Earth & space science regents

Sunspots definition and causes

Coler, darker parts on the suns surface. Created by intense magnetic activity on the suns surface.

Auroras

Charged particles from the sun interact with glasses in earth’s atmosphere, causing them to glow.

Describe solar flares/ what happens if the hit earth

When magnetic field lines get tangled, when the lines break they let out a tremendous amount of energy. When they hit earth we get radiation blackouts, auroras, power grid disruptions, satelite damage and navigation issues.

Explain prominences/ what happens when they hit earth.

Large loop-shaped structures of cool, dense gas. They form hen magnetic field lines push plasma up from the surface.When they hit earth we get radiation blackouts, auroras, power grid disruptions, satelite damage and navigation issues.

Describe the suns core and function

The innermost layer of the sum. Where nuclear fusion takes place, causing sun to create heat and shine. Solid

Describe radiation zone and its function

Energy travels through this zone in the form of photons. Its very dense and takes a very long time for photons to get through.

describe convection zones function

Energy is transported through convection currents. Plasma rises, cools then sinks, creating a turning motion. This takes energy closer to the surface.

Describe the photosphere function

Visible on surface. This is where we see light and sunspots

Describe chromosphere and function

Only visible during solar eclipse. Reddish layer of gas.

Describe coronas function

Suns extended atmosphere. Source of solar wind, incredibly hot

How many miles in and A.U.?

93 million miles

what is heliocentric?

planets go around the sun

What size is our sun? How old is it?

Our sun is a medium star. Its 4.6 billion years old

What is sagittarius A?

The black hole in the center of the galaxy

How old are stars in spiral galaxys?

the youngest stars

What type of stars are in elliptical galaxies?

The oldest stars

What type of stars are in irregular galaxies?

they have new and old stars

what is hydrostatic equilibrium?

When heat tries to expand the star, but gravity pulls it back in

What is a stars lifetime dependent on?

Its mass

What is nuclear fusion?

When two lighter elements combine into a heavier element to make energy

How many miles are in light years?

6 trillion miles

How fast is the universe expanding at?

the speed of light

What is dark matter?

23% of the universe; it is a gravitational force

what is dark energy?

70% of the universe; it is a repulsive force

what evidence do we have of the big bang?

edward hubble’s finding of red shift; cosmic radiation being found; hydrogen and helium are the most abundant elements in space

How long ago was the universe created, and how was it formed?

14 billion years ago from the big bang

gravity equation

gravity=mass1 mass2/ density²

what are the rules of gravity

greater the mass, greater the gravity. Greater the distance, less gravity

keaplers laws

1. planets orbit the sun elliptical

2. closer to the sun, the faster you go ( law of equal areas)

3. the further from the sun, the longer period of revolution

Who was the observer that worked with kepler and got no credit for his findings?

tycho Brach

What is the kyper belt? What is the outermost ring of it called?

past our furthest planet is a bunch of comets orbiting the sun. The last ring is called the orb cloud

What are three rules of being a planet

1. orbits the sun

2. your orbit can not cross paths with another planets orbit

3. hes enough mass, it is now spherical

What are our dwarf planets called? What are they?

Pluto and eris; comets. Ceres and pollis; asteroids.

What are the ice giants? What are the gas giants?

gas giants; Jupiter and saturn. Ice giants; Uranus and neptune

jovian planets

jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

terrestrial planets

mars, earth, mercury, venus

describe asteroids

made of rock and iron, broken up rocks.

describe comet

made of ice and rock, when they get too close to planets, they melt and leave “tails”

what is accreation?

hot rock forming with other hot rock. ( how planets were made)

Most gas went into the ____, where did the remaining gas go?

Sun, into the planets and other bodies

how long ago was everything in the solar system made?

4.6 billion years ago

explain the diamond anvil cell

a high pressure device used to compress materials, enabling scientists to study materials’ properties under extreme conditions.

seismograph

instrement used to detect earthquakes

characteristics of s-waves

slower, only goes through solids

characteristics of p- waves

faster, goes through every phase of matter

what is a half life?

how long it takes an element to go through half of its life. The half-life does not change no matter what

why is there no s waves in the core?

they would have to pass through the outer core, which is liquid

what is the proof of earth’s age?

1. crustal rocks

2. lunar rocks

3. meteorites

4. impact craters

5. radioactive decay(half lives)

How does earth heat up internally?

radioactive decay

what is late heavy bombardment?

When a bunch of asteroids hit into earth, the iron from the asteroids went into earth. The heavier elements want deeper than the lighter ones, creating earth’s layers.

What is the collision theory?

a mars sized object hit into earth and took a chunk out, becoming our moon.

what is retrograding?

backtracking in a loop

Explain eccentricity

the orbit, it goes from 0-1. Eccentricity means flat. The more eccentric, the closer the number is to 1.

rotation evidence (15 degrees/hour)

focault pendulum, coriolus effect

Revolution evidence

1 degree/ day, different seasons/ constellations throughout year

divergent plate boundaries

moves away; left side of mid ocean ridge reflects the right.

transform plate boundary

plates slide side by side, creating intense pressure. When it slips earthquakes are made

convergent plate boundary

plates moving towards each other

characteristics to be a mineral

1. has to be natural

2. specific chemical composition

3. has to be solid

4. in-organic

5. crystal line structures

tests for minerals

1. color test

2. streak test

3. hardness test

4. luster

5. fracture

6. cleavage

how do igneous rocks form

melting and cooling

igneous extrusive characteristics

1. out of ground

2. short cool time

3. small crystals

4. smooth

igneous intrusive characteristics

1. cools inside earth

2. long time to cool

3. large crystals

4. ruff texture

how are sedimentary rocks formed

pressure compacts sediments, and fossils together

how are metamorphic rocks created

heat and pressure

what is regional metamorphic rock

two plates crash into each other and make mountains

what is contact metamorphic rock

close contact to magma heating it up without it melting

what is uplifting forces/ constructive?

things that create rock

what is destructive/ leveling?

destroys land/ rock

landscapes

mountains; metamorphic. Platouse; sedimentary. Plain; sedimentary

Whats mass movements are created by gravity?

landslides, mudslides, avalanches