Name: ANSWERSPer: ____
Ch. 11 and Ch. 12 Astronomy Study Guide
What do you need to know from Ch. 11?
1) Name the order of the planets from the Sun outward (pg. 486):
2) What is used to measure the distances between the planets of our Solar System (p. 466)? ______
3) Describe what one of these units is (p. 466): ______
4) How are the inner planets different than the outer planets? (hint: describe size, temperature, and what they are made out of; go to pg. 486 for help)
Outer Planets / Inner Planets5) How was the moon created according to the latest theory (pg, 473)?
The Earth was hit by a large object. Part of the Earth broke off but remained in orbit around the Earth. That piece became the moon.
6) What is the source of light that causes the moon to be illuminated? Sun
7) Contrast these space objects: asteroids, meteoroids, and comets (489-492).
Asteroids / Meteoroids / Comets- in asteroid belt
(M & J)
- rocky objects
- no atmosphere / - create craters
- solid particles
- sail through
Earth's atmosphere
- "shooting stars" / - can have huge elliptical
orbits, paths around Sun
- small, icy objects
What do you need to know from Ch. 12?
8) What is a star (p. 508)? A large ball of gas that emits light (energy)
9) What is the structure of a star (p. 508)? Draw and label the structure below:
(Core is in the middle of the star)
10) Describe the distances between stars. What is used to measure this distance (p. 509)? ______
BLUE / WHITE / YELLOW / RED25,000 K / 7,000 K / 5,000 K / 3,500 K
11) What do the colors of stars indicate about a star? Fill out the chart to the right. (p. 512)
12) Look at the black H-R Diagram on pg. 515. Which stars are the brightest according to this diagram?
a) White dwarves b) Sun c) Red Giants d) Supergiants
13) Which stars have the hottest temperatures?
a) White dwarves b) Sun c) Red Giants d) Supergiants
14) Which stars have the smallest size?
a) White dwarves b) Sun c) Red Giants d) Supergiants
15) What is a nebula (p. 519)? A large cloud of dust and gas in space.
16) The elements of He and H are the most common in nebulae.
17) What is nuclear fusion? 2 nuclei from two different atoms fuse together and become one new, heavier nucleus (and also a new element)
18) It is easy to confuse the processes of star formation, the Big Bang Theory, and the life cycle of a star. In the boxes, write down each process separately and remember how they are different. Be sure you know the different terms involved in each process (i.e., supernova, neutron star, nebula, contraction, black hole, nuclear fusion, etc.).
The Big Bang Theory (p. 532) / The Formation of a Star (p. 520) / The Life Cycle of Low- and High-mass stars (p. 524)- all matter and energy contained in one small, hot point
- point began to expand rapidly and cool
- H & He began to form
- Perhaps, clouds of H & He clumped together became more dense in some regions and formed galaxies / - particles in a nebula begin
to clump (gravity)
- as particles move closer together, they move faster and heat up
- clump becomes spherical that is denser and hottest at its center (core)
- after millions of years, the center becomes hot enough for nuclear fusion and a star is born! / - When low-mass stars use
up the H in their cores, they expand and cool, becoming red giants. Red giants will lose mass from their surfaces and become white dwarves (core only).
- High-mass stars will become red supergiants, which will explode once Fe is produced in its core (supernova). Neutron stars (remains of supergiant cores) are left. If they are large enough and continue to contract, they will become black holes.
19) Draw the different galaxies below (p. 529-530)
Spiral Galaxy/ Barred Spiral Galaxy \ / Elliptical Galaxy
/ Irregular Galaxy (note: there are several ways to draw this) \
20) Order these objects from smallest to largest: galaxy, universe, supercluster, star, gas/dust particles, cluster
______, ______, ______, ______, ______, ______
Gas/dust particles, star, galaxy, cluster, supercluster, universe