Postmodernism, Cosmic Formation, and the Sun

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to postmodernism, cosmic formation, and the Sun.

Postmodernism

A movement characterized by a questioning of traditional narratives and ideologies, often exploring the relationship between reality and representation.

Simulation

The imitation of a process or system for the purpose of study or experimentation.

Simulacrum

An image or representation of someone or something; in postmodernist theory, a copy without an original.

Hyperreality

A condition in which reality is replaced by a simulated version of reality, often through media and culture.

Ideology

A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Jouissance

A French term referring to a pleasure derived from a sense of enjoyment that can also involve pain or discomfort.

Contradictions

The existence of opposing ideas or statements that reveal deeper truths.

Gravitational Waves

Ripples in spacetime caused by certain movements of mass, such as merging black holes.

Quantum Mechanics (QM)

The branch of physics that deals with the behavior of very small particles at the atomic and subatomic levels.

General Relativity (GR)

Einstein's theory describing the gravitational force as a curvature of spacetime caused by mass.

Oort Cloud

A hypothetical cloud of icy bodies surrounding the solar system, believed to be the source of long-period comets.

Dark Matter

A form of matter that does not emit light or energy, making it invisible, yet exerts gravitational effects in galaxies.

Dark Energy

A mysterious form of energy causing the accelerated expansion of the universe.

Protosun

The early stage of the Sun's formation, when it began to accumulate mass from the solar nebula.

Nuclear Fusion

The process by which hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium, releasing energy, and powering stars.

Planets

Large celestial bodies that orbit stars, formed from the collisions and accretion of smaller objects in protoplanetary disks.

Cosmic Acceleration

The phenomenon wherein the universe's rate of expansion increases over time, attributed to dark energy.

Milky Way Galaxy

The galaxy that contains our solar system, characterized by its spiral structure.

Red Giant

A late stage in a star's life when it has consumed its hydrogen fuel and expands in size.

White Dwarf

The remnants of a star that has shed its outer layers, characterized by a dense core.

Black Dwarf

A theoretical end state of a white dwarf, when it has cooled and no longer emits significant heat or light.

Solar Nebula

A rotating cloud of gas and dust from which the solar system formed.

Planetesimals

Small celestial objects that coalesce to form planets.

Habitable Zone

The region around a star where conditions may be right for liquid water to exist.

Big Bang

The leading explanation for the origin of the universe, describing an expansion from a singular point.

Luminosity

The intrinsic brightness of a celestial object, often used to gauge its energy output.

Spacetime

The four-dimensional continuum that combines three-dimensional space and time.

Quantum of Spacetime

The theoretical smallest unit or 'atom' of spacetime.

Electromagnetic Signals

Waves of electromagnetic radiation that can carry information or energy through space.

Astrophysics

The branch of astronomy that deals with the physical properties and underlying processes of celestial bodies.

Thermonuclear

Pertaining to the nuclear reactions that occur at extremely high temperatures and pressure.

Black Hole

A region of spacetime exhibiting gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing can escape from it.

Gravitational Collapse

The process by which an astronomical object collapses under its own gravity.

Cosmology

The scientific study of the large scale properties of the universe as a whole.

Photosphere

The visible surface of the Sun from which sunlight is emitted.

Radiative Zone

The layer of the Sun where energy moves outward primarily through radiation.

Convective Zone

The outer layer of a star where convection currents transport energy.

Chronosphere

The layer of the Sun's atmosphere above the photosphere, visible during solar eclipses.

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

A significant release of plasma and magnetic field from the solar corona.

Astrobiology

The study of the origin, evolution, and potential for life in the universe.

Nuclear Reaction

A process in which atomic nuclei interact, resulting in the release of energy.

Astrobiological Conditions

Environmental states that may support life, including atmospheric composition and temperature.

Potential Energy

The energy held by an object due to its position relative to other objects.

Energetic Processes

Transformations of energy that occur in physical systems, particularly in stars.

Formation of Stars

The process by which clouds of dust and gas condense to become stars.

Supernova

An astronomical event that occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star's life, resulting in a tremendous explosion.

Redshift

A phenomenon in which light from an object is increased in wavelength, often used to measure the distance to galaxies.

Virial Theorem

A relation that describes the average kinetic and potential energy of a stable system in equilibrium.

Equilibrium

A state of balance between opposing forces or influences.

Planetary Differentiation

The process by which a planet develops different layers based on density and composition.

Solar System Dynamics

The study of the motions and interactions of the bodies within a solar system.