The apparent backwards motion of planets from west to east due to the combined motion of the Earth and the planet
Retrograde Motion
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The apparent path the Sun traces out along the sky
Ecliptic
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The 'hiding' of one heavenly body behind another
Eclipse
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The change in direction and speed of a wave as it passes from one medium to another
Refraction
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The spreading out of a wave as it passes an obstacle and expands into the region beyond the obstacle
Diffraction
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The number of times that something happens in a set period of time; the number of times a wave oscillates in one second; measured in herts (Hz)
Frequency
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The distance between corresponding points on two adjacent disturbances (waves)
Wavelength
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The point at which all light rays parallel to the axis of the lens coverage, or appear to converge
Focal Point
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The distance between the focal point and the lens
Focal Length
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An image produced by rays of light meeting at a point; an image that can be focused on a screen
Real Image
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A means of measuring the magnification based on the angle of rays of light from an object compared to the angle the image appears to make
Angular Magnification
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The apparent movement of an object; movement is actually caused by a motion of the observer
Parallax
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The distance that light travels in one year
Light-year
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The brightness of a star, dependant on its size and temperature
Luminosity
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The brightness of a star, dependant on it's luminosity and distance from Earth
Observed Intensity
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A star that has a changing luminosity
Cepheid Variable
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A collection of galaxies
Universe
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An interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas and plasma; another galaxy in the making
Nebula
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The shift of light towards the red part of the visible spectrum; shows that the Universe is expanding
Red Shift
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A planet that orbits a star other than the sun
Extrasolar Planet
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A push or pull acting upon an object
Force
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Force per unit area
Pressure
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The lowest temperature possible
Absolute Zero
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Energy carried by gamma radiation or by a stream of particles such as neutrons, alpha particles or beta particles
Radiation
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The removal of electrons
Ionisation
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A force of attraction between masses; the force that keeps objects orbiting larger objects
Gravity
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The joining together of two or more atomic nuclei to form a larger atomic nucleus
Nuclear Fusion
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A part of the life cycle of stars that all stars pass through; it runs from the time stars are born as a hot protostar and continues up to the point that all the hydrogen has been used up by fusion
Main Sequence
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A stage that a Sun-type star reaches when hydrogen fusion stops. The core collapses, heating up and causing the outer layers to expand
Red Giant
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An exploding star
Supernova
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A scatter graph of stars plotted to show the relationship between luminosity and temperature
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
The time it takes the Earth to rotate 360 degrees
Back
Sidereal Day
Card 3
Front
The apparent backwards motion of planets from west to east due to the combined motion of the Earth and the planet
Back
Card 4
Front
The apparent path the Sun traces out along the sky
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