Unit 7 vocab

space shuttle

space shuttle

a reusable space vehicle that takes off like a rocket and lands like an airplane

probe

an uncrewed vehicle that carries scientific instruments into space to collect scientific data

orbiter

a spacecraft that is designed to orbit a planet, moon, or other body without landing on the body’s surface

lander

an automated, uncrewed vehicle that is designed to touch down safely on an extraterrestrial body: often carries equipment for that body

rover

a vehicle that is used to explore the surface of an extraterrestrial body

artificial satellite

any human-made object placed in orbit around a body in space

wavelength

the distance from any point on a wave to the corresponding point on the next wave

electromagnetic spectrum

all of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation

spectrum

a range of electromagnetic radiation that is ordered by wavelength or frequency, such as the band of colors that is produced then white light passes through a prism

universe

space and all the matter and energy in it

redshift

a shift toward the red end of the spectrum; occurs in the spectrum of an object when the object is moving away from the observer

Big Bang Theory

the theory that all matter and energy in the universe was compressed into an extremely small volume that 13-15 billion years ago exploded and began expanding in all directions

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)

The radiation leftover from the formation of the universe

gravity

a force of attraction between two objects that is due to their masses

orbit

the path that a body follows as it travels around another body in apace

aphelion

in the orbit of a planet or other body in the solar system, the point that is furthest from the sun

perihelion

in the orbit of a planet or other body in the solar system, the point that is closest to the sun

centripetal force

the inward force required to keep a particle or an object moving in a circular path

solar nebula

a rotating cloud of gas and dust from which the sun and planets formed

tide

the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans and other large bodies of water

tidal range

the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and low tide

spring tide

a tide of increased range that occurs twice a month, at the new moon and full moon

neap tide

a tide of minimum range that occurs during the first and third quarters of the moon