Term
|
Definition
| the sun and all things bound to it |
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Term
| how does the sun produce power? |
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Definition
| by converting hydrogen to helium |
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Term
|
Definition
| sub atomic particles that the sun ejects |
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Term
|
Definition
| solar wind or sub atomic particles |
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Term
| What dangers do larger solar flares have? |
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Definition
| can disrupt communication and power grids, damage satellites and kill unprotected astronauts |
|
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Term
| what are the main planets? |
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Definition
jupiter
saturn
neptune
venus
earth
pluto
mercury
mars
uranus |
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Term
| why was there dissatisfaction with the result of the 2006 new definition of planet? |
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Definition
| an object larger than pluto was discovered |
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Term
| what is the implied meaning of planet? |
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Definition
| that the object orbited a star and was quite large, but not a star itself |
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Term
|
Definition
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Term
|
Definition
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune |
|
|
Term
| what is Pluto made of and classified as? |
|
Definition
made of rock and ice
classified as a dwarf planet |
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Term
|
Definition
| studying and comparing the different planets |
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Term
| what is a moon also known as? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the difference between a satellite and a planet? |
|
Definition
| it orbits a planet rather than a star |
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Term
| what is the largest satellite size? |
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Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
a moon of Jupiter
dozens of active volcanoes |
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Term
|
Definition
a moon of Jupiter
has liquid oceans under its smooth, icy surface |
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Term
|
Definition
a moon of Saturn
thick hazy atmosphere and lakes of liquid methane at its poles |
|
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Term
|
Definition
a moon of Saturn
emits jets of water vapor from warm vents at its south pole |
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Term
|
Definition
a moon of Neptune
has an atmosphere and gas jets erupting from its surface |
|
|
Term
| what are the rings of the gas giants made of? |
|
Definition
| billions of small particles, each is a tiny moon |
|
|
Term
| what are asteroids also called? |
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| where do most asteroids orbit between? |
|
Definition
| a belt between Mars and Jupiter |
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what happens when an asteroid's orbit crosses a planet's orbit? |
|
Definition
| it will be hit or deflected by the planet's gravity |
|
|
Term
| what will happen to a deflected asteroid? |
|
Definition
fall into the sun
escape from the solar system
cross another orbit |
|
|
Term
| what are we seeing when we see a comet? |
|
Definition
| a cloud of gas and dust being blown off a small icy world as its ice evaporates |
|
|
Term
| what are small icy worlds essentially? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what can comets provide to a planet? |
|
Definition
make a crater
provide water
provide carbon compounds
other resources |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| a zone outside the orbits of the main planets where numerous ice-rich asteroids or comets orbit |
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|
Term
| why are there asteroids and comets in the Kuiper Belt? |
|
Definition
| they are leftover from planet formation |
|
|
Term
| What was considered to be the largest Kuiper belt object? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a huge spherical cloud of comets surrounding the sun, extending out towards nearby stars |
|
|
Term
| When was the Oort cloud probably formed? |
|
Definition
| when the gravity of the giant planets ejected billions of objects from the inner parts of the solar system |
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|
Term
| which part of the Oort cloud merges with the Kuiper belt? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| If we see a comet, how could it be related to an Oort cloud? |
|
Definition
| an Oort cloud object is deflected by a collision or the gravity of a passing star and it falls in towards the sun |
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a path one object follows in space as a result of its current velocity and the gravity it experiences |
|
|
Term
| what are orbits naturally? what affects this? |
|
Definition
naturally ellipses
disturbance by the gravity of another object or by using a rocket |
|
|
Term
| will an object move faster or slower when closer to the object it is orbiting? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the most efficient way to travel from one orbit to another? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is a transfer orbit? |
|
Definition
| an ellipse whose ends are tangent to the other two orbits, the path is long and slow but uses much less fuel |
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is a polar orbit? what is it useful for? |
|
Definition
| can fly over any point as the planet rotates under it. useful for remote sensing |
|
|
Term
what is a GEO?
what is usually here? |
|
Definition
a Geostationary orbit, in a circular, equatorial, 24 hour orbit.
TV and other communication sattelites |
|
|
Term
| what is a geosynchronous orbit? |
|
Definition
| it takes 24 hours to orbit, but it is not above the equator, or not circular |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| highly elliptical and often used to transmit to the northern hemisphere |
|
|
Term
| what are Lagrange points? |
|
Definition
| places where objects seem to orbit in formation, staying in the same place relative to another orbiting object |
|
|
Term
| what are Trojan asteroids? |
|
Definition
| asteroids that travel in Lagrage-type paths relative to Jupiter and some other planets |
|
|
Term
| What are Van Allen Belts? |
|
Definition
| radiation belts surrounding Earth |
|
|
Term
| what height do the inner and outer van allen belts run? |
|
Definition
inner 600-12000km
outer 12000-50000km |
|
|
Term
| how are the van allen belts held in place? |
|
Definition
| by earth's magnetic field |
|
|
Term
| why does the inner van allen belt dip down? |
|
Definition
| because earth's magnetic field is not symmetrical |
|
|
Term
| What is the South Atlantic Anomaly? |
|
Definition
| where the inner van allen belt dips down especially low over the South Atlantic Ocean |
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