Astro 7N: The Artistic Universe - Unit 3 Review

A set of key vocabulary flashcards related to Unit 3 of the Astro 7N course covering various astronomical concepts and terminologies.

Luminosity

The absolute power output of a star at its source.

Brightness

The apparent output of a star as observed from a distance.

Inverse-Square Law

A law that states brightness is proportional to luminosity and inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.

Proton-Proton Chain

A series of nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun that converts protons into helium, releasing energy.

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (H-R Diagram)

A graph that plots luminosity against surface temperature of stars.

Red Dwarfs

Cool, faint, and small stars found on the lower right of the H-R diagram.

White Dwarfs

Hot, small, and dim remnants of low-mass stars located on the lower left of the H-R diagram.

Neutron Stars

A type of stellar remnant that occurs when the core of a massive star collapses after a supernova.

Black Holes

Regions of space having gravitational fields so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

Habitable Zone

The region around a star where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.

Drake Equation

An equation used to estimate the number of communicable civilizations in our galaxy.

Solar Wind

Charged particles released from the Sun's surface into space.

Sunspots

Slightly cooler regions on the Sun’s surface caused by magnetic activity.

Parallax

A method used to measure the distances to nearby stars by observing their apparent movement against a backdrop of distant stars.

Main Sequence

A continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on the H-R diagram.

Gamma Rays

High-energy photons emitted from the core of the Sun during nuclear fusion.

Protosun

The early stage of the Sun's formation before it became a fully-fledged star.

Supernova

A stellar explosion that occurs at the end of a massive star's life cycle.

Planetary Nebula

An astronomical object formed by the ejection of the outer layers of low to intermediate mass stars.