Solar System Division B 2026

What does Newton's 1st Law state?

Objects keep their motion unless an external force acts upon them.

What is the formula for Newton's 2nd Law?

F = ma (force = mass × acceleration).

What does Newton's 3rd Law state?

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

What is the universal law of gravity?

F = G(M₁M₂)/r² (inverse-square with distance).

What do Kepler's Laws describe about planetary orbits?

Orbits are ellipses with the Sun at one focus, and planets sweep equal areas in equal times.

What is the relationship described by T² ∝ a³?

It can be rearranged to find the mass of a star.

What is the Doppler Effect?

Motion changes wavelength: toward = blueshift, away = redshift.

What does the equation Δλ/λ = v/c represent?

It gives the speed of an object based on the change in wavelength.

What is conserved in momentum?

Momentum p = mv is conserved in isolated systems.

What does the equation c = λν relate?

It links the speed of light (c), wavelength (λ), and frequency (ν).

What does Wien's Law state?

Hotter objects peak at shorter (bluer) wavelengths.

What does the Stefan-Boltzmann Law describe?

E = σT⁴, indicating that a small temperature change results in a large energy change.

What is the Nebular Hypothesis?

It states that the Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from a rotating gas/dust cloud.

What is the Frost Line?

The distance (~3-5 AU) where it's cold enough for water/ammonia/methane to freeze.

What are the main components of terrestrial planets?

Metallic core, rocky mantle, and solid crust.

What characterizes gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn?

They are mostly hydrogen and helium with small rocky/metal cores and thick atmospheres.

What is the significance of the asteroid belt?

It contains rocky/metallic bodies that preserve inner Solar System building blocks.

What is the difference between meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites?

Meteoroids are small space rocks, meteors are streaks when entering the atmosphere, and meteorites are pieces that reach the ground.

What is the purpose of the James Webb Space Telescope?

To observe infrared light, focusing on early galaxies and exoplanets.

What does the term 'exoplanet' refer to?

Planets that orbit stars outside our Solar System.

What is the method of transit in exoplanet detection?

It measures the brightness dip when a planet passes in front of a star.

What is the significance of the Nice Model?

It explains how Jupiter and Saturn's migration reshaped the outer Solar System and Kuiper Belt.

What is the formula for density?

Density (ρ) = mass (m) / volume (V).

What happens to the area and volume when the radius of a sphere is doubled?

Area increases by a factor of 4, and volume increases by a factor of 8.

What is the role of spectroscopy in astronomy?

It uses spectral lines to determine the composition, temperature, and motion of celestial objects.

What is the main goal of the BepiColombo mission?

To study Mercury's composition, magnetic field, and atmosphere.

What did the Galileo mission discover?

Evidence for subsurface oceans on Europa and Ganymede.