Unit 2 Study Guide: Our Solar System

These flashcards cover key concepts and facts about our solar system, exoplanets, and important astronomical terms.

What are the major bodies that display patterns of behavior in our solar system?

orbit in the same direction and are nearly the same plane

Why are asteroids considered the oldest bodies in the solar system?

Scientists have determined this through radiometric dating and studying their composition.

What can we learn by counting craters on rocky bodies?

Counting craters allows us to estimate the age of the surface and the history of impacts.

What does it mean for the Earth's moon to be tidally locked?

It means that the moon rotates on its axis in the same time it takes to orbit Earth, showing the same face to Earth.

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon.

Why don’t we have an eclipse every month?

Eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon's orbit is tilted relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun.

How are highlands on the Moon different from the maria?

Highlands are lighter, heavily cratered regions while maria are darker, smooth basalt plains formed by ancient volcanic activity.

What is the largest volcano in the solar system?

Olympus Mons.

Where is Olympus Mons located?

On Mars.

Why is Venus hotter than Mercury despite being farther from the Sun?

Venus has a thick atmosphere that traps heat through the greenhouse effect.

On which terrestrial planets do we find evidence for current liquid water?

Earth and possibly Mars.

On which terrestrial planets do we find evidence for liquid water from the past?

Mars and possibly Venus.

How can we image the surface of Venus despite its thick clouds?

Using radar mapping techniques which penetrate the clouds.

What are the differences between Jovian and Terrestrial worlds?

Jovian worlds are gas giants with thick atmospheres and are larger, while Terrestrial worlds are rocky and smaller.

What are the zones and bands found on Jovian worlds?

Zones are lighter, warmer regions, while bands are darker, cooler regions of clouds.

What is a dwarf planet?

A celestial body that orbits the Sun and is spherical but has not cleared its orbital path of other debris.

Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?

Pluto does not meet the criterion of clearing its orbit.

How are comets and asteroids different?

Comets are icy bodies that develop tails when near the Sun, while asteroids are rocky, solid bodies.

What does the frost line tell us about solar system formation?

The frost line marks the boundary in the solar system where it was cool enough for ice to form.

What is the Doppler Shift?

A method used to detect exoplanets by measuring changes in the frequency of light from a star due to the gravitational effects of an orbiting planet.

What is the Gravitational Lensing effect?

The bending of light from a distant star by the gravitational field of a massive object, which can reveal exoplanets.