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Physics
Stars and Planets
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Created by
Rabail Adnan
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Cards (54)
How did solar system form?
Gravitational forces cause the matter to get
closer
together creating the sun and planets.
During formation
rocks
moved close together to sun and formed rocky planets.
Gaseous
substances gathered together at distances further away + formed gas planets
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How are planets kept in orbit around the Sun?
By
gravitational forces
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What separates the inner and outer planets?
The
asteroid belt
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What are the two main groups of planets in the solar system?
Inner
rocky planets
and outer
gaseous planets
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What is the composition of the asteroid belt?
Rocky material
and debris
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What is the primary component of the cloud from which the solar system formed?
Hydrogen
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What happens to the cloud of dust and gas as it contracts under gravity?
It becomes
compressed
and hotter
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What is formed at the center of the spinning cloud?
A
protostar
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What process occurs when the protostar gets hot enough?
Nuclear fusion
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What is the result of nuclear fusion in the protostar?
The
Sun
is born
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Why do denser materials migrate closer to the Sun?
Due to stronger
gravitational pull
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What explains the difference between inner rocky planets and outer gaseous planets?
Density of materials
and
gravitational pull
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Name the four inner planets.
Mars
,
Mercury
,
Earth
,
Venus
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What type of material formed the inner rocky planets?
Denser
non-volatile material
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What are the outer four planets known as?
Gas giants
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How do the sizes of outer gas giants compare to inner rocky planets?
They are much
larger
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What is the mass range of gas giants compared to rocky planets?
Gas giants are far more
massive
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Why is Pluto classified as a dwarf planet?
Due to its small
mass
and
irregular orbit
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How many moons does Earth have?
One
moon
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How many confirmed moons does Saturn have?
53
confirmed moons
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What are moons also referred to as?
Natural satellites
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What distinguishes comets from asteroids?
Different
compositions
and movement
characteristics
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What are comets primarily composed of?
Rock
and
ice
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What happens to comets as they near the Sun?
Heat melts the
ice
and vaporizes it
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What type of orbits do comets have?
Highly
elliptical
and irregular orbits
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Where are asteroids mainly found?
In the
asteroid belt
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What can asteroids be remnants of?
Former
planets
or
collisions
in space
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How do the masses of comets and asteroids compare to planets?
They are far less massive
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What is thought to be at the center of most galaxies?
A
supermassive black hole
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What initiates the birth of a star?
A
cloud
of dust and gas
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What happens to the cloud of dust and gas as it becomes denser?
Temperature
and
pressure
increase
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What occurs when the pressure in the cloud becomes great enough?
Particles
can fuse together
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What is released during nuclear fusion?
A large amount of
energy
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What causes gaseous expansion in a star?
Heat energy released from
fusion
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What establishes equilibrium in a star?
Balance between
fusion
and
gravitational
forces
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How long can a star remain in equilibrium?
Billions
of years
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What happens when a star runs out of gas nuclei?
Gravitational collapse
occurs
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What occurs in massive stars when they begin to collapse?
They become
red supergiants
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What happens when fusion ceases in a massive star?
An
iron core
forms and collapses
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What is formed after a massive star explodes in a supernova?
A
neutron star
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