Unit 1 Study Guide: Origins of the Universe

Vocabulary flashcards derived from the Unit 1 Study Guide covering the Nature of Light, Astronomical Distances, Big Bang Theory, Dark Matter and Energy, Cosmic Address, and Gravity.

Dual Nature of Light

The property of light existing as both waves and particles, where light comes in particles from reflected surfaces that hit our eyes and reflect off glass to become visible light, and different types of light correspond to different waves on the electromagnetic spectrum.

Wavelength

The distance that light travels, or the wave that comes between the peak of brightness and the plateau of brightness on the EM spectrum.

Visible Light Spectrum Wavelengths

In terms of visible light, Red has the longest wavelength and Yellow has the shortest wavelength.

Red-Shift

Displayed when a planet or star is faster away from Earth.

Blue-Shift

Displayed when a star or planet is moving slower away from Earth, causing the emitted light to be seen much quicker from Earth than if it were moving faster.

Stellar Spectra

The spectrum of visible light given off by stars, which tells the composition of stars, rotation, and information about any ball of gas that could be a star.

Absorption Lines

Dark bands in an absorption spectrum that indicate where light is absorbed the most on the spectrum.

Light Year

The distance light travels in ONE YEAR (focuses on time), which is used to record distances outside the solar system (Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy).

Astronomical Unit

The distance from the center of the sun to the center of the earth, used to measure distance within a solar system.

Cosmology

The study of the development of the universe.

Big Bang Theory

The rapid expansion of all the material and energy that makes up outer space, similar to the creation of the universe.

Dark Energy

Technically an unknown form of energy that accelerates the universe, is stronger than dark matter, and acts equivalent to water on Earth in the way it holds everything together.

Dark Matter

A form of matter that holds galaxies together with its inward pull, makes up 85% of space, is responsible for galaxy rotation in outer arms, and has mass and gravity but cannot interact with other organisms or itself.

Earth's Cosmic Address

Earth, Solar system, milky way, andromeda galaxy, local group, orion's arm, virgo supercluster, lanakia.

Gravitational Attraction (Mass Effect)

A factor where if mass increases, gravity will increase at the same rate ($2\times\text{mass} = 2\times\text{gravity}$).

Gravitational Attraction (Distance Effect)

A factor where double the distance from an object is half of the amount of gravity it will have ($2\times\text{distance} = \frac{1}{4}\text{gravity}$).