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Chapter 3
The Solar System
26
Science
8th Grade
10/20/2010

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Cards

Term
CORE
Definition
Sun's interior, nuclear fusion occurs here, producing a ton of energy
Term
NUCLEAR FUSION
Definition
hydrogen atoms join together to form helium, releasing huge amounts of energy
Term
RADIATION ZONE
Definition
region of the sun where there is very tightly packed gas and energy is being transferred in the form of electromagnetic radiation
Term
CONVECTION ZONE
Definition
outermost layer of sun's interior. like a mixing zone, where the hot gases rise, cool, and sink
Term
PHOTOSPHERE
Definition
the visible layer of the sun, the inner layer of the sun's atmosphere
Term
CHROMOSPHERE
Definition
the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere, gives off a reddish glow
Term
GEOCENTRIC
Definition
earth is at the center of the revolving planets and stars
Term
HELIOCENTRIC
Definition
Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun
Term
CORONA
Definition
outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, can be seen during a solar eclipse
Term
SOLAR WIND
Definition
electrically charged particles that stream off the corona
Term
SUNSPOTS
Definition
areas on the sun that are much cooler than the surrounding areas
Term
PROMINENCES
Definition
reddish loops of gas that extend from one sunspot to the next
Term
SOLAR FLARES
Definition
An erruption of gas from the sun's surface that occurs when the loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect.
Term
TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
Definition
small, dense, rocky planets
Term
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Definition
the trapping of heat by the atmosphere
Term
GAS GIANTS
Definition
planets that are fairly large in size and do not have solid surfaces
Term
COMET
Definition
loose collections of ice, dust, and small rocky particles whose orbits are usually very long, narrow ellipses
Term
COMA
Definition
the fuzzy outer layer of a comet
Term
NUCLEUS
Definition
The solid inner core of a comet
Term
KUIPER BELT
Definition
doughnut-shaped region that extends beyond Neptun's orbit
Term
OORT CLOUD
Definition
A spherical region of comets that surround the solar system out to more than 1000 times the distance between Pluto and the sun
Term
ASTEROID
Definition
Rocky objects revolving around the sun that are too small and numerous to be considered planets
Term
METEOR
Definition
a streak of light in the sky produced by the burning of a meteroid in Earth's atmosphere
Term
METEORITE
Definition
A meteoroid that passes through the atmosphere and hits Earth's surface
Term
METEROID
Definition
a chunk of rock or dust in space
Term
ELLIPSE
Definition
An oval shape, which may be elongated or nearly circular
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