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Details Title: The Solar System Description: Science Chapter 2 Total Flash Cards: 24 Created: 10/02/2007 07:09:47	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 heliocentric Definition a descrption of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around the sun. Term heliocentric Definition a descrption of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around the sun. Term ellipse Definition an elongated circle; or oval; the shape of the planets' orbit. Term inertia Definition the tendancy 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 sream of electrically charged particles produced by the sun's corona. Term sunspot Definition areas of gas on the sun that are cooler than gases around them. Term prominence Definition A loop of gas that protrudes from the 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. Term terrestrial planet Definition The name given to the four inner planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Term retrograde rotation Definition The spinning motion of a planet from east to west oppisite the direction of rotations of most planets and their moons. Term greenhouse effect Definition the trapping of heat by a planet's atmosphere. Term gas giant Definition the name given to the firt four outer planets; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Term comet Definition a ball of ice and dust whose orbit is a long, narrow eclipse. Term asteroid Definition objects revolving around the sun that are to small and to numerous to be considered planets. Term asteroid belt Definition the region of the solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where many asteroids. Term meteoroid Definition a chunck of rock or dust in space. Term meteorite Definition a meteoroid that has hit earth's surface Term meteor Definition a streak of light in the sky produced by the burning of a meteoroid in earth's atmosphere. Term geocentric Definition a descrption of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around the earth.