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Stars and the Solar System Study Guide
1.
List the characteristics that scientists use to classify stars.
2.
Put the colors below in order from hottest to coldest, 1 being the hottest, 5 being the coldest.
_________ Yellow
_________ Orange
_________ Blue
_________ White
_________ Red
3.
Below, explain the difference between a red giant and a red supergiant.
4.
Explain the life cycle of our sun starting with its formation to its death. Be sure to use the
following terms: nebula, main sequence, white dwarf, red giant
5.
How is the life cycle of a star like the life cycle of a human? Explain
6.
Explain the life cycle of a massive star staring with its formation to its death. Be sure to use the
following terms and give all possible endings: nebula, black hole, supernova, red supergiant,
main sequence, interstellar medium, pulsar
7. Explain how spectroscopy can lead to the composition of a star.
8.
List at least 3 characteristics of main sequence stars:
9.
List at least 3 characteristics of red giants:
10. List at least 3 characteristics of white dwarfs:
11. Choose a constellation and draw a picture of it.
12. How long ago did our solar system begin to form? Explain the steps in solar system formation.
13. Put these terms in order from largest to smallest:
Milky Way Galaxy, Sun, Solar System, Universe, Earth, Nebula, Local Group, The Hubble telescope
14. List the 4 types of galaxies and draw a picture of each.
15. Explain where stars are made in a spiral galaxy. Why are they made there?
16. What do astronomers believe can cause the irregular shapes of barred spiral and irregular
galaxies?
17. Explain the big bang theory in as much detail as possible. Make sure you answer the following
questions: 1. Is the universe expanding or getting smaller?
2. What evidence did the WMAP provide scientists about the big bang?
3. Is the universe cooling or getting hotter? Less or more dense?
4. How has the amount of hydrogen and helium changed and how does the support
the big bang?
18. List 5 facts about the Milky Way galaxy.
19. List the following stars in order from brightest to dimmest:
Alpheratz – magnitude of 2
Alcyone – magnitude of 3
Rigel – magnitude of 0
Deneb – magnitude of 1
20. Most stars in our galaxy are which kind of star?
21. If the universe expands forever, what will happen? Will it eventually collapse or remain just as
it is? Explain
22. Explain the difference between the absolute magnitude and the apparent magnitude of stars.
23. While looking through a telescope, you see a galaxy that contains mostly red giants and white
dwarfs. What kind of galaxy do you expect it to be? Explain.