Solar System, Galaxies & Universe

A solar system is.... ?

A major star with celestial objects that orbit that star.

An elliptical shaped solar system looks like (an oval or a spiral)?

An elliptical shaped solar system looks like an oval.

What shape does an irregular solar system have?

An irregular galaxy has an irregular shape.

Aristotle wrote that our solar system was .... ?

Aristotle theorized that our solar system was GEOcentric.

Copernicus thought that our solar system was ...?

Copernicus thought that the solar system was HELIOcentric, but thought that each planet had their own circular orbits

What happens during the main sequence of a stars life cycle?

During the main sequence of a star's life cycle, the star starts fusing hydrogen.

What is at the center of a heliocentric solar system?

In the heliocentric solar system, everything revolves around the sun.

All of the planets have the same periods of rotation. (true or false)

FALSE: All of the planets have DIFFERENT periods of rotation.

A light year is the amount of time it takes for light to travel across our Milky Way. true or false?

False: A light year is the DISTANCE light travels.

Galileo got into a lot of trouble for believing that the solar system was ...?

Galileo had a lot of evidence that the solar system was heliocentric, but he got in a lot of trouble with the church for saying it was.

Who used a telescope to help prove the solar system was heliocentric?

Galileo used evidence from his telescope to prove that the solar system was heliocentric.

What helps keep planets in orbit around the sun? (gravity, inertia or the atmosphere of the planet)

Gravity and inertia BOTH help keep planets in orbit around the sun. The atmosphere of the planet has NO effect on the orbit.

How does a planet's atmosphere affect the planet?

If a planet has a really thick or extreme atmosphere, that planet will have more extreme weather. It will have a stronger greenhouse effect.

Who used math to prove that the planets' orbits are elliptical not circular?

Kepler used math to prove that the planets have elliptical orbits, not circular ones.

What is a galaxy?

Many different systems of stars, planets, dusts, etc. that make up the universe is the description of a galaxy.

Who had the theory about two forces that hold our solar system together, inertia and gravity?

Newton named the two factors that hold the solar system together, inertia and gravity.

What does Newton's First Law of Motion say?

Newton's first law of motion says that objects (like this marble) maintain their state of motion (being still) until acted on by some force (like your finger).

What is Newton's Third law of motion?

Newton's third law of motion says that for every action (you sitting on a teeter totter) there is an equal and opposite reaction (the other end of the teeter totter goes up). This also applies to how rockets go up into space.

What is happening during the life cycle of a star during the protostar/nebula stage?

Protostar/nebula is when the gases start coming together due to gravity.

Ptolemy proposed... ?

Ptolemy proposed that the solar system was GEOcentric

What shape is a spiral galaxy?

Spiral galaxy's look like spirals.

The Big Bang Theory says... ?

The Big Bang theory says that about 14 billion years ago all matter was in a super dense ball. A 'big bang' caused all the tiny parts of matter to begin expanding, which started forming our universe.

What is at the center of a geocentric solar system? (the sun or the earth)

The Earth is at the center of a geocentric galaxy.

What does the distance of a planet from the sun have to do with that planets period of revolution?

The farther away a planet is from the sun, the longer the period of revolution is. Neptune's period of revolution is longer than Earth's because Neptune is much farther away from the sun than the Earth.

Define Universe

The universe is the entire body of heavenly objects. It makes up everything, all of space.

In a star's life cycle, what is the white dwarf/black hole stage?

The white dwarf/black hole stage is when all the fuel is gone. It is the death of the star.

A constellation is a group of stars that is recognized in a certain pattern. true or false?

True, a constellation is a group of stars that is recognized in a certain pattern.

Which galaxy do we live in?

We live within the Milky Way galaxy.

What stage of a stars life cycle is a red giant/super giant?

When a star starts fusing helium and cooling down it is a red giant/super giant.