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Astronomy
31 Vocabulary terms relating to the Sun and Universe
31
Science
9th Grade
08/24/2009

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Term
Solar
Definition
Sun related
Term
Core
Definition
The innermost layer of Earth located beneath the mantle. This portion of the Earth is divided into an inner and outer section
Term
Chromosphere
Definition
The first layer of the solar atmosphere found directly about the photosphere
Term
Photosphere
Definition
The region of the Sun that radiates energy to space; visible surface of the Sun
Term
Corona
Definition
The outer weak layer of the solar atmosphere
Term
Nuclear Fusion
Definition
The way the Sun produces energy by combining less massive nuclei into more massive nuclei, releases tremendous amounts of energy
Term
Solar Wind
Definition
Streams of protons and electrons ejected at high speed from the solar corona
Term
Solar Flare
Definition
A sudden and tremendous eruption in the solar chromosphere
Term
Interval
Definition
A space between two objects
Term
Aurora Borealis
Definition
An aurora occuring in the northern regions of the Earth caused by solar radiation interacting with the upper atmosphere in the region of the poles
Term
Convection
Definition
The transfer of heat by the movement of a mass or substance. Can only take place in fluids (and gases because they behave like fluids)
Term
Sunspot
Definition
A dark spot on the sun, which is cool by contrast to the surrounding photosphere
Term
Prominence
Definition
A concentration of gases above the solar surface that appears as a bright archlike structure
Term
Electromagnetic Radiation
Definition
Energy transmitted through space in the form of electromagnetic waves
Term
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Definition
The arrangement of electromagnetic radiation according to wavelength
Term
Ultraviolet (UV)
Definition
Refers to the invisible radiation wavelengths
Term
Infrared (IR)
Definition
Wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum that is commonly emitted by moderately heated surfaces
Term
Magnitude
Definition
Degree of the brightness of a celestial body based on a numerical scale with a lower numeral representing a brighter celestial body
Term
Light Year
Definition
The distance light travels in a year approximating to 9.5 trillion kilometers
Term
Parallax
Definition
Term
H/R Diagram
Definition
A plot of stars according to their absolute magnitudes and temperatures
Term
Main Sequence Star
Definition
A star that falls into the main sequence category on the H-R diagram. This category contains the majority of stars and runs diagonally from the upper left to the lower right on the H-R diagram
Term
Life Cycle
Definition
The life length of a celestial body
Term
Supernova
Definition
An exploding star that increases in brightness many thousands of times
Term
Black Hole
Definition
A massive star that has collapsed to such a small volume that its gravity prevents the escape of everything, including light
Term
Universe
Definition
All matter and energy, including the earth, the galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space, regarded as a whole
Term
Galaxy
Definition
A group of stars, dust, and gases held together by gravity
Term
Doppler Shift
Definition
The apparent change in frequency of electromagnetic or sound waves caused by the relative motion of the source and the observer
Term
Big Bang Theory
Definition
The theory that proposes that the universe originated as a single mass which subsequently exploded
Term
Hubble's Law
Definition
A law that states that the galaxies are retreating from the Milky Way at a speed that is proportional to their distance
Term
Photon
Definition
A small packet of light energy
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