Unit 9, Topic 2: Studying Exoplanets

tectonic activity

• the movement and interaction of plates within a planet's crust

• the process of erosion and sedimentation

• the formation of mountains and valleys

• the study of weather patterns and climate change

atmosphere

• the gases that surround a planet

• a layer of water on the surface of a planet

• the solid surface of a planet

• the temperature range of a planet

gravity

• A force that repels objects away from each other

• A force that attracts a body towards massive objects, such as planets

• A type of energy that powers the sun

• A phenomenon that causes objects to float in space

telescope

• A device for measuring time

• An instrument used to see objects that are far away by making them appear closer

• A tool for navigating the seas

• A machine for recording sound

habitable zone

• the region around a star that can potentially support life

• a zone where no life can exist

• a region with extreme temperatures

• a place where only artificial life can thrive

uninhabitable

• suitable for living in

• unsuitable for living in

• a place with abundant resources

• a location with high population density

inhabitable

• suitable to live in; habitable

• not suitable for living

• dangerous to inhabit

• unfit for human life

natural hazard

• a naturally occurring event that poses a threat to humans, the environment, or the economy

• a man-made disaster that affects the economy

• a type of weather phenomenon that is always predictable

• an event that only affects the environment but not humans

weather

• the state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place

• a type of precipitation

• the temperature of a location

• the movement of air in the atmosphere

exoplanet

• a planet that is outside of our solar system

• a type of star

• a moon orbiting a planet

• a comet traveling through space