Astronomy Quiz 9/3

Scientific Method

A method of proposing and testing hypotheses, where you make observations, ask a question, suggest a hypothesis, make a prediction, and perform a test, which showcases whether your prediction was correct or not. Adjusting for further testing if wrong.

Scientific Model

Idealized flow of the scientific method that consolidates it into less steps.

Hypothesis

An educated guess.

Scientific Theory

Hallmarks of Science #1

A scientific model cannot include magic, divine intervention, etc.

Hallmarks of Science #2

The explanation of an observation should be worded as simply as possible.

Hallmarks of Science #3

The ability for the experiment to be proven false through observations or experimentation.

A is proportional to B (A∝B)

What happens to A also happens to B.

A is inversely proportional to B (A∝1/B)

The inverse of what happens to B is what happens to A.

A is inversely proportional to B squared (A∝1/B²)

The inverse of what happens to B is squared then happens to A.

Star

A large, glowing ball of gas that generates heat and light through nuclear fusion.

Planet

A moderately large object that orbits a star; it shares by reflected light. Planets may be rocky, icy, or gaseous in compostion.

Moon (or Satellite)

An object that orbits a planet.

Asteroid

A relatively small and rocky object that orbits a star.

Comet

A relatively small and icy object that orbits a star.

Nebula

An interstellar cloud of gas and/or dust.

Galaxy

A great island of stars in space, all held together by gravity and orbiting a common center.

Supercluster

A group of galaxy clusters bound by gravity.

Universe

The sum of all matter and energy; that is, everything within and between all galaxies.

Observable Universe

The limit of how far we can observe that is about 13.8 billion light-years away and is continuously expanding.

Kilo

Thousand = 1000

Centi

1/100

Mega

Million = 1,000,000

Giga

Billion = 1,000,000,000

Light Year

The distance light travels in a year.

Parsec

3.26 light years

Astronomical Unit

Average distance between the Earth and the Sun, 150 million km.

Zenith

Directly above a location.

Horizon

A plane that passes through the center of Earth horizontally.

Meridian

An imaginary circle passing through the Zenith and the celestial poles of a location.