weight changes based on gravitational pull.
The Earth and Moon are not in the same plane in three-dimensional space. They are offset from each other, so that we don't have total solar eclipses very often.
Because the distance is so far! It is easier to write numbers in scientific notation so that we don't use so many zeros.
Why does the United States often launch rockets from Florida?
Because Florida is closer to the equator, and its on the East coast, meaning it can take advantage of the Earth's rotation and get a "boost," using less fuel.
Technically, the moon is a satellite of Earth. What then, is the definition of a satellite?
Something that orbits something else. (Can be natural or man-made)
If we decide to promote Pluto from dwarf planet status back to planet status, why do other dwarf planets also need to be promoted?
Because there are dwarf planets bigger than Pluto, and other dwarf planets that have not cleared their orbit of surrounding objects. (Think of the 3 qualifications to be a planet - orbit a star, round, cleared its path)
Explain how the tilt of the Earth causes seasons.
Certain places on Earth are receiving a more direct angle of sunlight part of the year...summer. When it's tilted away, it is less direct sunlight...winter.
Mass and distance are the two factors that affect gravity. What is the relationship between the three - could you write an equation that relates them?
The bigger the mass of an object, the higher the gravitational pull. The father the distance between the objects, the lower the gravitational pull.
When humans send rockets to space, we only have to use enough fuel to get it through Earth's atmosphere. Why don't we send enough fuel to get to wherever it wants to go?
Because of Newton's Third Law - Inertia. Once the object enters the vacuum of space, inertia takes full effect. An object in motion will stay at that same speed, in the same direction, indefinitely.
*Of course, humans send enough fuel to adjust the course direction and speed as necessary.
What is one example of a heat shield used elsewhere on Earth, other than on space vehicles re-entering the atmosphere?
NASCAR, scuba diving suits, whale blubber, etc.
(Anything that reflects or absorbs heat)