The Universe Vocab
What is Gravity?
The universal force of attraction between all matter.
What is the Big Bang Theory?
A theory that the universe originated from a single point in space and time in a large explosion of matter.
Where do all stars originate from
A nebula
What planet is known as 'The Red Planet'?
Mars
What's the common name for a meteor?
A shooting star
What is a Galaxy?
A huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems, held together by gravity.
What triggered the Big Bang Theory?
We don't know!
What is Nuclear Fusion?
The fusion of small atoms to form heavier elements, releasing large amounts of evidence.
Where is the largest asteroid belt in our solar system located?
Between Mars and Jupiter
What is a Nebula?
A cloud of gas and dust particles.
What are the three shapes of galaxies, in order of age?
What are two pieces of evidence that support the Big Bang Theory?
The Redshift of Light and Cosmic Background Radiation
Where does nuclear fusion occur?
In the core of all stars
What is the largest planet in our solar system?
Jupiter
What are the 4 features of a planet?
- High mass
- Is round
- Orbits the sun
- Clears its own pathway around the sun
An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the sun; a comet is a ball of ICE and dust that orbits the sun.
Who discovered how to calculate the distance of galaxies based on the degree of redshift?
Henrietta Swan Leavitt
What stages do all stars share in their cycle?
Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star
What planet rotates at an almost vertical angle, and why?
Uranus, because an asteroid hit it when it was still a planetesimal
How did our Solar System form?
1. Spinning disk (give details)
2. Planetesimals
3. Planets formed
What is the difference between a Meteoride and a Meteor?
A meteoroid is a small piece of an asteroid or comet. A meteor is a streak of light that appears when a meteoroid burns up upon entering earth's atmosphere.
What is the Redshift of light?
The STRETCHING of wavelengths of light over DISTANCE, so that the colour of the object shifts towards the red part of colour spectrum.
What stage do large stars go into after their Red Supergiant phase?
Expansion/Contraction Phase
Name one fact about each of the planets (in ORDER!)
See slideshow for answers
What is a MeteorITE?
When a meteoroid hits earth's surface