meteors
The is the inner layer of a comet’s head.
Nucleus
What does the electromagnetic spectrum show?
The entire range of electromagnetic waves
You play with some sand at the beach and create your own tiny spiral galaxy. What would each grain of sand represent in your model?
A Star
Name the two characteristics of stars is represented on the HR Diagram
Temperature and luminosity
What are the two most abundant elements found in stars?
Hydrogen and Helium
A——-is a large, rock-shaped object in space that orbits the Sun and is generally smaller than a planet.
Asteroid
How do the wavelengths and frequencies of radio waves differ from infrared waves?
Radio waves have longer wavelengths and lower frequencies than infrared waves
Which type of galaxy is considered to be the most abundant in the universe?
Elliptical
Why are white dwarfs located near the bottom and left of center on the HR Diagram?
They are dimmer than most stars and slightly warmer than the average temperature.
During this season the days are shorter and the nights are longer. This helps to cause colder temperatures than any other season.
Winter
10.A(n) ———— is a chunk of ice and dust traveling through space
Comet
Which of the following is not a type of electromagnetic wave?
a. Visible light waves
b. Sound waves
c. X-Rays
d. Microwaves
Sound waves
Galaxies are classified according to which of the following?
Shape
The majority of the stars on the HR Diagram belong to which of the following groups of stars?
Main Sequence
The path an object, such as a planet, takes as it revolves around another object is known as an
Orbit
Briefly compare and contrast comets and asteroids
Both orbit the Sun, are found in the solar system, and can make contact with Earth’s atmosphere or surface. Comets have a tail and asteroids do not. They are both composed of different materials and have different orbital paths as well.
A——-has the highest frequency and shortest wavelength of all electromagnetic waves.
Gamma Rays
How are galaxies classified? Briefly explain each type of galaxy.
Galaxies are classified according to their shape. Spiral galaxies are flat, disk-shaped galaxies with arms that extend outward like a pinwheel. Elliptical galaxies are round, oval shaped galaxies that resemble a ball or egg. Irregular galaxies do not have a distinct shape or pattern and look like a giant explosion of fireworks.
How does the Sun’s brightness and temperature compare to other stars?
The has an average brightness and an average temperature compared to other stars on the HR Diagram. That is why it is located almost perfectly in the middle of the chart.
Explain the cause of seasons on Earth.
The Earth is tilted on its axis at an angle of 23.5 degrees. As the Earth revolves around the Sun the hemispheres receive different amounts of sunlight.
What is the importance of finding and studying the composition of meteorites? Be detailed in your explanation.
Meteorites are the remains, or left over material, from the formation of the solar system. By finding and studying meteorites, scientists are able to look back into the past at the composition of the solar system as it was being formed. Also, some meteorites came from other planets which allows scientists to study and better understand the geology and composition of the atmosphere from which the meteorite originated from.
Why is the electromagnetic spectrum an important tool for astronomers to use when studying the universe? Be detailed in your explanation.
Astronomers are able to use the different waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum to gather important information about the universe and its components such as planets, stars, and galaxies. For example, astronomers are able to determine the distance, color, temperature, composition, and relative motion of stars using specialized telescopes in Earth’s orbit that examine certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Explain why it is extremely unlikely that humans will ever been able to travel to another galaxy.
Distances in space are so vast that simply traveling outside of our own solar system would take many years. Even if we were able to travel at the speed of light, it would take millions of years to travel to some galaxies that have been discovered.
How is the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram a helpful tool for astronomers to use when studying the numerous amounts of stars in the universe? Be detailed in your explanation.
The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram is a chart that graphs the brightness and temperature of stars so that they can be more easily studied and compared by astronomers. The diagram allows astronomers to better understand the characteristics of stars and the stage in their life cycle simply by knowing their location on the diagram. Since there are an incredibly large number of known stars, the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram helps to give an organized graph of several key characteristics of these stars.
The Earth’s tilt on its axis and revolution around the Sun creates seasons. Describe the changes that might occur where you live if the tilt of the Earth on its axis was greater than 23.5 degrees
If the Earth was tilted on its axis at an angle greater than 23.5 degrees then the changes in seasons would become much more drastic. Summer would receive much more daylight hours and winter would receive far fewer daylight hours. This would certainly impact overall climate in various regions, average temperatures, plant growth, animal activity, etc.