Midterm Astronomy Review

-Groups of 3 or 4 (random).

-Send one person(top name) up for a board, marker, and eraser.

-Get to a table with your group, no study guides allowed!!!

How long ago did the big bang occur?

A: 13.8 billion years ago

What is the term for all of the leftover dust, debris, gas and

energy as a result of the big bang?

A: Background radiation

Objects that are completing what astronomers call a blue shift are

moving in what direction in relation to the viewer?

A: they are moving closer to the viewer

The Nebular Theory, which describes the formation of our

solar system is believed to have began __________ years ago.

A: 4.6-5 billion

Draw a picture of each of the 3 types of galaxies that exist in our universe. Include which of these 3 is the most

common type.

Elliptical (most common) Irregular – no shape Spiral (milky way) Barred

What characteristic of a star determines how long that star will

live? A: MASS

Large mass star = gas guzzler Small mass star = hybrid

A large mass star will either end up as a ______________ or a

______________

A: neutron star, black hole

The next step in the life cycle of our star, the sun, is……

A: a red giant star

Approximately how many stars are in our

UNIVERSE?

There are 100,000,000 (100 billion) in the Milky Way Galaxy alone!

ANSWER: Over 1,000,000,000 (Trillion)

As size increases, what happens to the overall temperature of a star?

A: temperature decreases because volume increases (heat is spread over a larger volume)

The color of the hottest stars in the universe is____________.

The color of the coolest stars in the universe is ____________.

A: Hottest = blue Coolest = red

How are all of the heavier elements, such as metals, created

in our universe?

A: They are created by the energy of an exploding star (SUPERNOVA)

What is the difference between revolution and rotation.

Answer:Revolution is the path around an object and Rotation is the spinning on an objects axis

The heliocentric model of our solar system was supported by the

discovery that __________ went through phases, just like our moon. This also disproved the geocentric

model.A: Venus, because it goes through phases we know it must revolve around the sun just like we do.

What 2 factors affect the force of gravity between 2 objects?

A: Mass and distance

*As mass increases, gravity increases.*As distance increases, gravity decreases.

List 2 of the 3 characteristics of stars that are represented on a

Hertzsprung-Russel Diagram

A: Temperature Color Brightness

True or false: Groups of galaxies held together by gravity are called

clusters.

A: True

What can be stated about the revolutionary period of planets that are further away from the

sun?

A: It takes LONGER to revolve around the sun the further away a planet is from the sun.

Define synchronous rotation of our moon.

Answer- The time it takes to rotate is equal to the time it takes to revolve

Define a light-year.

A: The distance that light travels in one year.

Draw a diagram labeling the aphelion and the perihelion

Aphelion – “A” away

Which of the 4 major solar storms is a CONSTANT stream of high energy particles from the sun?

A: solar wind – a constant stream of high energy particles that is shot from the sun’s corona.

The darker, cooler spots on the surface of the sun are called

_____________.

A: sunspots

The collisions between solar wind and the Earth’s atmosphere cause

beautiful light shows and the north and south poles called __________

A: auroras

Which 2 types of solar storms have the ability to knock out satellites and communication grids on Earth?

A: Solar wind and solar flares

What is the formula for eccentricity?A: distance between foci/length of major axis.

Distance between foci

Length of major axis

FINAL JEOPARDY – write down the

amount of points you want to wager. You

have 10 seconds.

List the layers of the sun, beginning from the inside and moving out.ANSWER:1)Core 2)Radiative Zone.3)Convective Zone

4)Photosphere 5)Chromo sphere

6)Corona