Space Unit Test Review PDF

Space Unit Test Review Answers: 1. Descriptions of each object: a. Asteroids - small rocky body orbiting the sun, ranging in size from dust particles to 1000 km across (found in the Asteroid Belt) b. Comets - objects made of ice and dust that orbit the Sun...

Space Unit Test Review Answers: 1. Descriptions of each object: a. Asteroids - small rocky body orbiting the sun, ranging in size from dust particles to 1000 km across (found in the Asteroid Belt) b. Comets - objects made of ice and dust that orbit the Sun c. Meteoroid - small body moving in the solar system that could become a meteor d. Meteor - small body of matter that enters Earth’s atmosphere e. Meteorite - a meteor that survives the passage through Earth’s atmosphere and strikes the ground 2. Inner planets: mercury, venus, earth and mars 3. Outer planets: jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune 4. An astronomical unit is the average distance between Earth and the Sun (~150 000 000 km). 5. Explain two pieces of evidence that support the Big Bang theory of the formation of the universe: a. Red Shifting: the universe is expanding, as shown by all galaxies moving away from each other b. cosmic background radiation, believed to be the afterglow of the initial moments of the formation of the universe, has been mapped. 6. The redshift of spectral lines in the light we see from galaxies shows that the light’s wavelengths are getting longer. This indicates that the galaxies are moving away from us. 7. A star shines when energy from nuclear reactions occurring in its core makes it to the star’s surface. 8. Stars are “born” in nebulas. 9. Ways that the Sun’s energy interacts with Earth’s atmosphere a. The Sun’s radiation heats Earth’s atmosphere; i. Warms Earth and can cause wind b. Provides energy for photosynthesis c. Solar storms (solar wind) send waves of high-energy particles towards Earth, causing auroras and sometimes interfering with electronic equipment. 10. The aurora borealis is caused when high-energy particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field. 11. The Core 12. According to the theory of how the solar system formed, a cloud of gas and dust began spinning. Most of the material accumulated in the centre, eventually contracting into a body called the Sun. The leftover debris continued spinning and contracting in orbit around the Sun and eventually formed the planets. 13. Both the rotation and revolution of Earth are part of what causes the seasons. Earth rotates at a fixed angle as it revolves around the Sun. Seasons result because of the angle of Earth’s axis. When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun we experience summer, and when the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, we experience winter. 14. Life cycles: a. Life cycle of a low mass star: birth, main sequence, red supergiant, supernova, black hole or neutron star b. Life cycle of a medium mass star: birth, main sequence, red giant, white dwarf, black dwarf 15. The length of year for a planet depends on how long it takes to make one revolution of the Sun. Each planet lies a different distance from the Sun and therefore its length of year is different. 16. The Sun has a greater effect on Earth than the Moon does. Although the Moon causes the tides, the Sun provides the radiation that heats Earth’s atmosphere and has allowed life to form on the planet due to photosynthesis for plants which supply energy for food webs. 17. Diagrams: a. Lunar eclipse b. Solar eclipse 18. The tide occurs on both sides because Earth is being pulled toward the Moon more than the water on the far side. 19. The tides happen twice a day because the tide occurs on the side that is closest to the Moon and on the side opposite to the Moon. As Earth rotates it will form a tide in the area that is closest to the moon and then again when that area is on the far side, opposite to the area on Earth closest to the moon. 20. The Sun heats the Earth’s surface unevenly, creating areas of high and low pressure. Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, generating wind. 21. Answers will vary (examples): a. Very expensive b. Pollutes the planet and outer space c. Exposes astronauts to radiation and other health problems 22. Answers will vary (examples): a. Creates lots of jobs b. Research can be used in other fields to help the planet or other industries (spin offs) c. Answers questions about the universe 23. Answers will vary.