Astronomy and Physics Fundamentals Flashcards

Comprehensive flashcards based on lecture notes covering the Big Bang Theory, galaxy and star classification, Kepler's and Newton's laws, and astronomical constants and conversions.

Big Bang Theory

A theory that posits the universe originated from a dense, hot state and has expanded over time.

Evidence for Big Bang Theory

Includes cosmic microwave background radiation, redshift of galaxies, and the abundance of light elements.

Cosmic microwave background radiation

A remnant thermal radiation from the early universe that provide clues about its origins.

Spiral galaxy

A galaxy characterized by a flat disk structure with spiral arms, a central bulge, and is rich in gas and dust.

Elliptical galaxy

A galaxy that lacks a spiral structure and possesses older star populations with less gas and dust.

Actual size

Refers to the true dimensions of an object.

Scaled size

A proportional representation of an object's actual dimensions.

Kepler’s First Law

The law stating that planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun, with the sun at one focus.

Kepler’s Second Law

The law stating that a line segment joining a planet and the sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time.

Kepler’s Third Law

The law stating that the square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

States that every mass attracts every other mass with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Formula for gravitational force

$$F = G\frac{M_1 M_2}{r^2}$$

Gravitational constant ($G$)

$$6.67 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{N(m}^2/\text{kg}^2)$$

Star classification by temperature

Classified into types O, B, A, F, G, K, and M.

Star classification by brightness

Classified as main-sequence, giants, supergiants, and white dwarfs.

Criteria for galaxy classification

Morphology, size, brightness, color, and spectral properties.

1 degree in minutes

$$1 \, \text{degree} = 60 \, \text{minutes (')}$$

1 degree in seconds

$$1 \, \text{degree} = 3600 \, \text{seconds ('')}$$

Formula for the mass of an orbiting body

$$M = \frac{r^3 \times 4\pi^2}{GT^2}$$

Radius of Earth's orbit

$$1.496 \times 10^8 \, \text{km}$$

Formula for energy in terms of frequency

$$E = h \cdot v$$

Planck’s constant ($h$)

$$6.63 \times 10^{-34} \, \text{J} \times \text{s}$$

Speed of light ($c$)

$$3.0 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}$$

Wave relationship formula

$c = \lambda \cdot v$ where $\lambda$ is the wavelength and $v$ is the frequency.

Light-year

$$1 \, \text{light-year} = 9.48 \times 10^{12} \, \text{km}$$

Angstroms to meters conversion

$$1 \, \text{Å} = 10^{-10} \, \text{m}$$

Nanometers to meters conversion

$$1 \, \text{nm} = 10^{-9} \, \text{m}$$

Inches to centimeters conversion

$$1 \, \text{inch} = 2.54 \, \text{cm}$$

Miles to kilometers conversion

$$1 \, \text{mile} = 1.609 \, \text{km}$$

Miles to feet conversion

$$1 \, \text{mile} = 5280 \, \text{feet}$$