Components of the Universe

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

A large cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space; the predecessor to stars.

Front

List the components of the universe from smallest to largest.

Back

Planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies.

Front

What keeps Earth in its path around the sun?

Back

The gravitational attraction between the sun and Earth.

Front

What happens to stars as we move to the left on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

Back

Stars get hotter.

Front

How is our sun classified compared to other stars?

Back

Medium size with medium temperature.

Front

What is a galaxy?

Back

A massive system that contains stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter, bound together by gravity.

Front

Define a black hole.

Back

A region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.

Front

What is the difference between a star and a planet?

Back

A star is a luminous celestial body made of plasma that generates energy through nuclear fusion, while a planet is a celestial body that orbits a star and does not produce its own light.

Front

What is the role of gravity in the universe?

Back

Gravity is the force that attracts two bodies towards each other, governing the motion of planets, stars, galaxies, and even light.

Front

What is the life cycle of a star?

Back

A star forms from a nebula, enters the main sequence phase, expands into a red giant, and eventually ends as a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.