Solar System, Galaxy, and Universe Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the approximate diameter of the observable Universe?

  • 14 billion light-years
  • 28 billion light-years (correct)
  • 14 trillion light-years
  • 28 trillion light-years

Which of the following best defines a galaxy?

  • A small collection of planets and asteroids orbiting a dwarf star.
  • A single star system with planets and comets.
  • A cluster of solar systems within a planetary nebula.
  • A gravitationally bound system of gas, dust, and billions of stars. (correct)

The Milky Way galaxy is part of which galactic group?

  • Andromeda Supercluster
  • Local Group (correct)
  • Great Attractor
  • Virgo Cluster

Which of these shapes is NOT mentioned as a typical shape for galaxies?

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

Which component constitutes the vast majority of the Solar System's mass?

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

Approximately how long ago did our Solar System form?

<p>4.5 billion years ago (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which part of the Milky Way galaxy is our Solar System located?

<p>Outer Spiral Arm (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary force that holds together both solar systems and galaxies?

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

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between the Sun, the Milky Way, and the Universe?

<p>The Sun is part of the Milky Way, which is part of the Universe. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a solar system consist of?

<p>A star and all the objects that orbit it. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the Milky Way galaxy once referred to as before the discovery of other galaxies?

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

What is dark matter?

<p>An unknown type of matter detectable by its gravitational effects. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the size of the Universe?

<p>Its exact size is unknown, and we may never know if it has an edge. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the Solar System, galaxy, and Universe from each other?

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

What constitutes the Universe?

<p>All of space, matter, energy, time, and their contents. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Observable Universe

The part of the Universe that we can see, about 28 billion light-years across.

Galaxy

A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity.

Milky Way Galaxy

The galaxy that contains our solar system, shaped like a spiral.

Andromeda Galaxy

The nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way.

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Solar System

The Sun and all celestial bodies bound to it by gravity, including 8 planets.

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Dark Matter

A mysterious substance that makes up a significant portion of the galaxy's mass, unseen yet influential.

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Hubble Space Telescope

A powerful telescope that observes distant galaxies and celestial phenomena beyond our own.

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Universe

The totality of all space, matter, energy, and time, including everything that exists.

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Milky Way

The galaxy that contains our Solar System and billions of stars.

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Bright Matter

Visible objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies that can be seen directly or with telescopes.

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Gravity

The force that holds galaxies and solar systems together, causing them to orbit.

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Expansion of the Universe

The ongoing process where galaxies move away from each other, leading to a continuously enlarging Universe.

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Study Notes

Solar System, Galaxy, and Universe

  • Solar System: The Sun and everything bound to it by gravity (planets, moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids).
  • Solar System Size: Smallest of the three (Solar System, Galaxy, Universe).
  • Solar System Composition: Primarily the Sun (99.8-99.9% mass). The rest includes planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and dust.
  • Solar System Formation: Formedd about 4.5 billion years ago from a dense cloud of gas and dust.
  • Solar System Location: Outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy
  • Galaxy: A large collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems, held together by gravity.
  • Galaxy Size: Larger than the Solar System, but smaller than the Universe.
  • Galaxy Composition: Gas, dust and an immense number of stars and their solar systems.
  • Milky Way: The galaxy containing our solar system and Earth.
  • Galaxy Shapes: Can be spiral, elliptical, or irregular in shape.
  • Galaxy Neighbors: The Milky Way is part of a group of about 30 galaxies (Local Group).
  • Galaxy Count: Scientists believe there are hundreds of billions of galaxies in the Universe.
  • Galaxy Contents: Billions of stars, including our Sun.
  • Galaxy Dark Matter: Milky Way has at least 10 times more dark matter compared to its stars and gas.

Universe

  • Universe: All of space, matter, energy, time, and its contents (planets, stars, galaxies).
  • Universe Size: Largest of the three; ever-expanding. Observable universe diameter: about 28 billion light years.
  • Universe Composition: Contains galaxies, solar systems, everything in space and within space.
  • Universe Dark Matter: A significant portion of the universe is composed of an unknown type of matter known as dark matter, contrasted to bright matter such as planets, stars, galaxies.
  • Universe Observable Limit: Scientists can observe up to approximately 14 billion light-years from Earth.
  • Universe Size Variation: The size of the universe is constantly changing and growing.
  • Universe Structure: Contains billions, perhaps trillions, of galaxies.

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