Chapter 24: Earth and Solar system

A collection of vocabulary terms covering Earth's geography, moon phases, solar system components, and orbital mechanics.

Equator

Imaginary line drawn round the Farth betwee North and South poles

New Moon

The starting phase of the Moon's cycle.

Waning crescent

A phase of the moon occurring after the third quater.

Third quater

A phase of the moon occurring after waning gibons.

Waning gibons

A phase of the moon occurring after the Full moon.

Full Moon

A phase of the moon occurring after waxing gibons.

Waxing gibons

A phase of the moon occurring after the first quater.

First quater

A phase of the moon occurring after waxing crescent.

Waxing crescent

A phase of the moon occurring after the New moon.

Comets

A part of the solar system consisting of a ball of ice, dust, gas.

Accertion

Coming together of matter under the influence of gravity to form larger bodies.

Accretion disc

Sotally dis of maller formed by accertion.

Ellipse

Squasted circle - shape of orbits of the planet.

Eccentricity

Measure of how elleptical a obied is.

Focus

Point close to the center of ellipse where the sun is present.

Orbital Speed

Calculated using the formula $\frac{2 \times \pi \times \text{orbital radius}}{\text{orbital period}}$

Orbital radius

Distance between planet and sun.

Orbital period

Time date any arond.

Planet Energy (Nearest to Sun)

At the point nearest to the sun, a planet has the least $G.P.E$ and most kinetic energy.