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lecture + slides + textbook :D
What is cosmology?
The study of the overall universe.
What is the definition of the Universe?
All of space and all the matter and energy within it.
What is a star?
An immense ball of incandescent gas that emits intense heat and light.
What is a galaxy?
Billions of stars held together in immense groups.
What was the first thing to happen during the big bang?
Energy formed subatomic particles
What happened a few minutes after the big bang?
The subatomic particles formed together to create hydrogen.
What is the first element?
Hydrogen
What is the second element?
Helium
How was helium made?
Hydrogen atoms combined together.
What is a planet defined as?
An object that orbits a star, roughly spherical, and pulled in all particles of matter that had one been in orbit.
What is an ecliptic?
It is the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
What are terrestrial planets?
Planets that are comparable in size and character to Earth; also has a metallic core w/rock mantle.
What are asteroids?
Fragments of solid material from left over planet formations or collisions of planetesimals.
What are comets?
Balls of ice and dust, probably from the formation of the Solar System.
What is the expanding universe theory?
The universe is expanding because galaxies seem to be moving further away from us. (raisin bread analogy)
What is nuclear fusion?
The process where atoms fuse together and create larger atoms.
What do researchers call the formation of new nuclei in the first few minutes of existence?
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
What are the nebulae?
Atoms and molecules slowed down and accumulated into patchy clouds.
What is a vacuum?
Space that contains little matter in a given volume.
What are nebulous clouds?
Clouds of matter that grew mass under gravitational attraction, compared, and began to rotate in a flatten disk.
What is an accretion disk?
A pancake-shaped accumulation of matter that forms a nebula, the transforms into a star and associated planets.
What is a protostar?
A dense body of gas that is collapsing inwards due to gravity → becomes a star.
What are the four types of galaxies?
Spiral, elliptical, peculiar, and irregular?
What is a Supernova?
Explosion marking the death of a very large star; produces heavy elements
What is a Stellar Nucleosynthesis?
Produced massive elements (Up to Fe/Iron)
What is the Nebular Theory?
Planets out of rings of gas, dust, and ice surrounding a new born star.
What is a protoplanetary disk?
Region of gas and dust, surrounding the newborn Sun where planets formed.
The sun comprises about _____ percent of all mass in our solar system.
99.8
What are volatile materials?
Low temps and gaseous forms on Earth’s surface. (ex. Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, Water, etc.)
What are refractory materials?
Materials with a high melting point and exist in solid forms.
What is differentiation?
Denser elements accumulated at the center of the planet to create the core & lighter elements remained toward the surface.
What is a Protoplanetary Disk?
The plate-shaped region of gas and dust, surrounding the newborn Sun, from which the planets formed.
What are the 3 Results of Differentiation?
Formed Magnetosphere (Earth’s shell)
Formed Atmosphere (Hydrogen & Helium → Oxygen and Nitrogen)
Formed tectonic plates.
What is a Dipole?
A magnetic field with a north and south pole. (Auroras occur here due to each pole being the weakest part of the magnetic field.)
Label these parts
:)
What is a magnetosphere?
Region protected from electrically charged particles of the solar winds by the Earth’s magnetic field.
What are Auroras?
Charged particles pulled towards magnetic poles that create glowing auroras by interacting with atmospheric gases.
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
Ranked base to top: Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
What is the exosphere?
Transition from air to space above 700km.
What is a hydrosphere?
The Earth’s water (including water in the atmosphere)
What is a cryosphere?
The Earth’s frozen water.
What is the geosphere?
The solid part of the earth from the surface to center.
What does topography mean?
Variations in elevation.
What does bathymetry mean?
Variation in depth.
What is the biosphere?
Earth that is inhabited by life.
Internal Energy vs External Energy?
Internal: Refers to heat or thermal energy; produced within the Earth.
External: refers to energy produced by the Sun.
What is a fault?
A fracture on which a slip occurs. (Earthquakes occur here.)
Geothermal Gradient?
Rate of change in tempature in depth.
Label the blank spaces
:O
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Flashcard (50)