Physical Science Exam

Singularity:

The universe started from a singularity, a point of infinite density and temperature. This concept implies that space and time themselves began at this point

inflation

A rapid expansion occurred within the first tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang.

Formation of Fundamental Particles

As the universe expanded and cooled fundamental particles such as quarks, electrons, and neutrinos began to form. This process occurred within the first few seconds after the Big Bang

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)

About 380,000 years after the Big Bang, the universe had cooled enough for electrons to combine with protons and form neutral hydrogen atoms

recoombination

alowed photons to travel freely creating cosmic microwave background radiation

Redshift of Galaxies

observation by Edwin Hubble showed that galaxies are moving away from us in alll directions

Abundance of Light Elements:

The predicted proportions of hydrogen, helium, and other light element from the Big Bang theory nucleosynthesis mathc the observed amounts in the universe confiriming the theory’s accuracy

Large-Scale Structure:

The distribution of galaxies and galaxy cluster on a large scale shows patterns that can be traced back to the initial fluctuations furing the inflationary period of the early universe

Age of the Universe

13.8 billion years based on the CMB

Age of Our Solar System

4.6 billion years ago

Stars

are gigantic glowing balls of gass primarily composed of hydrogen and helium

stars are classfied based on:

thier temperature, colar, luminosity, and the size

the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram

is used to categorize stars into main sequence, giants, supergiants, and white drwaf

life cycle of a star

it starts with stellar nebula then into a average star then red gaint then planetary nebula then white dwarf or a massive star then red supergaint then supernova then eitheir a neutron star or a black hole

stars from from what

clouds of gas and dust called Nebulae

how a star develops and eventually dies depends on

it’s original mass

stars spend most of their lives in

Main sequence star

event horizon

the boundary around a black hole

spaghettification

process in which you are compressd and stretched

Geocentric Model

a superseded astronomical theory that places a stationary Earth at the center of the universe

what will happen whe you sun runs out of fuel (hydrogen)

it will swell to 100-1000 times it size and engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, and possibly even earth finally the sun will become a white dwarf

light year

the distance light travels in one earth year

three different types of galaxies

spiral, elliptical, peculiar barred spiral

nebula

a giant cloud of interstellar dust, hydrogen, helium, and other ionized gases

galaxy

are hug groups of stars held togather by gravity

milky way

made up of our sun solar system and all of the other stars visible in the night sky

Heliocentric Model

an astronomical framework placing the Sun at the center of the solar system, with Earth and other planets revolving around it

asteroid belt

a doughnut-shaped region of space located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It contains millions of rocky, metallic, and icy celestial bodies known as asteroids

what is kepler’s law

law of ellipses, law of equal areas, and law of planetry periods

what is law one in kepler’s law

law of ellipses. The oribts of the planets are ellipses with rhe sun located at on foci

what is law two in kepler’s law

law of equal year. An imaginary line joing planets to the sun will sweep over equal areas in equal periods of time

what is law third in kepler’s law

law of planetray periods. The relationship between the plant’s mean distance from the sun and the time it takes the planet to revolve around the sun

ellipse

is a geometeric shape that looks like an fattend circle

perihelion

When the planet is closest to the sun, there is greater gravitational attraction, so the planet moves faster and appears bigger (January 3)

aphelion

When a planet is farthest from the Sun, there is less gravitational attraction, so the planet moves more slowly. The Sun appears smallest (July 4)

eccentricity

measure how much an ellipses deviates from being a circle

eccentricity

eccentricity = distance between foci over length of major axis (e=d/L)

Sidereal Periods

it takes the moon 27.3 days to complete one revolution (oribt) around the earth

Synodic Period

The time required for the moon to complete a cycle of phases is 29.5

waxing

are when the amount of lighted side we see increases each night

waning

are when the amount of lighted side we see deacreases each night

crescent moons

phases where you can see less than half of the bright side

gibbous moons

phases where you can see more than hlaf of the bright side

phases of the moon

New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, Waning Crescent

Solar Eclipse

the sun block from view (only in a new moon)

Umbra

darkest part of the moon shadow cone shaped where the point of te cone hits earth it’s total solar eclipse

penumbra

larger part of the mooon’s shadow that is not as dark

lunar eclipse

the moon is blacked from view

how often do we have eclipses

7 eclipses during every year

tides

the rise and fall of ocean water

Spring tides

higher high and the lower low tide when the sun, earth, and moon are aligned during the new moon or full moon

Neap Tides

Lower high tides and higher low tides when the sun earth moon form at a right angle during quarter phases only

terrestrail planets

closer to the Sun, smaller in size and have little to no moon have rocky solid surfaces

jovian

father from the Sun large in size have many moons are gaseaous and less dense

Proof of Earth’s Rotation

deflection of winds and water (Coriolis Effect), Apparent daily motion of celestial objects, Circum-Polar Star Trails, and Foucault Pendulum

Proof of Earth’s Revolution

Seansons and constellations

insolation

incoming solar radiation

all equinoxes and solstices

Autumnal Equinox (September 21), Winter Solstices (December 21), Vernal Equinox (March 22), and Summer solstices (June 21)