Astronomy

What is the meridian?

The arc that runs from north to south through the point directly overhead.

What phase must the Moon be in during a Solar eclipse?

New

What is Absolute Zero on the Kelvin scale?

The theoretical point at which all atomic motions cease.

How would a perfect circular orbit of Earth affect the seasons?

We would continue to experience the seasons in essentially the same way we do now.

Which electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?

Radio wave.

What type of aberration causes light to be focused at different distances behind the lens?

Spherical aberration.

What causes chromatic aberration?

Light of different wavelengths having different focal lengths.

Which star has the bluest B-V colour?

Mintaka.

Which star has the reddest R-I colour?

Antares.

What does the existence of many objects like Pluto indicate about Neptune?

Neptune migrated outwards early in Solar System history.

What is the most common type of exoplanet discovered so far?

Super-Earths.

Which body would we expect to have cooled the fastest: Venus, Mars, Mercury, the Moon, or Ceres?

Ceres.

How does the greenhouse effect increase a planet's surface temperature?

Through the absorption of infrared radiation by molecules like CO₂ and H₂O.

What must a planet have to generate a magnetic field?

A fluid layer that is rotating fast enough.

What do we call it when a planet passes in front of its host star?

Transit.

Which region of the Moon is the youngest: Lunar highlands, Tycho Crater, Mare Imbrium, Mare Nectaris, or Mare Crisium?

Tycho Crater.

Which region of the Moon is the oldest among the same five?

Lunar Highlands.

At which seismograph stations would P-waves be detected during an earthquake?

All of the stations.

At which seismograph stations would S-waves be detected during an earthquake?

Seismograph stations A and D.

What is the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?

A meteor is the bright streak of light seen in the atmosphere; a meteorite is the solid fragment that survives the fall and hits the ground.

How does the tilt of Earth's rotation axis lead to the seasons?

The tilt causes varying sunlight intensity and duration, leading to seasonal temperature changes.

What happens to toaster coils as they heat up?

They start to glow faint red, then orange, and become brighter as they continue to heat.

What is an example of positive feedback in the climate system?

The ice-albedo effect, where melting ice reduces reflectivity, causing further warming.

What is an example of negative feedback in the climate system?

The geological carbon cycle, where increased CO₂ leads to reactions that remove it from the atmosphere.