Astronomy Vocab Flashcard

Front

What is the term for how fast an object speeds up or slows down?

Back

Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity per unit of time, measured in meters per second squared.

Front

What do we call the path one object takes around a more massive object?

Back

Orbit: The curved path of an object around a star, planet, or moon.

Front

What is the term for the speed of an object moving in a certain direction?

Back

Velocity: The speed of an object in a specific direction, measured in meters per second.

Front

What is the force of a surface pushing against a moving object called?

Back

Friction: The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.

Front

What do we call a collection of space objects that orbit the Sun?

Back

Solar System: The gravitationally bound system comprising the Sun and the objects that orbit it, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

Front

What is the term for the pull that a massive object exerts on another object?

Back

Gravity: A force that attracts two bodies toward each other, proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Front

What is the term for a large system of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity?

Back

Galaxy: A massive system that contains billions of stars, along with gas and dust, bound together by gravity.

Front

What do we call the visible mass of gas and dust in space, often forming new stars?

Back

Nebula: A giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often the birthplace of stars.

Front

What is the term for the distance of an object from a reference point?

Back

Position: The location of an object in space relative to a reference point.

Front

What is the term for the change in position of an object over time?

Back

Motion: The action or process of moving or being moved.