Chapter 17: Stars and the Solar system

Explanation:

The correct answer is (c) Constellation

In regards to the solar system, it's important to note that constellations are not considered a part of it. Rather, constellations refer to groups of stars that, when observed from Earth, appear to form a distinct and recognizable pattern.

However, other celestial bodies such as planets, asteroids, and comets, as listed in parts (a), (b), and (d), are indeed considered part of the solar system.

Explanation:

The correct answer is (a) Sirius

When it comes to the objects in our solar system, it's worth noting that Sirius is not a planet orbiting the sun. Rather, Sirius is a star situated within the Canis Major constellation. On the other hand, the celestial bodies listed in parts (b), (c), and (d) are planets that do revolve around the sun.

Explanation:

The correct answer is (a)

The different phases of the moon are a result of the moon reflecting light towards the Earth, which is visible to us from our vantage point. This is due to the fact that we can only observe the portion of the moon that reflects sunlight in our direction. As the moon completes its orbit around the Earth, the amount of sunlight that is visible to us from its surface changes, leading to the various phases of the moon that we see.

Explanation:

(a) Neptune is the planet that is located farthest from the Sun in our solar system.

(b) The planet that appears to have a reddish color is Mars.

(c) A group of stars that create a recognizable pattern in the night sky is referred to as a constellation.

(d) Any celestial object that orbits a planet is referred to as a satellite or a moon.

(e) Despite their name, shooting stars are not actually stars. They are more accurately described as meteors, which are small rocks or debris that burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.

(f) Asteroids can be found in the area between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in our solar system.

Explanation:

a) False

b) True

c) False (Neptune is the planet farthest from the Sun in our solar system.)

d) True

e) False (There are 8 planets in the solar system.)

f) False (The constellation Orion is visible to the naked eye.)

Explanation:

(b) Pole star doesn’t match with any of the categories in column A.

Explanation:

When Venus is visible as an evening star, it can be observed in the western part of the sky shortly after sunset. Venus is considered the brightest planet that is visible to the naked eye from Earth, and it can sometimes be spotted in the sky even before it has become completely dark outside. The appearance of Venus in either the morning or evening sky is determined by its position relative to Earth as it orbits the Sun.

Explanation:

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. With a diameter of roughly 139,822 kilometers (86,881 miles), it is more than 11 times larger than Earth in terms of its diameter.

Explanation:

A constellation refers to a group of stars that create a recognizable pattern when viewed from Earth. In total, there are 88 officially recognized constellations, each with its own unique name and backstory.

Two examples of constellations are:

1. Orion: This constellation is named after Orion, a figure from Greek mythology who was known as a skilled hunter. Orion is positioned on the celestial equator, making it visible from most parts of the world. It is instantly recognizable thanks to the three bright stars that form its distinctive "belt."

2. Ursa Major: Also called the Great Bear, Ursa Major is located in the northern celestial hemisphere and is circumpolar, meaning it never drops below the horizon for most northern latitudes. One of the most well-known asterisms within Ursa Major is the Big Dipper, a group of stars that create a distinctive ladle shape in the night sky.

Explanation:

Explanation:

In addition to planets, the solar system contains other celestial bodies, including:

Asteroids: These are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. The majority of asteroids can be found within the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, although some may have orbits that take them closer or farther from the Sun.

Comets: These are icy objects that travel around the Sun in highly elliptical orbits. As a comet gets closer to the Sun, its icy surface begins to vaporize, creating a glowing coma and sometimes a visible tail. Many comets originate from the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud, which are regions located in the outer reaches of the solar system.

Explanation:

To locate the Pole Star (Polaris) in the night sky using Ursa Major as a guide, follow these steps:

1. Find the Big Dipper in the night sky. The Big Dipper is a prominent asterism located in the constellation Ursa Major, and it is visible in the northern hemisphere during the spring, summer, and fall months.

2. Locate the two stars at the end of the "bowl" of the Big Dipper. These stars are named Merak and Dubhe.

3. Draw an imaginary line that passes through Merak and Dubhe, and extend it for about five times the distance between these two stars. This imaginary line will point towards the North Star, which is also known as Polaris.

4. Once you have located Polaris, you can use it as a reference point for finding other stars and constellations in the night sky. Since Polaris is located almost directly above the Earth's North Pole, it remains stationary in the sky while other stars and constellations appear to rotate around it throughout the night.

Explanation:

The apparent motion of the stars is simply an effect of the Earth's rotation. The stars in the sky appear to move across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth from west to east on its axis.

As the Earth rotates, the stars appear to move in circles around the celestial poles, which are the points in the sky directly above the Earth's north and south poles. The stars appear to move in a counterclockwise direction around the north celestial pole and in a clockwise direction around the south celestial pole.

However, not all stars move at the same rate across the sky. The speed at which a star appears to move across the sky depends on its position in the sky relative to the celestial poles. Stars near the celestial equator appear to move the fastest, while stars near the celestial poles appear to move the slowest or not at all.

Explanation:

Light-years are the preferred unit of measurement for expressing the distances between stars due to their convenience when dealing with vast distances in space. One light-year is the distance that light travels in one year, equivalent to approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers (9.461012 km). As light travels at a constant speed, this unit of measurement allows astronomers to easily compare and comprehend the enormous distances between celestial objects.

For instance, if a star is said to be eight light-years away from Earth, it implies that it takes eight years for light from that star to travel the distance to Earth. This distance is so vast that it takes light, which travels at approximately 299,792 kilometers per second, eight years to cover the distance between the star and Earth.

Explanation:

The ratio of the volumes of Jupiter and Earth can be calculated as:

Volume of JupiterVolume of Earth= (4/3)π(Radius of Jupiter)3 (4/3)π(Radius of Earth)3

Canceling out the common terms, we get:

Volume of JupiterVolume of Earth=(Radius of Jupiter)3(Radius of Earth)3

Given that the radius of Jupiter is 11 times the radius of the Earth, we can substitute to get:

Volume of JupiterVolume of Earth=(11)3

Simplifying, we get:

Volume of JupiterVolume of Earth=1331

Therefore, Jupiter can accommodate 1331 Earths.

Explanation:

Boojho's representation of the solar system is erroneous as it contains inaccuracies. The proper order of planets from the Sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Boojho misplaced the planets Venus, Mars, Neptune, and Uranus in his diagram. Moreover, he portrayed the asteroid belt inaccurately between the orbits of Saturn and Jupiter, whereas it is located between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars.

Below is an accurate diagram of the solar system.