Earth Science 2 Earth Systems
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hvxi90
1. most common element in the universe: hydrogen
2. What do we know about the elements found on Earth?: They are the same as elements
found throughout the universe.
3. What is matter?: Matter is what everything in the universe is made of, and matter itself is made of atoms.
4. How does energy travel through space?: Energy travels through space in the form of electro-
magnetic waves. Some examples of these are light waves, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, etc.
5. How are light waves different from x-rays?: They have different wavelengths.
6. How does the force of gravity on an astronaut change as the astronaut moves
further away from a planet?: The force gets weaker as the astronaut moves away.
7. Which has a greater force of gravity, the earth or the moon?: Earth has a greater force
of gravity because it is larger.
8. What are the two main parts of a galaxy?: The center, or core, and the spiral arms.
9. Where are we in the Milky Way galaxy?: in a spiral arm
10. What is a nebula?: It is a vast cloud of hydrogen gas and dust. Nebulas are the places where stars form.
11. What force holds the millions of stars together in a galaxy?: the force of gravity
12. What principle objects make up a galaxy?: Stars, nebulas, and planets.
13. Why can't astronomers see into the exact center of a galaxy like our Milky
Way?: There are too many stars—it is like being in the forest and not being able to see very far because all the trees
block your view.
14. Which four planets are considered terrestrial or Earth-like?: Mercury, Venus, Earth,
Mars
15. why our solar system is the shape of a disk.: The nebula our solar system formed in was slowly
spinning. As the force of gravity increased, more of the nebula was pulled toward the center and it spun faster. As a
result of spinning faster, it eventually formed a flat, disk-like shape.
16. Which four planets are considered gas giants?: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
17. What force holds the planets in orbit around the sun?: gravity
18. Explain why our solar system is the shape of a disk.: The nebula our solar system formed
in was slowly spinning. As the force of gravity increased, more of the nebula was pulled toward the center and it spun
faster. As a result of spinning faster, it eventually formed a flat, disk-like shape.
19. Which planet has a climate most like Earth?: Mars
20. List three ways that the sun affects planets.: Among other things, the sun causes auroras on
planets, heats planets, provides light for planets, and keeps planets in rotation through the force of gravity
1/2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hvxi90
1. most common element in the universe: hydrogen
2. What do we know about the elements found on Earth?: They are the same as elements
found throughout the universe.
3. What is matter?: Matter is what everything in the universe is made of, and matter itself is made of atoms.
4. How does energy travel through space?: Energy travels through space in the form of electro-
magnetic waves. Some examples of these are light waves, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, etc.
5. How are light waves different from x-rays?: They have different wavelengths.
6. How does the force of gravity on an astronaut change as the astronaut moves
further away from a planet?: The force gets weaker as the astronaut moves away.
7. Which has a greater force of gravity, the earth or the moon?: Earth has a greater force
of gravity because it is larger.
8. What are the two main parts of a galaxy?: The center, or core, and the spiral arms.
9. Where are we in the Milky Way galaxy?: in a spiral arm
10. What is a nebula?: It is a vast cloud of hydrogen gas and dust. Nebulas are the places where stars form.
11. What force holds the millions of stars together in a galaxy?: the force of gravity
12. What principle objects make up a galaxy?: Stars, nebulas, and planets.
13. Why can't astronomers see into the exact center of a galaxy like our Milky
Way?: There are too many stars—it is like being in the forest and not being able to see very far because all the trees
block your view.
14. Which four planets are considered terrestrial or Earth-like?: Mercury, Venus, Earth,
Mars
15. why our solar system is the shape of a disk.: The nebula our solar system formed in was slowly
spinning. As the force of gravity increased, more of the nebula was pulled toward the center and it spun faster. As a
result of spinning faster, it eventually formed a flat, disk-like shape.
16. Which four planets are considered gas giants?: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
17. What force holds the planets in orbit around the sun?: gravity
18. Explain why our solar system is the shape of a disk.: The nebula our solar system formed
in was slowly spinning. As the force of gravity increased, more of the nebula was pulled toward the center and it spun
faster. As a result of spinning faster, it eventually formed a flat, disk-like shape.
19. Which planet has a climate most like Earth?: Mars
20. List three ways that the sun affects planets.: Among other things, the sun causes auroras on
planets, heats planets, provides light for planets, and keeps planets in rotation through the force of gravity
1/2
