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Astronomy Exam 1
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Kepler's 1st Law of Planetary Motion | Planet's orbit is an ellipse; with Sun at one focus |
| Kepler's 2nd Law of Planetary Motion | Object orbiting Sun on elliptic orbit is FASTEST when CLOSEST to Sun and SLOWEST when FURTHEST from the Sun |
| Kepler's 3rd Law of Planetary Motion | Periods (YEARS) are related to planets' orbital sizes (a in AU); applies to planets orbiting a 1 solar mass star p^2=a^3 |
| Newton's 1st Law of Gravity | body at rest/ motion STAYS in rest/motion UNLESS acted upon an outside FORCE |
| Newton's 2nd Law of Gravity | F=ma (Force=mass x acceleration) more mass--more force to accelerate |
| Newton's 3rd Law of Gravity | Every action has an EQUAL and OPPOSITE force |
| Occam's Razor | Scientists should prefer the simpler of two models that agrees with the observations |
| scientific paradigm | General pattern of thought that tends to shape scientific study for a specific time period |
| diameter of Earth | 8,000 miles |
| circumference of Earth | 24,900 miles |
| Average/Mean Earth-Sun distance | 93.9 million miles (=1 AU) |
| 1 light-year | DISTANCE light travels in a vacuum in a year |
| right ascension | (LONGITUDE) but on the celestial sphere [used in equatorial coordinate system] |
| declination | (LATITUDE) but on the celestial sphere [used in equatorial coordinate system] |
| elevation angle | number of DEGREES between the horizon and the object (AKA altitude, used in horizon coordinate system] |
| azimuth | direction around the horizon from due north (used in horizon coordinate system) |
| ecliptic | Sun's apparent annual path among the constellations (fundamental great circle of ecliptic coordinate system) |
| zodiac | constellations on the celestial sphere through which the ecliptic passes |
| vernal equinox | points at which the sun passes through the equator making the DAY AS LONG AS NIGHT (FALL & SPRING equinox) |
| celestial meridian | circle that connects the zenith with the north and south poles |
| zenith | straight UP from observer |
| nadir | straight DOWN from observer |
| north celestial pole | point on the celestial sphere directly above earth's north pole |
| latitude (on Earth) | angular NORTH-SOUTH distance between Earth's equator and a location on Earth's surface |
| longitude (on Earth) | angular EAST-WEST distance between Earth's prime meridian and a location on Earth's |
| What causes the seasons? | Earth's 23 & 1/2 degree tilt on its axis |
| precession of the equinoxes | slow change in direction of the axis of Earth's rotation |
| Pythagorus | a^2+b^2=c^2 |
| scientific method | based on observation, logic and skepticism |
| Hypothesis | collection of ideas that seems to explain a phenomenon |
| model | hypotheses that have withstood observational or experimental tests |
| Theory | a body of related hypotheses can be pieced together into a self consistent description of nature |
| laws of physics | theories that accurately describe the workings of physical reality, have stood the test of time and have been shown to have great and general validity |
| Solar system planet order | sun, mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, pluto (no longer considered planet) |
| quasar | light emitted from the mass falling into the massive black hole inside the center of a galaxy |
| angular distance between stars | if you draw lines from your eye to each of the two stars, the angle between the two stars |
Created by:
daisy98
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