Across
- 1. The Earth's outermost layer, consisting of solid rock and divided into oceanic and continental crust.
- 4. Small rocky bodies that orbit the sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- 6. Project The secret research project during World War II that developed the first atomic bombs.
- 9. A celestial object made of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the sun and develops a glowing tail when it approaches it.
- 10. Alamos A research institution known for its contributions to science, particularly in nuclear research.
- 14. Drift The theory that Earth's continents move over time due to the movement of tectonic plates.
- 15. Fission The process by which a heavy atomic nucleus splits into smaller nuclei and releases energy.
- 16. Energy Energy that travels in electromagnetic waves, including visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet light.
- 17. Sun The star at the center of our solar system, providing light and heat to Earth.
- 19. A solid piece of debris from a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid that survives its passage through Earth's atmosphere and lands on its surface.
- 21. An extremely massive and luminous star, much larger and brighter than the sun.
- 22. The total amount of energy a star radiates per unit time.
- 23. Bang Theory The prevailing cosmological model that suggests the universe originated from an extremely dense and hot state approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
- 24. The process by which one tectonic plate moves under another, often causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.
- 25. A cloud of gas and dust in space where stars are born.
Down
- 2. A massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity, radiating energy due to nuclear fusion reactions in its core.
- 3. Dwarf A small, dense star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and is gradually cooling.
- 5. The cataclysmic explosion of a massive star, resulting in an extremely bright object that can outshine entire galaxies.
- 7. Fusion The process by which atomic nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei, releasing vast amounts of energy.
- 8. A geometric shape that is like a stretched-out circle, characterized by two focal points.
- 11. The layer of Earth between the crust and the core, composed of solid rock that can flow slowly over long periods.
- 12. A system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, and other cosmic elements bound together by gravity.
- 13. Tectonics The theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into large, rigid plates that float on the underlying mantle and move over time.
- 18. A diagram that classifies stars based on their luminosity and temperature.
- 20. The curved path followed by an object around another object due to gravity.