+
Related Flashcards
Related Topics
Cards In This Set
| Front | Back |
|
What does the solar system consist of?
|
The solar system consists of the Sun, the planets ad their moons, and countless smaller objects (such as asteroids and icy comets)
|
|
What does the solar system belong to?
|
The solar system belongs to a huge, disk-shaped collection of stars called the Milky Way Galaxy
|
|
What is a Galaxy?
|
A galaxy is a great island of stars
|
|
What are groups of galaxies with more than few dozen members called?
|
They are called galaxyclusters
|
|
What are superclusters?
|
Superclusters are clusters of galaxyclusters. They are regions in which galaxies and galaxyclusters are most tightlt packed
|
|
What is the Universe?
|
The Universe is the sum of all matter and energy (encompassing the superclusters and voids and everything within them)
|
|
What makes the boundary of our observable universe?
|
The distance of 14 billion light years marks the boundary of our observable universe
|
|
Does the bondary of our observable universe put a limit on the size of the ENITRE universe?
|
NO
|
|
What do telescope observations of distant galaxies show us?
|
These observations show us that the entire universe is EXPANDING; meaning that average distance between galaxies are increasing with time
|
|
What does the universe expanding imply?
|
It implies that galaxies must have been closer together in the past
|
|
What is the point where expansion began called?
|
It is called the BIG BANG
|
|
How did scientists calculate that the BIG BANG occurred about 14 billion years ago?
|
Scientists used the observed rate of expansion to calcualte
|
|
Do individual galaxies and galaxyclusters expand?
|
No they do not expand
|
|
What does gravity do in galaxies?
|
Gravity drives the collapse of clouds of gas and dust to form stars and planets
|
|
Are stars a living organism?
|
No but they do go through "life cycles"
|
