Overview of the Solar System
108 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What type of star is the Sun classified as?

  • F-type main-sequence star
  • K-type main-sequence star
  • G-type main-sequence star (correct)
  • M-type main-sequence star

    • All planets in the Solar System have solid surfaces.

    False (B)

    How many dwarf planets are recognized in the Solar System?

    at least nine

    The boundary of the Solar System to interstellar space is known as the __________.

    <p>heliopause</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following planets are classified as ice giants?

    <p>Uranus and Neptune (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following celestial bodies with their categories:

    <p>Mercury = Terrestrial planet Jupiter = Gas giant Ceres = Dwarf planet Eris = Dwarf planet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Solar System formed from the collapse of a molecular cloud.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The closest star to the Solar System is __________.

    <p>Proxima Centauri</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily determines the composition of the inner Solar System?

    <p>Metals and silicates (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Solar System is fully stable and will never change.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What stage does the Sun currently reside in?

    <p>main-sequence star</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The area beyond the frost line in the Solar System is where _____ could remain solid.

    <p>volatile icy compounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following Solar System regions with their components:

    <p>Inner Solar System = Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Outer Solar System = Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Asteroid Belt = Small rocky bodies Kuiper Belt = Icy bodies beyond Neptune</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planet is expected to be vaporized by the expanding Sun?

    <p>Venus (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Helium fusion will occur in the Sun after it exhausts its hydrogen supply.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated time until the Sun's main-sequence life ends?

    <p>5 billion years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The leftover debris that never became planets is found in the _____ belt.

    <p>asteroid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following planets with their type:

    <p>Mercury = Terrestrial planet Jupiter = Gas giant Earth = Terrestrial planet Neptune = Gas giant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process led to the formation of the terrestrial planets?

    <p>Accretion of dust and gas (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun will eventually become a white dwarf.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes the protostar to become hotter during its formation?

    <p>Gravitational collapse and conservation of angular momentum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun contains _____ % of the Solar System's known mass.

    <p>99.86</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical inclination of scattered disc objects from the ecliptic plane?

    <p>Up to 46.8° (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) generally have semi-major axes of at least 150–250 AU.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are two bodies in the scattered disc classified as dwarf planets?

    <p>Eris and Haumea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens at the heliopause?

    <p>Solar wind collides with the interstellar medium (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Comets typically have highly __________ orbits.

    <p>eccentric</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of comet with its typical origin:

    <p>Short-period comets = Originate in the Kuiper Belt Long-period comets = Originate in the Oort Cloud Hyperbolic comets = May originate outside the Solar System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The heliosheath is theorized to behave similarly to a comet's tail.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the probable distance of the boundary of the heliosphere from the Sun upwind?

    <p>80–100 AU</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are meteoroids often formed?

    <p>From the breakup of comets and asteroids (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun's peculiar motion affects the __________ of the heliosphere.

    <p>boundary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are scattered ETNOs characterized by?

    <p>Perihelia between 38–45 AU and high eccentricity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name a notable comet that is classified as having a long-period orbit.

    <p>Hale-Bopp</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Asteroids are older comets that have lost their volatile material due to solar warming.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planets together comprise more than 90% of the mass of the giant planets?

    <p>Jupiter and Saturn (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The frost line lies at roughly three times the Earth's distance from the Sun.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used for a body's closest approach to the Sun?

    <p>perihelion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun is composed of roughly __% hydrogen and helium.

    <p>98</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following planets to their characteristics:

    <p>Mercury = Closest planet to the Sun Earth = Only known planet with life Jupiter = Largest planet in the Solar System Neptune = Farthest planet from the Sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the orbital patterns of most planets?

    <p>They orbit the Sun in a retrograde direction (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most larger moons orbit their planets in a retrograde direction.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of the Solar System enabling the presence of life?

    <p>heliosphere and planetary magnetic fields</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ are thin discs of particles that orbit the giant planets.

    <p>planetary rings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'angular momentum' refer to in the context of the Solar System?

    <p>The total amount of orbital and rotational momentum possessed by all components (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Kepler's laws account for the influence of gravitational pulls from different bodies upon each other.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the distance of Jupiter from the Sun in astronomical units (AU)?

    <p>5.2 AU</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Neptune lies ____________ AU from the Sun.

    <p>30</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following models attempts to convey the relative scales of the Solar System?

    <p>Orreries (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Terran planets are composed primarily of low melting point materials.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered a primary characteristic of the inner Solar System?

    <p>Highly circular orbits (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Solar System has a significant number of super-Earths.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of energy for the Sun?

    <p>Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The distance from the Sun to the frost line is less than ____ AU.

    <p>5</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the inner planets with their notable features:

    <p>Venus = Thick atmosphere with extreme greenhouse effect Earth = Supports life and has liquid water Mars = Known for its red color and potential for past water Mercury = Closest planet to the Sun with extreme temperatures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the Sun compare to other stars in the Milky Way?

    <p>It comprises 99.86% of the Solar System's mass (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The heliosphere is created solely by the Sun's temperature.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The continuous stream of charged particles from the Sun is known as the _____.

    <p>solar wind</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the objects to their classifications in the inner Solar System:

    <p>Mercury = Terrestrial planet Ceres = Dwarf planet Mars = Terrestrial planet Asteroids = Small Solar System bodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planets in the inner Solar System are known to have substantial atmospheres?

    <p>Venus, Earth, and Mars (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Asteroids are primarily composed of gases and ices.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one effect of solar flares on Earth.

    <p>Geomagnetic storms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun radiates energy primarily as electromagnetic radiation peaking in ____ light.

    <p>visible</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one hypothesized explanation for the lack of planets interior to Mercury in the Solar System?

    <p>Collisions caused their destruction (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason the asteroid belt did not coalesce into a planet?

    <p>Gravitational interference of Jupiter (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The total mass of the asteroid belt is more than that of Earth.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one of the largest bodies in the asteroid belt.

    <p>Ceres</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ belt is a region in the Solar System that extends from 30 to 50 AU from the Sun.

    <p>Kuiper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their descriptions:

    <p>Hilda asteroids = Located in a 3:2 resonance with Jupiter Centaurs = Icy bodies between Jupiter and Neptune Trojans = Located in planets' stable Lagrange points Kuiper belt = Region of icy debris beyond Neptune</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planets are classified as ice giants?

    <p>Uranus and Neptune (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Spacecraft cannot pass through the asteroid belt without incident.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of bodies are found primarily in the Kuiper belt?

    <p>Icy bodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The four outer planets make up _____% of the mass orbiting the Sun.

    <p>99</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following outer Solar System objects with their characteristics:

    <p>Centaurs = Comet-like bodies with icy composition Jupiter = Gas giant with low melting points Neptune = Ice giant with a significant number of trojans Saturn = Gas giant known for its prominent rings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is typical of the composition of outer Solar System objects?

    <p>Higher proportion of volatiles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The scattered disc extends out to nearly 500 AU.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main types of giant planets?

    <p>Gas giants and ice giants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Centaurs are thought to become _____ or be ejected from the Solar System.

    <p>comets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the asteroid belt?

    <p>It has a mass similar to Earth. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what angle does the plane of the ecliptic lie in relation to the galactic plane?

    <p>60° (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun orbits the Galactic Center at a distance of approximately 20,000 light-years.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the first person known to have developed a mathematically predictive heliocentric system?

    <p>Nicolaus Copernicus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The gravitational tugs from nearby stars could send many comets into the inner Solar System, potentially causing collisions with ________.

    <p>Earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the astronomer to their significant contribution:

    <p>Nicolaus Copernicus = Mathematical heliocentric model Johannes Kepler = Elliptical orbits Galileo Galilei = Use of the telescope Isaac Newton = Laws of motion and gravity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which hypothesis suggests that the Solar System's changing position could explain periodic extinction events on Earth?

    <p>Shiva Hypothesis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'Solar System' was first entered into the English language in 1704.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event did Edmond Halley realize in 1705?

    <p>Repeated sightings of a comet were of the same object.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Galileo and Simon Marius independently discovered four satellites orbiting _____.

    <p>Jupiter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Friedrich Bessel measure in 1838 that provided direct, experimental proof of heliocentrism?

    <p>Stellar parallax (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Parker Solar Probe is designed to accelerate as it approaches the Sun.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the first evidence that something other than planets orbited the Sun?

    <p>Halley's Comet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The concept of using _______ assist is implemented in some space missions to save on fuel.

    <p>gravity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the planets to their year of identification as planets:

    <p>Mercury = 1677 Pluto = 2006 Uranus = 1783 Neptune = 1846</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated distance of the Oort cloud from the Sun?

    <p>100,000 AU (B), 50,000 AU (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Oort cloud can be directly observed with current imaging technology.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the closest star system to the Sun?

    <p>Alpha Centauri</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Solar System is estimated to dominate the gravitational forces of surrounding stars out to about ______ light-years.

    <p>two</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following celestial features with their descriptions:

    <p>Oort Cloud = Theorized outer shell of icy objects surrounding the Solar System Alpha Centauri = Closest star system to the Sun Local Bubble = Hourglass-shaped cavity in the interstellar medium Proxima Centauri b = Potentially habitable exoplanet orbiting Proxima Centauri</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon is thought to influence the orbits of extreme trans-Neptunian objects?

    <p>Planet Nine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Stellar flybys that pass within 0.8 light-years of the Sun occur roughly once every 10,000 years.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the speed of the Solar System around the center of the Milky Way?

    <p>220 km/s</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Sun is part of the ______ Arm in the Milky Way galaxy.

    <p>Orion–Cygnus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following interstellar clouds with their properties:

    <p>Corona Australis = Closest star-forming region to the Solar System Rho Ophiuchi = Complex containing multiple star formation regions Taurus = Part of the Radcliffe wave and beyond the Local Bubble Local Interstellar Cloud = Surrounds the Solar System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the direction of the Sun's path through interstellar space?

    <p>Solar apex (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Milky Way has a diameter of approximately 50,000 light-years.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated radius of the Sun's Hill sphere?

    <p>230,000 AU</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Objects in the Oort cloud are thought to have been ejected from the inner Solar System by ______ interactions.

    <p>gravitational</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following features is part of a region known as the Local Bubble?

    <p>Taurus molecular cloud (B), Ursa Major moving group (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Solar System

    The Sun and the objects that orbit it, bound by gravity.

    Sun's formation

    Formed approximately 4.6 Billion years ago, from a collapsing molecular cloud.

    Solar System's mass

    Over 99.86% of total mass is in the Sun, and nearly 90% of the remaining mass is in Jupiter and Saturn.

    Terrestrial planets

    The four inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) with solid surfaces.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Gas giants

    The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn) which are large and mainly composed of gas and liquids.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Dwarf planets

    Celestial bodies that orbit the Sun but are not large enough to clear their neighborhood.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Solar wind

    Charged particles released by the Sun.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Heliopause

    Boundary where the solar wind stops and interstellar space begins.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Protoplanetary Disc

    A flat, rotating disc of gas and dust surrounding a young star, where planets form through accretion.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Accretion

    The process by which small particles in a protoplanetary disc gradually stick together due to gravity, forming larger bodies like planets.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Frost Line

    The distance from the Sun where volatile ices can remain solid, marking the boundary between the inner and outer Solar System.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Giant Planets

    The four outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) composed primarily of gas and liquids, formed beyond the frost line.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Hydrostatic Equilibrium

    The balance between the outward pressure from fusion in the Sun's core and the inward force of gravity, maintaining its stable size.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Heliosphere

    A bubble of solar wind that extends far beyond Pluto, marking the boundary of the Sun's influence on the interstellar medium.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Nice Model

    A model of the Solar System's early evolution, explaining the migration of giant planets and the scattering of planetesimals.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Grand Tack Hypothesis

    A theory outlining Jupiter's inward migration towards the Sun, influencing the formation of the asteroid belt and the Late Heavy Bombardment.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Late Heavy Bombardment

    A period of intense asteroid impacts on the inner planets, occurring roughly 4 billion years ago.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Main Sequence Star

    A star, like our Sun, fusing hydrogen into helium in its core, stable for a long period of its life.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Red Giant

    A star's stage after the main sequence, where it expands significantly, cools, and becomes brighter.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    White Dwarf

    The dense, hot remnant of a star after its outer layers have been ejected, consisting mostly of carbon and oxygen.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Planetary Nebula

    The glowing shell of gas ejected from a star during its red giant phase, releasing enriched material back into space.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Kuiper Belt

    A region beyond Neptune containing icy objects, including dwarf planets like Pluto.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Ecliptic Plane

    The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. Most planets and larger objects in the Solar System lie near this plane.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Synchronous Rotation

    The state of a moon where one face is perpetually turned towards its parent planet, resulting from a rotation period equal to the orbital period.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Planetary Rings

    Thin discs of tiny particles orbiting a planet in unison, found around the four giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Prograde Rotation

    The rotation of a planet or moon in the same direction as its orbit around the Sun or its parent planet.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Retrograde Rotation

    The rotation of a planet or moon in the opposite direction to its orbit around the Sun or its parent planet.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Kepler's Laws

    Three laws that describe the motion of planets around the Sun, explaining their elliptical orbits and how their speed changes with distance.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Perihelion

    The point in a celestial body's orbit around the Sun where it is closest to the Sun.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Aphelion

    The point in a celestial body's orbit around the Sun where it is farthest from the Sun.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Angular Momentum

    A measure of the total amount of orbital and rotational momentum possessed by all the moving components of the Solar System.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Planetary Magnetic Fields

    Magnetic fields generated by the rotation and internal processes of planets, providing some protection from cosmic rays.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Cosmic Rays

    High-energy particles from space, traveling at nearly the speed of light, that pose a threat to life.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Titius-Bode Law

    A failed hypothesis attempting to predict the distances of planets from the Sun based on a mathematical sequence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sweden Solar System

    A large-scale model of the Solar System, with the Sun represented by the Avicii Arena in Stockholm and planets spread across Sweden.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Asteroid Belt

    A torus-shaped region between Mars and Jupiter, filled with remnants from the Solar System's formation.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Hilda Asteroids

    Asteroids in a 3:2 resonance with Jupiter, meaning they orbit the Sun three times for every two Jovian orbits.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Trojan Asteroids

    Asteroids located at Jupiter's Lagrange points, 60 degrees ahead or behind it in its orbit.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Outer Solar System

    The region beyond the asteroid belt, home to the giant planets, their moons, and many comets.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Centaurs

    Icy, comet-like bodies orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Scattered Disc

    A region overlapping the Kuiper belt, containing objects scattered by Neptune's gravitational influence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Trans-Neptunian Region

    The area beyond Neptune, encompassing the Kuiper belt and the scattered disc.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is the main component of the asteroid belt?

    The asteroid belt predominantly consists of remnants from the early Solar System's formation that failed to coalesce into a planet due to Jupiter's gravitational influence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are the three largest asteroid belt bodies?

    The three largest bodies in the asteroid belt are Ceres, Vesta, and Pallas. They're considered relatively intact protoplanets, a precursor stage before becoming a fully formed planet.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    How do Kuiper Belt objects differ from asteroids?

    Kuiper Belt objects, primarily found beyond Neptune, are composed mostly of ice, while asteroids are predominantly rocky.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Cosmic Ray Penetration

    The depth to which cosmic rays, high-energy particles from space, can reach within the Solar System. This depth varies over long timescales due to changes in the Sun's magnetic field and density of interstellar cosmic rays.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Solar System's Habitable Zone

    The region around a star where temperatures are suitable for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface or in subsurface oceans, potentially supporting life.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Super-Earths

    Planets with masses between one and ten times that of Earth. They are more commonly found in other solar systems than in our own, though a hypothetical Planet Nine might be one.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sun's Role in the Solar System

    The Sun is the central star of the Solar System, providing energy, light, and gravity that governs the movement of all other objects. Its enormous size and mass, comprising over 99.86% of the Solar System's total mass, contribute significantly to its gravitational influence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sun's Composition & Energy

    The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. Nuclear fusion, the process of hydrogen atoms fusing into helium, occurs in its core, releasing immense amounts of energy, primarily radiated as light and heat.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sun's Main Sequence

    A star, like our Sun, spends most of its lifespan in the main sequence, where its core fuses hydrogen into helium, maintaining a stable size and temperature.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Population I Star

    A star, like our Sun, belonging to a younger generation of stars found in the spiral arms of galaxies. These stars are richer in heavier elements, known as 'metals', compared to older Population II stars.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Scattered Disc Objects (SDOs)

    Small icy bodies with highly eccentric orbits that extend far beyond the Kuiper Belt. They were likely scattered by Neptune's gravity.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects (ETNOs)

    Objects with very large orbits, less affected by the giant planets than other minor planets, often found far beyond the Kuiper Belt.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Scattered ETNOs

    ETNOs with perihelia (closest point to the sun) around 38–45 AU, highly eccentric orbits, and still interact with Neptune.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Detached ETNOs

    ETNOs with perihelia between 40–45 and 50–60 AU, less affected by Neptune than scattered ETNOs.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sednoids

    ETNOs with perihelia beyond 50–60 AU, too far from Neptune to be strongly influenced.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Termination Shock

    The boundary where the solar wind collides with the interstellar medium, slowing down and becoming turbulent.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Heliosheath

    A region within the heliosphere, just beyond the termination shock, where the solar wind is compressed and turbulent.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Bow Shock

    A plasma 'wake' left by the Sun as it travels through the Milky Way, found beyond the heliopause.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Comets

    Icy bodies with highly eccentric orbits, that release gas and dust when they approach the Sun.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Short-period Comets

    Comets with orbits lasting less than 200 years, originating from the Kuiper Belt.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Long-period Comets

    Comets with orbits lasting thousands of years, originating from the Oort Cloud.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Meteoroids

    Solid objects smaller than one meter, often remnants of comets and asteroids.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Meteor Shower

    A phenomenon where a large number of meteors are visible in the sky, caused by the Earth passing through a trail of meteoroids.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Cosmic Dust Cloud

    A cloud of dust particles in the outer Solar System, extending from about 10 to 40 AU, likely formed from collisions in the Kuiper Belt.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Oort Cloud

    A theorized spherical shell of icy objects surrounding the Solar System at roughly 50,000 AU, considered the source of long-period comets.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Galactic Tide

    The tidal force exerted by the Milky Way, influencing the movement of objects in the Oort cloud.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Planet Nine

    A hypothetical planet beyond Neptune, potentially influencing the orbits of distant trans-Neptunian objects.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Trans-Neptunian Objects

    Celestial bodies orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune, including dwarf planets and icy objects.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Alpha Centauri

    The closest star system to our Sun, about 4.4 light-years away, composed of a pair of Sun-like stars and a red dwarf.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Local Bubble

    A cavity in the interstellar medium, roughly 300 light-years across, filled with high-temperature plasma.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Local Interstellar Cloud

    A cloud of gas and dust surrounding the Solar System, unclear if it's embedded or just outside the cloud's edge.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Ursa Major Moving Group

    A group of stars moving together, visible to the naked eye, located about 80 light-years away within the Local Bubble.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Star Clusters

    Groups of stars formed together, before dissolving into co-moving associations.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Orion-Cygnus Arm

    One of the spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy, where our Sun is located.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Galactic Year

    The time it takes for the Solar System to complete one revolution around the center of the Milky Way, about 240 million years.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Galactic Plane

    The flat disk-like region that contains the Sun and most of the Milky Way Galaxy's stars.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Angle between Ecliptic & Galactic Plane

    The angle between the Earth's orbital plane around the Sun (ecliptic plane) and the plane of the Milky Way galaxy (galactic plane).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sun's Position in the Milky Way

    The Sun orbits within the Milky Way galaxy, at a particular distance from its center, within the Local Spur, a branch of a spiral arm.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Spiral Arms and Sun's Trajectory

    The Sun resides within a spiral arm, but thankfully, its path doesn't frequently intersect with the densely populated spiral arms, giving Earth periods of stability.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Shiva Hypothesis

    A controversial theory suggesting that the Sun's movement in the galaxy could explain periodic extinction events on Earth due to its proximity to different galactic regions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Heliocentric Model

    The model which places the Sun at the center of the Solar System, with planets revolving around it.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Geocentric Model

    The outdated model that places the Earth at the center of the universe, with celestial objects revolving around it.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Copernicus & Heliocentric Revolution

    Nicolaus Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model, challenging the prevailing geocentric view, marking a major shift in astronomical thinking.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

    Three laws that describe how planets move around the Sun, explaining their elliptical orbits and their changing speeds.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

    The law that describes the force of attraction between any two objects with mass, explaining how planets are kept in orbit around the Sun.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Transit of Venus

    When Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, a rare event used to precisely measure the distance between Earth and the Sun.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Stellar Parallax

    The apparent change in the position of a star due to Earth's motion around the Sun, providing evidence for heliocentrism.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Space Probes & Solar System Exploration

    Unmanned robotic spacecraft sent to explore planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, sending data back to Earth.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Gravity Assist Maneuvers

    Using the gravity of planets to change the speed and direction of spacecraft, saving fuel and extending mission capabilities.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Solar System Overview

    • The Solar System comprises the Sun and its gravitationally bound objects.
    • Formed ~4.6 billion years ago from a collapsing molecular cloud.
    • The Sun is a G-type main-sequence star; maintains equilibrium through hydrogen fusion.
    • 8 planets orbit the Sun: 4 terrestrial (solid surfaces) and 4 gas/ice giants (without defined surfaces).
    • Over 99.86% of Solar System mass is in the Sun. Jupiter and Saturn account for nearly 90% of the remaining mass.

    Dwarf Planets

    • There are at least 9 confirmed dwarf planets.
    • Includes Ceres, Orcus, Pluto, Haumea, Quaoar, Makemake, Gonggong, Eris, and Sedna.
    • Numerous smaller Solar System bodies exist (asteroids, comets, etc.).

    Heliosphere and Oort Cloud

    • The heliosphere is the area dominated by the Sun's charged particles (solar wind), extending up to roughly 75-90 AU.
    • Marks the boundary to interstellar space.
    • The hypothetical Oort Cloud is the source of long-period comets, extending to 2,000-200,000 AU.

    Formation and Evolution

    • Gravitational collapse of a molecular cloud initiated Solar System formation.
    • Protoplanetary disk formed, consisting of dust and gas.
    • Planets formed through accretion of materials within the disk.
    • Terrestrial planets formed closer to the Sun, composed of metals and silicates.
    • Gas giants formed further out, beyond the "frost line," composed primarily of ices, gases.
    • Remaining debris formed asteroid belt, Kuiper belt, and Oort cloud.
    • Sun's evolution from protostar to main-sequence star involved increasing pressure and density leading to fusion of hydrogen.
    • Nice model suggests gravitational encounters led to planet migration and instability.
    • Grand Tack hypothesis suggests Jupiter's inward migration dispersed asteroid belt.

    Present and Future Conditions

    • The Solar System is in a relatively stable, slowly evolving state.
    • Possibility of disruption by a passing star (small chance).
    • Sun's hydrogen will deplete in ~5 billion years.
    • Sun will expand to a red giant, potentially engulfing inner planets like Mercury and Venus.
    • Ultimately the sun will collapse into a white dwarf.

    Regions of the Solar System

    • Inner Solar System: terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and asteroid belt.
    • Outer Solar System: gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune), and Kuiper belt.
    • Trans-Neptunian region: Kuiper belt and Scattered disk, beyond the orbit of Neptune.

    Composition and Structure

    • The Sun is primarily hydrogen and helium; planets closer to the Sun have higher melting-point components.
    • Planets mostly orbit the Sun in the same direction, in nearly circular orbits.
    • Kepler's laws describe planetary motion around the Sun, accounting for variations in distance.
    • Other minor bodies (comets, asteroids) have more eccentric orbits.

    Additional Aspects

    • Heliospheric boundary is influenced by solar wind and interstellar medium.
    • Space weather—solar flares and coronal mass ejections—causes changes within the heliosphere.
    • Inner and outer solar system have varied mineral composition due to temperature differences and thus resulting compositions.
    • Meteoroids, meteors, and dust are solar system components.
    • Comparison to other extrasolar systems highlights differences and similarities in planetary systems.
    • The Solar System is located in the Milky Way galaxy.
    • The galactic neighborhood and the Sun's movement through space influences the Solar System and Earth in the long term.
    • Historical overview of the understanding and exploration of the Solar System.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Explore the fascinating aspects of the Solar System, including the formation of the Sun and its planets, as well as the roles of dwarf planets and the heliosphere. This quiz covers essential facts about celestial bodies and their interactions in space. Test your knowledge about the mass distribution and unique features of our cosmic neighborhood.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser