Download Space Science Chapter 1 Study Guide

Space Science Chapter 1 Study Guide Answer Key
1. What is a constellation? A constellation is group of stars that form a
pattern in the sky.
2. Our solar system is made up of what? The Sun and its family of orbiting
planets, moons, and other objects.
3. Radio telescopes gather radiation with what type of dish? Metal dish
4. What type of mission would not be used to explore another planet? A
space station.
5. Stars appear to move around in circles near this star? Polaris
-What causes them to move in this way? Earth’s rotation
6. Why have scientists only found a few impact craters on Earth? Wind and
water constantly wear down Earth’s surface
7. What is a wavelength? The distance between one wave peak and the
next peak
8. What causes constellations to change positions in the night sky? The
rotation of Earth
9. What are the definitions of the following?
a. Orbiter: a spacecraft orbits a planet for several months to several
years
b. Flyby: a spacecraft that passes one or more planets or other bodies in
space without orbiting them
c. Lander: a spacecraft designed to land on a planet’s surface
d. Probe: a spacecraft that drops into a planet’s atmosphere and collects
data
e. Satellite: an object that orbits a more massive object
f. Space Station: a satellite in which people can live and work for long
periods
10. Compare and contrast visible light telescopes that are on Earth and in
space. Visible light telescopes on Earth can be used to get a clearer view
of distant objects in the sky. Visible light telescopes in space are not
affected by Earth’s atmosphere.
11. What is an impact crater? A round pit left behind on the surface of a
planet or other body in space after a smaller object strikes the surface
12. What can be said about the number of stars in the universe? There are
more stars than anyone can easily count.
13. What is our closet neighbor and what does it do around Earth? The
Moon orbits Earth.
14. The Apollo astronauts had to be organized and practice procedure to be
prepared for landing on what object in space? The Moon.
15. The development of space suits that protect astronauts against extreme
heat has also lead to the improvement of what type of equipment?
Firefighting equipment
16. What is the visible light spectrum? The range of colors of light that
occurs when white light passes through a prism
17. How are the objects in our universe arranged? Use the terms universe,
planet, galaxy, star, solar system. (Write in complete sentences for questions
17 & 18) Objects in the universe are arranged in different structures. A
planet orbits a star. A star, all planets orbiting it, and smaller bodies
make up a solar system. A group of millions or billions of stars held
together by gravity is a galaxy. Space and all the matter and energy in
it make up the universe.
18. Identify and discuss three obstacles to sending humans to other planets
and one way in which spacecraft without crews help us study other planets.
Sending humans to other planets would take months or years.
Spacecraft could not carry enough water and other supplies to sustain
people for that long.
Some planets have extreme heat or extreme cold.
Some planets do not have a solid surface to land on.
Spacecraft without crews collect data from planets and send them to
Earth, where they can be studied by scientists.