Space Physics Quiz

Natural satellites, such as moons, are formed naturally in space and orbit planets or other celestial bodies. Artificial satellites are man-made objects launched into space to orbit planets, collect data, or communicate.

A star much larger than the Sun follows a similar initial life cycle but ends as a supernova, and may result in a neutron star or a black hole, rather than a white dwarf.

Orbital motion is the movement of an object in space around another body, such as a planet around a star. It is maintained by the balance between the object's velocity (which tries to move it in a straight line) and the gravitational pull from the body it is orbiting.

Red-shift occurs when the light from distant galaxies is stretched as they move away from us, causing the light to shift towards the red end of the spectrum. This indicates that the galaxies are moving away, supporting the idea that the Universe is expanding.

The Big Bang theory suggests that the Universe began as an infinitely small, hot, and dense point about 13.8 billion years ago, and has been expanding ever since, leading to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets.

Seismic waves are used to study the Earth's internal structure. They travel at different speeds through different materials, allowing scientists to map out the core, mantle, and crust based on how the waves are refracted or reflected.

A galaxy is a large system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy, characterised by its disk shape, with a central bulge and spiral arms.

The Earth's magnetic field is caused by the movement of molten iron and other metals in the outer core, which generates electric currents, creating a magnetic field.

The atmosphere provides oxygen for respiration, protects life from harmful solar radiation by filtering UV rays, and helps regulate the Earth's temperature by trapping heat through the greenhouse effect.

The discovery of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation provides evidence for the Big Bang theory, as it is considered the 'afterglow' of the Big Bang, a remnant of the heat from the early Universe.