P6- Space physics

Question 1

What odes a solar system contain [5]

Answer 1

1. one star (sun)
2. 8 planets
3. minor plants/dwarf planets
4. asteroids
5. moons

Question 2

order of the planets from the sun [8]

Answer 2

1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Jupiter
6. Saturn
7. Uranus
8. Neptune

Question 3

what is a light year

Answer 3

the distance light travels in space in one year

Question 4

How much is one light year

Answer 4

9.5 x 10¹⁵ m

Question 5

what is the speed of light

Answer 5

3x10⁸ m/s

Question 6

how long does it take for light from the sun to reach the earth?

Answer 6

8 minutes

Question 7

Why do the planets orbit the Sun

Answer 7

It contains most of the mass in the solar system- the greatter the object, the greater the attraction

Question 8

what force keeps objects in orbit around sun?

Answer 8

gravitational attraction of the sun

Question 9

Characteristics of the sun [2]

Answer 9

1. Medium sized star
2. consists mostly of hydrogen and helium

Question 10

What rays does the sun emit?

Answer 10

infrared, visible, and ultraviolet region of the em spectrum

Question 11

What is the orbital speed equation

Answer 11

v = 2πr/T
T= orbital period

Question 12

What happens when an object’s distance from the sun increases? [2]

Answer 12

Strength of sun’ds gravitaional speed decreases.
Orbital speed of planet decreases.

Question 13

What are stars powered by [2]

Answer 13

nuclear reactions that release energy
(stable stars: fusion of H and He)

Question 14

How are stable stars formed?

Answer 14

Formed as protostars from interstellar clouds of gas and dust- due to gravitational attraction

Question 15

Next stages of life- small mass star (⁓ sun mass)

Answer 15

red giant–> white dwarf + planetary nebula

Question 16

Next stages of life- large mass star

Answer 16

red supergiant–> supernova –> neutron star

Question 17

Next stages of life- very large mass star

Answer 17

red supergiant–> supernova–> black hole

Question 18

What are galaxies made up of

Answer 18

many billion stars

Question 19

diameter of the Milky way

Answer 19

100,000 light years

Question 20

What is the big bang theory?

Answer 20

1. universe expanded from a single point of high density and temp
2. universe is still expanding

Question 21

How old is the Universe

Answer 21

13.8 billion years old