Cosmos Definitions Flashcards - Chapter 1

Cosmos and Definition

• Cosmos refers to the entirety of all matter and energy, encompassing everything in and between galaxies.

Correct Order of Cosmic Address

• The correct sequence for cosmic address is: you, Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Local Group, Local Supercluster.

Location of Solar System in Milky Way

• Our solar system is situated about two-thirds of the way from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy to its outskirts.

Number of Stars in the Milky Way

• Approximately 100 billion stars exist within the Milky Way Galaxy.

Telescopic Observation Range

• Modern telescopes can detect bright galaxies located up to 10 billion light-years away.

Orbits of Planets Compared to Size

• If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, the area covered by the orbits of the eight planets would be comparable to a typical campus.

Expansion of the Universe

• The universe is expanding in the sense that the average distances between galaxies are increasing over time.

Age of the Universe

• The universe's age is estimated to be between 10 billion and 16 billion years.

Importance of Galaxies

• Galaxies play a crucial role by recycling heavy elements produced in stars, contributing to the formation of future star generations.

Composition of Earth

• Earth's material, primarily metals and rocks, originated from nuclear fusion processes occurring in stars.

Nuclear Fusion Explained

• Nuclear fusion is the process where lightweight nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei, releasing energy in the process.

Concept of "We Are Star Stuff"

• Carl Sagan's phrase "we are star stuff" reflects that the majority of atoms in our bodies originated from elements forged in stars before the formation of our solar system.

Test your knowledge of key terms related to the cosmos with these flashcards from Chapter 1. Each card presents a word and multiple-choice options to challenge your understanding of the universe's terminology.