Physics Topic 8 Space

Question 1

What do observations of supernovae suggest?

Answer 1

The distant galaxies are receding ever faster.

Question 2

What is a satellite

Answer 2

Anything that orbits the planet

Question 3

What are the two types of satellite

Answer 3

Natural and artificial

Question 4

When do we use solar system

Answer 4

When we are talking about OUR sun and surrounding planets

Question 5

For any other star with planets around it, what term do we use

Answer 5

Star system

Question 6

What are asteroids made of

Answer 6

Mostly rock and metal

Question 7

Where are asteroids found

Answer 7

Asteroid belt

Question 8

What are comets made of

Answer 8

Ice and dust

Question 9

How do we measure distances in space

Answer 9

Light years (9.5 trillion km)

Question 10

Describe the cycle of a red giant

Answer 10

1. It becomes unstable and it’s core collapses
2. This leaves behind a hot, dense, solid core called a white dwarf
3. This then gets cooler and darker because it emits all its energy making it a black dwarf
4. This appears dark because it doesn’t have enough energy to emit light

Question 11

Describe the life cycle of a super red giant

Answer 11

1. They start to shine even brighter because they undergo more nuclear fusion
2. After several cycles of expansion and contraction they explode into a supernova
3. If the supernova is very big it will condense into a neutron star
4. If the supernova is massive it will collapse into on itself into a black hole

Question 12

Why do we call black holes, black holes

Answer 12

They are so dense, gravity is able to pull in any light that passes near by so appear as empty spaces

Question 13

Life cycle of a main sequence star

Answer 13

1. Dust and gas come together due to gravity to form a protostar
2. When temperature and pressure get high enough nucear fusion happens
3. This forms a main sequence star

Question 14

How are red giants formed from main sequence stars

Answer 14

After billions of years and all hydrogen has been exhausted

Question 16

What are elements heavier than iron formed by?

Answer 16

Supernovas

Question 17

What is an orbit

Answer 17

the curved path of one celestial object or spacecraft, around another celestial object.

Question 18

What’s Newton’s first law

Answer 18

An object travelling at a certain velocity will continue to travel at that velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force

Question 19

What does velocity measure

Answer 19

Speed and direction

Question 20

What happens to an objects speed the closer it gets to the earth

Answer 20

Speed will increase to maintain a stable orbit

Question 21

What is Cosmic microwave background radiation

Answer 21

is electromagnetic radiation that is observed in all directions.

Question 22

What is red shift

Answer 22

The observed increase in wavelength as galaxies move away from us

Question 23

What does the Big Bang Theory suggest

Answer 23

that the universe began from a very small region that was extremely hot and dense.

Question 24

What evidence does red shift provide form

Answer 24

That space itself is expanding and supports the Big Bang theory

Question 25

Why does red shift occur

Answer 25

the light emitted by an object moving away from us will be stretched.