Final Exam Flashcards - Part 1

Flashcards covering key concepts from the first part of the final exam checklist, including electromagnetism, planetary science, stellar physics, and galactic features.

Right-Hand Rule Application

Apply the right-hand rule to determine the direction of electrical and magnetic fields, and understand its use in motors and generators for creating alternating current.

Electrical Calculations

Calculate current, charge, voltage, resistances, power loss, and the number of coils in a transformer for voltage stepdown using given formulas (P = iV, V = iR, P = i2R, etc.).

Direct vs. Alternating Current

Understand the practical applications and limitations of both direct and alternating current.

Planetary Science

Nebular theory, 3 essential characteristics of a planet, solar and lunar eclipses, terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars), Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune), Kuiper belt, asteroid belt, Oort cloud, comets.

Astronomical Significance

Focault’s pendulum, Eratosthenes calculation, Römer’s method/Huygen’s, opposition, conjunction, superior conjunction, inferior conjunction, celestial coordinate system (right ascension, declination, apparent magnitude).

Stellar Distance Calculation

Calculate the distance of stars using stellar parallax (d = 1/φ) and convert between parsecs and light-years (1 pc = 3.26 ly).

Jupiter and Saturn's Moons

Key features of Jupiter and Saturn and the significance of their moons: Enceladus, Titan, Io, Europa (especially regarding potential for biospheres).

5 Major Dwarf Planets

Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake, Haumea

Exoplanet Detection Methods

Direct imaging, transit method, wobble observations.

Colonizing Mars and Venus

Particular features of colonizing Mars and Venus and the advantages/disadvantages, understand bow shocks of induced vs natural magnetic fields on Venus and Earth.

Cassini-Huygens Mission

Use the slingshot effect to launch Cassini-Huygens to Saturn and major findings of that mission (rings of system).

Life Cycle of Stars

Protostar, Type I and II supernovas, white dwarfs, red giants-to-red supergiants, black holes, neutron stars, key features of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (including gyrochronology, absolute magnitude).

Galactic/Extra-Galactic Features

3 main types (elliptical, irregular, spiral), understand where our sun fits in, starbursts, clusters and superclusters, application of Hubble’s Law (age of universe, cosmic background radiation, Big Bang theory), dark matter, dark energy.