Cosmology and Solar System Concepts

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Flashcards cover Steady State, Eternal Inflation, Big Crunch, Big Bang theories; Big Bang timeline events; evidences for the Big Bang; Solar System types (Terrestrial vs Jovian); Solar Nebular Theory and planet formation; and the use of exponential notation in cosmology.

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22 Terms

1
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What does the Steady State Theory propose about the universe?

The universe is unchanging and remains in its original state; as space expands, new galaxies are formed.

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What does Eternal Inflation Theory state?

The very early universe underwent exponential growth; the growth stopped and energy was converted into matter and radiation.

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What is the Big Crunch Theory?

The universe will stop expanding and collapse into itself, eventually turning into a giant black hole.

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What is the Big Bang Theory?

About 13.8 billion years ago the universe expanded from a tiny, hot, dense point called a singularity.

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What is inflation in the Big Bang timeline?

A superfast expansion that grew the universe from the size of an atom to the size of a grapefruit in a tiny fraction of a second.

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What happened around 3 minutes after the Big Bang?

Quarks clumped into protons and neutrons as the universe cooled to about 10^8°C.

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What occurred at about 300,000 years after the Big Bang?

Electrons joined with protons and neutrons to form atoms (mostly hydrogen and helium); light could finally shine.

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What happened around 1 billion years after the Big Bang?

Gravity caused hydrogen and helium gas to coalesce into giant clouds that formed the first stars and galaxies.

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What occurred around 15 billion years after the Big Bang?

Galaxies clustered; the first stars died and spewed heavy elements into space to form new stars and planets.

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What are the three key evidences for the Big Bang Theory?

Expansion of the universe; Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation; and the abundance of elements in the universe.

11
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What are the main characteristics of Terrestrial Planets?

Close to the Sun; small, rocky planets with solid surfaces; high density; slower rotation; few moons; no rings.

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What are the main characteristics of Jovian Planets?

Far from the Sun; large, gaseous planets with no solid surface; low density; faster rotation; strong magnetic fields; many moons and rings.

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Name the Terrestrial Planets.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

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Name the Jovian Planets.

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

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What does the Solar Nebular Theory propose?

The entire solar system starts as a large cloud of gas that contracted due to self-gravity.

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What happens after the solar nebula collapses and flattens?

Planetesimals begin to form within the swirling disk.

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How do planets grow in the Solar Nebula Theory?

Planetesimals collide and merge; larger planetesimals attract more gas and dust, leading to planet formation.

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What happens to the excess dust and gas in the solar nebula?

It is gradually removed, leaving planets around the Sun and creating a new solar system.

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Why are cosmological numbers often written in exponential form?

Because the numbers are extremely large or extremely small, exponential notation makes them easier to express.

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What happened around one second after the Big Bang?

The universe rapidly expanded and cooled, allowing fundamental particles to form.

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What is the scientific term for the contraction in the context of the Solar Nebula Theory?

Accretion

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What is a supernova and what part does it play in the Solar Nebula Theory?

A supernova is a massive explosion of a star, marking its death and dispersing elements into space. This process enriches the surrounding interstellar medium with heavier elements, contributing to the formation of new stars and planetary systems.