Stars
How is a star born?
A nebula produces a star
Is pluto a planet?
No, it did not clear it's orbital path!
What is a meteor?
Rocks in space that enter Earth’s atmosphere and burns up (a shooting star)
What was the first object to form in our solar system?
The Sun
What is a supernova?
Explosion caused by a dying star when they run out of helium
What are the 4 Terrestrial Planets?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
What does a comet have that a asteroid and meteor don't?
A coma (dusty/gassy tail)
What scientific phenomena caused our solar nebula to form?
A nearby supernova
What produces a black hole?
a supernova of a massive star
Which planets have no moons?
Mercury and Venus
What is the speed of light? (number)
3x10^8 m/s
What are the building blocks of planets called?
planetesimals
What is the core of a black hole called?
singularity
Which planets in our solar system have rings?
all of the Jovian Planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
What is the difference between an asteroid and a comet?
An asteroid has metal in it and comes from asteroid belt. (most comets come from the Kuiper belt, but this wasn't in your notes)
Why is the sun and planets spherically shaped?
Because they have enough matter to assume spherical shape as they spin (because of gravity)
How is the life cycle of an average star different from the life cycle of a massive star?
Average star loses energy before it's supernova and first becomes a white dwarf. A massive star has so much energy that it explodes and either produces a black hole or a neutron star
Which planet has the most moons?
Saturn
What's the famous comet last seen in 1986?
Halley's comet (visible every 75-79 years)
Why to the Gas giants have thick atmospheres and the Rocky planets have thin atmospheres?
The Gas giants accreted more gas during the formation of the solar system, since they're further away from the sun (so colder temps). The rocky planets were closer to the sun (warmer temps), so they didn't have as much gas left to accrete after the Gas giants