Astro 1010 Exam 2 Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the provided lecture notes for Astro 1010 Exam 2.

Scalar

A quantity that has a magnitude and a unit (e.g., mass, time, speed).

Vector

A quantity that has magnitude, unit, and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration).

Linear Acceleration

Acceleration that occurs when speeding up or slowing down along a straight line.

Centripetal Acceleration

Acceleration that occurs when moving in a circle; the direction of velocity changes.

Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)

Objects maintain a constant velocity unless acted upon by an outside force.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

F = ma (Force equals mass times acceleration).

Newton's Third Law of Motion

For every force that acts on one object, an equal yet opposite reaction force is exerted upon another object.

Law of Gravity

Every mass gravitationally attracts every other mass; the strength of the gravitational pull decreases as the distance between them grows (F = Gm1m2/r2).

Weightlessness in Orbit

Experienced due to falling around the Earth, not a lack of gravity.

Tides

Caused by the moon's gravitational pull being stronger on the near side of the Earth than the far side.

Spring Tide

Sun and moon work together to enhance the tides.

Neap Tide

Sun and moon work against each other to decrease tides.

Angular Momentum

Conserved quantity for a spinning object; momentum can only be transferred.

Wavelength

Distance from max-to-max or min-to-min of a wave.

Frequency

How many cycles a wave goes through in a given time interval, measured in hertz (Hz).

Electromagnetic Spectrum

In order of increasing energy/frequency: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma-rays.

Index of Refraction (n)

How much light is slowed down in a transparent material; n = c/v.

Mass Energy

The energy contained in physical objects.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion.

Thermal Energy

The energy of heat.

Radiant (Radiative) Energy

The energy of light.

Wein's Law

Hotter objects emit the most intense light at shorter wavelengths/higher frequencies (more blue light).

Spectra

Split light into its individual wavelengths to create a rainbow band.

Blueshift

Object is moving toward us (Doppler Effect).

Redshift

Object is moving away from us (Doppler Effect).