Exploring Our Solar System Flashcard

Front

What are the surface conditions of Mercury?

Back

Mercury has extreme temperature variations due to its lack of atmosphere.

Front

How does Venus's atmosphere affect its surface temperature?

Back

Venus has a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere, causing a strong greenhouse effect.

Front

What role does Jupiter's gravity play in the asteroid belt?

Back

Jupiter's gravity prevents the formation of a planet in the asteroid belt.

Front

What is the nebular hypothesis?

Back

The nebular hypothesis suggests that the solar system formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust, with the Sun and planets forming from this material.

Front

What evidence supports the nebular hypothesis?

Back

The similar age of the Sun and the planets supports the nebular hypothesis.

Front

How does gravity influence the orbits of moons around gas giants?

Back

Gravity provides the centripetal force necessary for the moons to orbit the planets.

Front

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back

The greenhouse effect is the warming of a planet's surface due to the trapping of heat by its atmosphere.

Front

What are the main components of Earth's atmosphere?

Back

Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

Front

What is the significance of the asteroid belt in the solar system?

Back

The asteroid belt contains remnants from the early solar system and helps scientists understand planetary formation.

Front

How does the lack of atmosphere affect temperature on Mercury?

Back

The lack of atmosphere on Mercury leads to extreme temperature variations between day and night.