Earth and Space Concepts

What are terrestrial planets?

• Rocky planets including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, characterized by small size, density, and thin/no atmosphere.

• Gas giants with thick atmospheres, such as Jupiter and Saturn.

• Planets that are primarily composed of ice and gas, like Uranus and Neptune.

• Dwarf planets that orbit the Sun, including Pluto and Eris.

Why is nuclear fusion important in stars?

• It converts hydrogen into helium, releasing energy that produces light and heat.

• It creates heavy elements like iron and gold.

• It allows stars to cool down and stop shining.

• It prevents stars from collapsing under their own gravity.

What is a light-year?

• The distance light travels in a year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers.

• A measure of time it takes for light to travel from one star to another.

• The speed at which light travels in a vacuum.

• A unit of measurement for the brightness of stars.

What is the Big Bang Theory?

• A theory that suggests the universe is static and unchanging.

• The most accepted theory stating that the universe began about 13.8 billion years ago from a singularity and continues to expand.

• A hypothesis that the universe will eventually collapse back into a singularity.

• A concept that describes the universe as infinite and without a beginning.

What are neap tides?

• Strong tides that occur when the Sun and Moon are aligned.

• Weak tides that occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles.

• Tides that occur only during a full moon.

• Tides that are influenced by the Earth's rotation.

What are the phases of the Moon?

• New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Full Moon, Waning Crescent

• New Moon, Full Moon, Half Moon, Dark Moon

• Crescent Moon, Gibbous Moon, Quarter Moon, Full Moon

• New Moon, First Quarter, Last Quarter, Blue Moon

Why is Pluto classified as a dwarf planet?

• It does not clear its orbit of other debris.

• It is smaller than Earth's moon.

• It has a highly elliptical orbit.

• It is made primarily of gas.

What is the life cycle of a high-mass star?

• Nebula → Protostar → Main Sequence → Red Giant → Planetary Nebula → White Dwarf

• Nebula → Protostar → Main Sequence → Supergiant → Supernova → Neutron Star/Black Hole

• Nebula → Protostar → Main Sequence → Supernova → Red Supergiant → Black Hole

• Nebula → Protostar → Main Sequence → Supergiant → Black Hole → Neutron Star

What is the significance of convection currents in plate tectonics?

• They drive the movement of tectonic plates, causing earthquakes and volcanoes.

• They are responsible for the formation of mountains only.

• They have no impact on tectonic activity.

• They only affect ocean currents and weather patterns.

What is the greenhouse effect?

• The process by which certain gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming.

• A phenomenon where plants absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.

• The cooling of the Earth's surface due to increased cloud cover.

• A method of reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy sources.