Our Solar System Quiz

Study Notes

The Sun is the only star in our solar system and serves as its center, holding it together through gravity.
The Earth orbits the Sun while the Moon orbits the Earth.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking sunlight.
The shadow cast by the Moon during an eclipse consists of two parts:
- Umbra: the dark center of the shadow
- Penumbra: the lighter outer part of the shadow
Total Solar Eclipse: The Moon completely blocks the Sun’s light, appearing as a bright ring around the dark disk of the Moon.
Partial Solar Eclipse: The Moon blocks only part of the Sun’s light.
Viewing a solar eclipse without proper protection can damage the retina and cause vision loss; eclipse glasses are recommended.
The Great American Solar Eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, crossing North America including Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Solar eclipses are crucial for scientists to study the Sun and Earth, particularly to observe the corona, which is usually too faint to see.
Solar Wind: A stream of protons, electrons, and plasma emitted by the Sun.
Sunspots: Darker, cooler areas on the Sun’s surface that appear as spots.

Renewable sources of energy include solar and wind energy.
Non-renewable sources include fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd each year.
Earth's uniqueness stems from its ability to support life through essential factors like atmosphere, temperature, and water availability.

Sleep is a state characterized by reduced mental and physical activity, altered consciousness, and inhibited sensory activity.
Sleep is regulated by two primary drivers: sleep-wake homeostasis and circadian rhythms, influenced by light exposure and melatonin.
Key brain areas involved in sleep regulation include the hypothalamus, thalamus, pineal gland, and brainstem.
Sleep is categorized into two main types:
- NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement): includes stages of quiet sleep.
- REM (Rapid Eye Movement): known as paradoxical sleep.
Four stages of sleep include:
- Stage 1 (Light Sleep): eye movements slow down; drowsiness occurs.
- Stage 2 (Light Sleep): heart rate and body temperature decrease; sleep spindles form.
- Stage 3 (Deep Sleep): slow and strong brain waves; waking difficulty increased.
- Stage 4 (REM Sleep): brain activity resembles wakefulness; irregular breathing and rapid eye movement occurs.
A full sleep cycle lasts approximately 90-110 minutes, incorporating multiple cycles of NREM and REM.
Importance of Sleep:
- Memory Consolidation: Processes and retains new information and skills.
- Emotional Regulation: Emotions processed primarily during REM sleep.
- Dreams: Vivid, emotionally significant dreams mainly occur in REM sleep.
- Brain Development: REM sleep supports brain growth, especially during infancy.
- Physical Recovery: Cell repair and hormone secretion for growth occurs during deep sleep (NREM Stage 3).