Space-Space exploration

Question 1

What is a planet?

Answer 1

A spherical object orbiting a star that has cleared its orbit.

Question 2

What is a dwarf planet?

Answer 2

A spherical object orbiting a star that has not cleared its orbit.

Question 3

What is a moon?

Answer 3

A natural satellite that orbits a planet.

Question 4

What is the Sun?

Answer 4

The star at the centre of our solar system.

Question 5

What is an asteroid?

Answer 5

A small rocky object orbiting the Sun.

Question 6

What is the solar system?

Answer 6

The Sun and all objects that orbit it.

Question 7

What is a star?

Answer 7

A massive ball of hot gases producing energy by nuclear fusion.

Question 8

What is an exoplanet?

Answer 8

A planet orbiting a star outside our solar system.

Question 9

What is a galaxy?

Answer 9

A huge collection of billions of stars held together by gravity.

Question 10

What is the universe?

Answer 10

All space, time, matter and energy.

Question 11

State one benefit of GPS satellites.

Answer 11

They provide accurate navigation and location services.

Question 12

State one benefit of weather satellites.

Answer 12

They allow monitoring and forecasting of weather.

Question 13

State one benefit of communication satellites.

Answer 13

They transmit TV, internet and phone signals.

Question 14

What is the period of a geostationary satellite?

Answer 14

24 hours.

Question 15

What is the altitude of a geostationary orbit?

Answer 15

36 000 km.

Question 16

What happens to orbital period as altitude increases?

Answer 16

It increases.

Question 17

What is an ion drive?

Answer 17

A drive producing a small unbalanced force over a long time to reach high velocity.

Question 18

What is a gravity assist?

Answer 18

Using a planet or moon’s motion to increase spacecraft speed.

Question 19

Why is manoeuvring difficult in space?

Answer 19

There is no friction, so motion continues unless forces act.

Question 20

Why do solar cells need larger area far from the Sun?

Answer 20

Solar intensity decreases with distance.

Question 21

Name one risk of manned space travel: fuel.

Answer 21

Large fuel loads increase danger during launch.

Question 22

Name one risk of manned space travel: radiation.

Answer 22

Astronauts are exposed to higher radiation levels.

Question 23

Name one risk of manned space travel: pressure.

Answer 23

Space is a vacuum, so pressure differences are dangerous.

Question 24

Name one risk of manned space travel: re-entry.

Answer 24

Atmospheric friction causes extreme heating.

Question 25

State Newton's Second Law.

Answer 25

F = m a.

Question 26

State Newton's Third Law.

Answer 26

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Question 27

What is the relationship between weight and mass?

Answer 27

W = m g.

Question 28

What stays constant: mass or weight?

Answer 28

Mass.

Question 29

What changes with gravitational field strength?

Answer 29

Weight.