AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term _ multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards _ Quizlet
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Rio Salado Community College *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
101
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
Pages
12
Uploaded by Presleeswern
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
1/12
Try the fastest way to create flashcards
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions
12 studiers today
5.0 (2 reviews)
Science
Students also viewed
Terms in this set (184)
Others also viewed these textbooks
Search for a textbook or question
Mechanics of Materials
7th Edition
•
ISBN: 9780073398235 (1 more)
David Mazurek, E. Russell Johnston, Ferdinand Beer, John T. DeWolf
1,579 solutions
A
1
E
quiz 6
20 terms
luckylaney
Preview
quiz 4
20 terms
luckylaney
Preview
AST101 Midterm Essay Questions- Ri
...
18 terms
emily_holdaway
Preview
Econ Study Guide 2
53 terms
kayanne430
Preview
moon phases
7 terms
quizlette1147
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
2/12
Three Hallmarks of Science
A)1) modern science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on natural causes
2) science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature that explain the observations as
simply as possible
3) a scientific model must make testable predictions about natural phenomena that would force us to revise or
abandon the model if the predictions did not agree with observations
Describe the Ptolemaic model of the solar system. How did Ptolemy
account for the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?
The Ptolemaic model of the solar system declared that each planet moves around a small circle that turns into a
big circle around the earth.
The system was mathematically complex, but it could correctly predict planetary positions within a few degrees
of arc. The little circle that turns into a big circle explained the retrograde motion by stating that while the
planets were in a loop, the planet appears to be moving backward.
Accomplishment of Galileo
backed up the helicentric veiw, found that the moon has a rocky and mountainus surface
Accomplishment of Copernicus
Discovered simple geometric relationships that strengthened his belief in sun-centered idea by calculating each
planet's orbital period and distance.
Accomplishment of Tycho Brahe
Observed a comet and showed it "too lay in the realm of the heavens" Advocated that the Sun orbits the Earth,
and the other planets orbit the Sun.
Accomplishment of Kepler
Discovered that planetary orbits are not circles but type of oval called ellipse and Created the laws of planetary
motion
Accomplishment of Newton
Discovered Newton's first law, which explains why objects that share Earth's motion thorough space should stay
with Earth rather than falling behind.
Suppose a solar system has a star that is four times more massive than
the Sun. If that solar system has a planet the same size as Earth, orbiting
at a distance of 1 AU, what is the orbital period of the planet? Explain.
The orbital period of the planet would be six months. Kepler's Law states that the period depends on the inverse
square root of the object masses. If the star is four times the size of the star, that means half the time which
equals six months.
Is the gravitational attraction between the Earth and Sun greater than or
less than the gravitational attraction between Jupiter and the Sun? By
approximately how much? How do you know?
The gravitational attraction between the earth and the Sun is greater than the gravitational attraction between
Jupiter and the Sun because the Earth is closer to the Sun, therefore the Sun's gravity is stronger.
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
3/12
Explain why Mercury, Venus, and the Moon do not have significant
erosion. Relate erosional activity to planetary size and distance from
the Sun.
Mercury, Venus, and the moon do not have significant erosion because of their size and distance from the Sun.
Since Venus is so close to the Sun and has a thicker atmosphere, water has been dried up. Mercury ans the moon
are so small that impact craters have probably covered up significant erosion.
Suppose Mars had turned out to be significantly smaller than its current
size, say about the size of the Moon. How would this have affected the
number of geological features on Mars due to each of the four major
geological processes?
Impact Cratering- Less because volcanic lava will cover up most of it.
Volcanism- Increase and cover craters.
Tectonics- More active because they're closer together.
Erosion- More erosion because of smaller surface.
Describe how the greenhouse effect makes a planetary surface warmer
than it would be otherwise.
The greenhouse effect is when atmospheric gases trap heat and warm up the planet. The greenhouse gases,
water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane absorb infrared light and slowly returns it to space. Photons are
absorbed by different gas molecules which slows down the escape of infrared radiation. This process makes the
planet's surface warmer than it would be without it.
Volcanoes on Earth and Venus both presumably emitted similar kinds of
gas. Explain how their atmospheres ended up so different.
Earth and Venus have different atmosphere's because Venus is 30% closer to the Sun than Earth is. This closeness
causes a runaway greenhouse effect. A runaway greenhouse effect is when feedback between the atmosphere
and surface temperature increase the greenhouse effect to the point where the oceans evaporate. Earth has the
perfect temperature for life through the greenhouse effect, which heats up the planet without letting more
greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere.
Describe the three sources of internal heat of the terrestrial planets.
When and how was each important for the Earth?
The three sources of internal heat is convection, planetary size, and lithospheric thickness. Convection is when
hot material expands and cools as it rises it upward. Planetary size affects lithospheric thickness which keeps the
planet geologically active. Internal heat is important because it fuels Earth's magnetic field which acts like a
protective bubble from solar wind.
Describe at least two similarities and two differences between the
asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt. Consider things like composition,
location in the solar system, and orbits. Explain why they have these
similarities and differences.
Both the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt are composed of asteroids and are affected by orbital resonances of
Jovian planets. The asteroid belt is located between Jupiter and Mars and is influenced by Jupiter's orbit and
asteroids are nudged out of orbit very slowly through orbital resonances. The Kuiper belt is beyond the orbit of
Neptune. Asteroids in the Kuiper belt can by nudged by orbital resonances, but it is much less likely because it is
not as close to a large Jovian planet like the asteroid belt is.
Why are the same meteor showers seen on about the same date each
year? What is the source of the material for meteor showers? Why are
meteor showers most easily seen after midnight looking roughly east?
Meteor showers are seen around the same date each year because they can only be seen when Earth's orbit
aligns with a comet's orbit, presenting multiple meteors at a time. The source of materials for meteor showers is
dust and ice from comet trails. Meteor showers are easily seen after midnight looking in the east because they
comets are located in the east and right after midnight, the sky is facing in the direction of Earth's motion.
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
4/12
Describe the evidence suggesting that a 10 km diameter asteroid or
comet hit Earth at the time of the dinosaur extinction. Explain how such
an impact could lead to a mass extinction
Dinosaur fossils were found in abundance dating back 65 million years, craters have been found that are large
enough for there to be catastrophic to the planet. The impact would burn up a large piece of the Earth, then hot
debris would rain down the rest of the world and volcanoes would be much more active.
Suppose the planet Jupiter had never formed. How do you think the
distribution of asteroids and comets in the solar system would differ?
Explain.
If Jupiter had never existed, its gravity would not have prevented asteroidal material from accreting into a single
planet outside of Mars. Comets would not have been flung into the Oort cloud or completely out of the solar
system to as great a degree (though the outer jovian planets may have performed this function).
What defines a Planet
1.Planets orbit stars directly (not other planets).
2. Planets must be massive enough for their own gravity to compress them into spherical shapes.
3. Planets must have cleared their orbits. That is, there can't be a lot of other stuff orbiting the parent star in
orbits very similar to the planet.
define Moons
A moon is any large body which orbits a planet.
The Inner Solar System
Mercery, Venus, Earth & Mars
The Outer Solar System
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, dwarf plants & comets
Terrestrial planets
(Earth like)
small, rocky, thin or no atmosphere, few moons, made of heavy elements
Jovian planets
(Jupiter like)
large, liquid + gas, small rocky core, many moons, made of light elements
Mercury
No Atmosphere, Highly cratered surface, Iron core, extreme temperature fluctuation (-170
°
c & 420
°
c), No Moons
Venus
Thick CO2 Atmosphere, Lots of Volcanic activity, same size as Earth, Temperature 460
°
c caused by greenhouse
effect (all that CO2)
Mars
Thin CO2 atmosphere, Hug/extinct volcanoes, sub-surface water
Asteroid Belt
located Between Mars and Jupiter
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
5/12
Jupiter
Largest Planet, thick gas atmosphere surrounds giant ball of liquid hydrogen, earth sized rock in centre, has faint
rings, 60 know moons
Saturn
mostly gas, Rings, more then 60 moons
Uranus and Neptune
NOTE: Uranus is tipped over so that sun is directly above Northern
hemsphere
made of mostly slushy ice, both blue, C. same size, many moons, faint rings.
Kuiper Belt
is a ring of comets orbiting just beyond Neptune.
Oort Cloud
is a spherical cloud of perhaps a trillion comets surrounding the solar system
Earth
23.5 degrees axis tilt, Rotates every 24 hours and orbits the sun every 365 days. Keep in mind 1AU (astronomical
unites) is the distance from earth to the sun.
Summer solstice:
(this would be winter in southern Hemisphere)
Northern Hemisphere tilted maximally toward the Sun, so it's warm
Winter solstice:
(this would be summer in southern Hemisphere)
Northern Hemisphere tilted maximally away from the Sun, so it's cold
Sun: Core
15 Million
°
C
50% of mass, Nuclear reactions take place here, 25% of radius
Sun: Radiative Zone
Few million
°
C
49% mass, Light & heat travels outward from the core, 25-70% of radius
Sun: Convection zone
1 million
°
C
1% mass, Churning of hot gas rising and cold bass falling, 70-100% of radius
Sun: Photosphere
5500
°
C
Visible surface of Sun changes from Transparent to Opaque, has granulation that last 5-10 min each
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
6/12
Sun: Corona
(can see only during total solar eclipse)
Halo of gas above photosphere and chromosphere. 1 million
°
C
Nuclear Fusion
15 million
°
c atoms move fast enough to stick.
4 Hydrogen atoms come together through the PP process to create Helium The PP process converts mass into
energy (E = mc2). Creates neutrinos
Products of Pp chain
4 hydrogen
—
> 1 Helium nuclei and energy
Proton-Proton Chain in Steps
1) 2 protons make contact causing 1 proton to lose its positive charge (shoots out a positron & Neutrino) which
turns it into a neutron.
2) Another proton makes contact with the proton & neutron & sticks creating hydrogen3 Isotope
(2protons,1neutron)
3) Then 2 Hydrogen3 Isotopes slam into each other creating a Helium atom (2protons,2Neutrons), while
releasing the 2 excess Protons
Hydrostatic Equilibrium
(the Cause of the cores heat in the sun)
>Hot gas has pressure, which tries to make the Sun expand
>Gravity pulls inward, which tries to make the Sun collapse
Sunspots
(occurs usually in 11 year cycles)
Cooler regions on surface(temperature 3500
°
C) usually seen in pairs. Its cause by strong magnetism prevents
hot gas from rising up.
speed
How far something will go in a certain amount of Time
Velocity
Speed and Direction
Acceleration
(note in science Acceleration can represents both increasing of
decreasing in speed)
acceleration if its velocity is changing in any way, whether in speed or direction or both.
Kepler's 3rd Law
Kepler's third law tells us that more distant planets orbit the Sun at slower average speeds, obeying a precise
mathematical relationship. P2=a3 (P=Planets orbit & a= astronomical units or AU)
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
7/12
Eccentricity
Eccentricity describes how much an ellipse deviates from a perfect circle. In other words an Ellipse with a more
oval shape has a higher Eccentricity. To Calculate the eccentricity you dived the distance from the centre to the
focus=C by the semimajor axis=A (Equation: E=c/a)
Newton's 1st laws
Newton's first law: An object moves at constant velocity if there is no net force acting upon it.
Newton's 2nd law
force = mass X acceleration (F = ma)
e.g. The force your arm delivers to both the baseball and the shot equals the product of mass and acceleration.
Because the mass of the shot is greater than that of the baseball, the same force from your arm gives the shot a
smaller acceleration.
Newton's 3rd law
For any force, there is always an equal and opposite reaction force. Important because it tells us that objects
always attract each other through gravity.
e.g. Your body always exerts a gravitational force on Earth identical to the force that Earth exerts on you, except
that it acts in the opposite direction. Of course, the same force means a much greater acceleration for you than
for Earth (because your mass is so much smaller than Earth's), which is why you fall toward Earth when you jump
offa chair, rather than Earth falling toward you.
law of conservation of momentum
states that as long as there are no external forces, the total momentum of interacting objects cannot change; that
is, their total momentum is conserved.
law of conservation of angular momentum
states that as long as there is no external torque, the total angular momentum of a set of interacting objects
cannot change. This explains why plants orbit.
law of conservation of energy.
This law tells us that, like momentum and angular momentum, energy cannot appear out of nowhere or
disappear into nothingness. Objects can gain or lose energy only by exchanging energy with other objects.
Kinetic Energy
(Important to Note: Thermal energy is Kinetic energy)
Falling rocks, orbiting planets, and the molecules moving in the air are all examples of objects with kinetic
energy. Thermal energy is a sub-group of Kinetic energy because it cause molecules to move.
Radiative energy (light energy)
All light carries energy, which is why light can cause changes in matter. e.g. light can alter molecules in our eyes-
-thereby allowing us to see--or warm the surface of a planet. or Photons can alter the charge on an electron.
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
8/12
potential energy
stored energy which might later be converted into kinetic or radiative energy.
1.gravitational potential energy depends on its mass and how far it can fall as a result of gravity.
2. mass-energy: The Sun generates energy by convert- ing a tiny fraction of its mass into energy through a similar
process of nuclear fusion
Light Waves
>wavelength: distance between two peaks (or troughs)
•
>frequency: no. of times per second a peak passes you
>speed: rate at which a peak (or trough) travels
where speed = wavelength x frequency
Blackbody Radiation
Any "solid" (opaque) object emits light via "thermal radiation"
>Law 1:
hotter objects are brighter
>Law 2:
hotter objects are bluer
when reading a Graph:
>Law 1: for hotter objects, whole spectrum moves up
>Law 2: for hotter objects, the peak of the spectrum moves to the left (shorter wavelength, higher energy)
Atoms
The number of protons determines which element the atom is composed of
The number of electrons is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus
Phases of Matter
>Solid: Atoms or molecules are held in a rigid structure
>Liquid: Atoms or molecules are stuck together, but can change their positions
>Gas: Atoms or molecules move around independently (surface of sun)
>Plasma: When a material is very hot, the electrons separate from the nucleus (interior of the sun)
>Ionized: Protons fuse together while electrons remain free moving with a few free moving protons
Doppler Effect with Light
things Closer appear in shorter, blueish wavelengths, while thing further appear with longer, reddish weave
lengths.
Waves frequency and energy
Short wavelength with higher frequency has more energy. Longer wavelengths with low frequency has less
energy.
Moon synchronous Rotation
From Earth we always see (nearly*) the same face of the Moon. This happens because the Moon rotates on its
axis in the same amount of time it takes to orbit Earth, a trait called synchronous rotation. This is caused by the
earth creating tidal bulges on the moon.
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
9/12
Eclipses
1. The phase of the Moon must be full (for a lunar eclipse) or new (for a solar eclipse).
2. The new or full moon must occur during one of the periods when the nodes of the Moon's orbit are aligned
with the Sun and Earth.
Chemical Reaction
Fire, rust, and the discoloration of freshly cut fruits and vegetables are everyday examples of chemical reactions
that remove oxygen from the atmosphere
Similar reactions between oxygen and surface materials (especially iron-bearing minerals) give rise to the
reddish appearance of much of Earth's rock and clay,
Plants and many microorganisms release oxygen through photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis takes in CO2 and, through a complex chain of chemical reactions, releases O2.
Radial Velocity/doppler shift Method
Used to find by measuring motion of star. The exoplanets gravity on the star will cause a tug which makes the
star wobble. As the star moves in its tiny ellipse away from the planet and towards use it will appear blue shift
and red shift when it moves away from us an towards the start. Fallows laws of Doppler shift .
what we Learn from Radial Velocity method
we can learn about orbital period distance from the star and the Mass of the exoplanet (bigger planets cause
more effect on star) using this method.
Why do we have seasons?
tilt of the earth's axis (not changing distance from the sun)
Waxing phases of the moon
Moon visible in afternoon and evening, gets fuller and rises later each day
Waning phases of the moon
Moon visible in the late night/morning, gets less full and sets later each day
How often do we get an eclipse
About every six months
Before Copernicus
Earth stays in place and everything else moves, heavens are perfect, earth is centre of universe
Ptolemy's Model
Geocentric, circles around circles
Copernicus' model
Heliocentric, sun at centre everything else goes around
Brahe
Amassed nearly 20 years worth of astrological data that eventually led to the disproval of the geocentric theory.
Kepler's First Law
The orbit of each planet around the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
Kepler's second law
The closer an object is to the body it's orbiting, the faster it moves in an ellipse
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
10/12
Gallileo
-moons orbiting Jupiter, so not everything orbits earth
-moon is not a perfect sphere
-Venus has phases consistent w Heliocentric model
Universal Law of Gravitation
the gravitational force between objects depends on their masses and decreases rapidly as the distance between
the objects increase
Location of tidal bulges
One facing moon, one facing away from moon, point closest to moon experiences greatest force
spring tide
a tide just after a new or full moon, when there is the greatest difference between high and low water.
neap tide
a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is the least difference between high and low
water.
What is the sun made of?
70 percent hydrogen, 28 percent helium, 2 percent other elements
emission of light
the process by which matter emits energy in the form of light (ie lightbulb)
Reflection
Light reflected off of a surface (scattered)
Absorption
Light disappears into something (ie eye, black cloth)
Transmission
the passage of light through an object, ie through a window
Components of a wave
Wavelength, frequency, speed
absorption lines
a set of dark lines that show frequencies at which light has been absorbed by an electron from a star's bright
spectrum
condensation
the process in which solid (or liquid) particles form in a gas
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
11/12
We have an expert-written solution to this problem!
which of the following of the statements does not use the term light-
year in an appropriate way?
(a) It's about 4 light-years from here to Alpha Centauri.
(b) It will take me light-years to complete this homework assignment.
(c) A light-year is about 10 trillion kilometers.
(d) It will take the Voyager spacecraft about 20,000 years to travel just 1
light-year.
(e) The Milky Way Galaxy is about 100,000 light-years in diameter.
b
What are the 4 major categories of the solar nebula (condensation
sequence)
hydrogen & helim gas , hydrogen compounds, rock, & metals
which of the following is smallest?
a) size of a typical planet
(b) 1 light-year
(c) 1 AU
(d) size of a typical star
a
Different materials condense at different __________
temperatures
What is an astronomical unit (AU)?
(a) The average speed of Earth around the Sun
(b) The length of time it takes Earth to revolve around the Sun
(c) The average distance from Earth to the Sun
(d) The diameter of Earth's orbit around the Sun
(e) Any basic unit used in astronomy
c
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
12/11/23, 1:49 PM
AST 101 Rio Salado Mid-Term : multiple choice & essay questions Flashcards | Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/439775432/ast-101-rio-salado-mid-term-multiple-choice-essay-questions-flash-cards/
12/12
Explain the condensation sequence
- 98% of the solar nebula is made of hydrogen and helium gas which does not condense anywhere
- Within the frost line, rocks and metals condense and hydrogen compounds stay gaseous
- Beyond the frost line, hydrogen compounds, rocks, and metals condense
- This birthed the two types of planets : terrestrial planets which formed in the warm inner regions & terrestrial
planets that formed in the cool outer regions
ADVERTISEMENT
Flashcards
Learn
Test
Match
Q-Chat
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help