Unit 3 Vocabulary Astronomy

Front

Rocky planets similar in overall composition to Earth

Back

Terrestrial planets

Front

Giant gaseous planets similar in overall composition to Jupiter

Back

Jovian planets

Front

The detailed theory that describes how our solar system formed from a cloud of interstellar gas and dust

Back

Nebular theory

Front

The formation of solid or liquid particles from a cloud of gas

Back

Condensation

Front

The process by which small objects gather together to make larger objects

Back

Accretion

Front

A stream of charged particles ejected from the Sun

Back

Solar wind

Front

A state of balance in which the force of gravity pulling inward is precisely counteracted by pressure pushing outward

Back

Hydrostatic (gravitational) equilibrium

Front

The process in which two (or more) smaller nuclei slam together and make one larger nucleus

Back

Nuclear fusion

Front

The process by which gravity separates materials according to density, with high-density materials sinking and low-density materials rising

Back

Differentiation

Front

Processes that change a planet’s surface long after formation, such as volcanism, tectonics, and erosion

Back

Geologic activity