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definitions
definitions
definitions
questions
NJ ASK practice
100
Astronomical unit.
A unit of measurement equal to 149.6 million kilometers, the mean distance from the center of the earth to the center of the sun.
100
Comet.
A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.
100
Gravity.
The force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass.
100
Gravity pulls a stars matter toward its core. What is the source of the force that keeps a star from collapsing.
The force is called nebulae.
100
Is a year for an earthling the same length of time as a year for an alien who buys a home on Saturn? Explain.
No because Saturn is much farther away from the sun than earth is.
200
Axial tilt.
In astronomy, axial tilt, known to astronomers as obliquity, is the angle between an object's rotational axis and its orbital axis, or, equivalently, the angle between its equatorial plane and orbital plane. It differs from orbital inclination.
200
Constellation.
A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure.
200
Half moon.
The moon when only half of its illuminated surface is visible from the earth; the first or last quarter.
200
Red dwarfs are stars with slightly less mass than our sun. Is it likely that a red dwarf could become a neutron star?
Yes because each star undergoes an explosion called a supernova giving the star a big chance that it might turn into a supernova.
200
Describe a pattern between a planet's distance from the sun and the time it takes that planet to revolve around the sun.
When the planet is closer or farther away from the sun it takes a shorter or longer time to revolve around it.
300
Axis
A fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates.
300
Full moon.
The phase of the moon in which its whole disk is illuminated.
300
Lunar eclipse
An eclipse in which the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth's shadow.
300
The word "planet" means "wanderer" in Greek. What would you see if you went out every night for a month and looked at the planets?
The planets would be in different positions in space.
300
Think back to the periodic table in on page 99. Where do the elements that make up comets fall on the periodic table.
On the metal group.
400
Black hole.
A region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.
400
Galaxy.
A system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction.
400
Lunar month.
A month measured between successive new moons.
400
Suppose you had a ball tied to the end of a long string. You twirl around and around in a big circle. If you are the sun and the ball is a planet, what force does the string represent?
The string represents the sun's gravity.
400
Every year, the earth's gravity pulls tiny comets into the upper atmosphere, where friction melts them. What do you think happens to the water in those comets?
The water evaporates.
500
Coma.
When passing close to the Sun, heats up and begins to outgas, displaying a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail.
500
Gas giant.
A large planet of relatively low density consisting predominantly of hydrogen and helium, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune.
500
Nebula.
A cloud of gas and dust in outer space, visible in the night sky either as an indistinct bright patch or as a dark silhouette against other luminous matter.
500
Using the terms revolve, rotate, and axis, describe why one year on earth is about 365 days long and why one day on earth is 24 hours long.
The earth revolves around the sun on its axis. While doing this, it is also rotating and the controls the day and year span the earth has.
500
Is a sunset an effect of the earth's rotation or revolution?
It is an effect of both.