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Details Title: Astronomy Book Vocabulary Description: Chapter 2/Sections 1&2 Total Flash Cards: 13 Created: 06/26/2005 12:22:26	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term geocentric Definition a description of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around Earth Term heliocentric Definition a description of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around the Sun Term ellipse Definition an elongated circle, or oval shape; the shape of the planets' orbits Term inertia Definition the tendency of a moving object to continue in a straight line or a stationary object to remain in place Term nuclear fusion Definition the process by which hydrogen atoms join together to form helium, releasing energy Term core Definition the central part of the sun, where nuclear fusion occurs Term photosphere Definition the inner layer of the sun's atmosphere Term chromosphere Definition the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere Term corona Definition the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere Term solar wind Definition a stream of electrically charged particles produced by the sun's corona Term sunspot Definition a dark area of gas on the sun that is cooler than surrounding gases Term prominence Definition a loop of gas that protrudes from the sun's surface, linking parts of sunspot regions Term solar flare Definition an explosion of hydrogen gas from the sun's surface that occurs when loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect