Objects in Space

Front

What is the tail of a comet?

Back

The tail of a comet points straight away from the sun due to the solar wind and radiation pressure.

Front

What does it mean when the moon is said to be waxing?

Back

When the moon is waxing, it is growing larger in the night sky, moving from new moon to full moon.

Front

What are comets?

Back

Comets are objects in space that originate in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, composed of ice, dust, and rocky material.

Front

How does an atmosphere regulate thermal energy?

Back

An atmosphere regulates thermal energy by containing greenhouse gases that trap heat.

Front

What causes Earth's magnetic field?

Back

Earth's magnetic field is caused by the movement of molten iron in the outer core.

Front

What is the significance of greenhouse gases?

Back

Greenhouse gases are significant because they trap heat in an atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Front

What is the habitable zone?

Back

The habitable zone is the region around a star where conditions may be right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface.

Front

What is the difference between asteroids and comets?

Back

Asteroids are rocky objects primarily found in the asteroid belt, while comets are icy bodies that originate from the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.

Front

What is the role of the magnetosphere?

Back

The magnetosphere protects a planet from solar wind and cosmic radiation by deflecting charged particles.

Front

What is the hottest planet in our solar system?

Back

Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system due to its thick atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases.