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LU EXAM TWO
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13
Science
Undergraduate 1
05/10/2011

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

 

Fermi Paradox

Definition

 

The "Rare Earth" hypothesis states that if other intelligent life is out there, where are they?

Examines the possibility that we could be the only planet with intelligent life, at least in the galaxy. 

Term

 

White Dwarf

Definition

 

A small star composed mainly of 

 

-They are thought to be the final evolutionary state of all stars whose mass is not high enough to become a supernova. (over 97% of stars in the galaxy)

 

Term

 

Helium Flash

Definition

 

The fusion of helium in the core of low-mass stars 

Term

 

What do scientist mean by a "habitable zone" around a star?

Definition

 

-It must be of a temperature range suitable for liquid water.

 

Term

 

What is the approximate range of our Sun's habitable zone?

Definition

 

 

Term

 

M-class dwarf- why a good canidate for habitability?

Definition

 

Stays in the main sequence for 50 billion years*, allowing so much time for life to develop.

Term

 

M-class dwarf- bad candidate?

Definition

 

Too dim- habitable zone would be too close to the star, and narrow. Life and any atmosphere would be affected by solar flares and radioactivity (unless it was big enough to have a strong magnetic field).

Term
O & B stars spend less time on the main sequence than G and K stars- why?
Definition

 

Because they are too bright to maintain a stable habitable zone for more than a few million* years.

Term

 

Which star type is...

the brightest

smallest mass

hottest

most similiar to our sun

Definition

 

O star

M star

O star

G star

Term

 

 

Why might the formation of Jovian planets be important to the Earth's formation?

Definition

 

Jovian planets with their large masses and gravitational pulls can suck up space junk that would potentially collide into the still-forming Earth. 

Term

 

The Drake equation:

(all 7 terms)

Definition
1.number of stars in the galaxy
Term

 

 

Von Neumann machine

Definition

 

A self-replicating machine, designed to investigate the target system and send information back to our solar system.

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