Question 1

The model of the universe that involves an enormous increase of scale during a very short time in the early universe is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  the flat universe model 
B)  the oscillating universe model 
C)  the primeval atom model 
D)  the inflationary universe model 
E)  the cosmic burp model 
A)  the flat universe model 
B)  the oscillating universe model 
C)  the primeval atom model 
D)  the inflationary universe model 
E)  the cosmic burp model D

Question 2

In describing the universe using his equations of general relativity, Einstein assumed that it was isotropic (the same in all directions.) What recent observations have confirmed that the universe is isotropic on the large scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  the discovery of pulsars 
B)  the discovery of cannibal galaxies 
C)  measurements of the 3-degree cosmic background radiation 
D)  measurements of neutrinos from Supernova 1987A 
E)  the discovery that there is really nothing very good on TV, no matter which way you point your dish (antenna) 
A)  the discovery of pulsars 
B)  the discovery of cannibal galaxies 
C)  measurements of the 3-degree cosmic background radiation 
D)  measurements of neutrinos from Supernova 1987A 
E)  the discovery that there is really nothing very good on TV, no matter which way you point your dish (antenna) C

Question 3

Which of the following statements about dark matter is FALSE:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is observed to be a major part of the Milky Way 
B)  it is observed to be present in other groups of galaxies 
C)  astronomers have a pretty good idea what the dark matter is made of 
D)  we can detect its gravity, even though we can't see it 
E)  it may make up even more of the universe that the matter we can see 
A)  it is observed to be a major part of the Milky Way 
B)  it is observed to be present in other groups of galaxies 
C)  astronomers have a pretty good idea what the dark matter is made of 
D)  we can detect its gravity, even though we can't see it 
E)  it may make up even more of the universe that the matter we can see C

Question 4

The reciprocal of the Hubble constant (1/H) is a rough measure of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  the period of a typical Cepheid variable 
B)  the distance to the last galaxies that formed 
C)  the age of the universe 
D)  the luminosity of a type I supernova explosion 
E)  the cost of building a telescope in space 
A)  the period of a typical Cepheid variable 
B)  the distance to the last galaxies that formed 
C)  the age of the universe 
D)  the luminosity of a type I supernova explosion 
E)  the cost of building a telescope in space

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the early universe (as envisioned by the standard model of cosmology) is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  as the universe expands, its temperature decreases 
B)  at the beginning, the temperature was hot enough to turn energy into matter 
C)  at the very beginning, the energies were so great that the universe was actually contracting for a while 
D)  at the beginning, the universe was not transparent to electro-magnetic radiation 
E)  at the very beginning, anti-matter (as well as matter) was present in significant quantities 
A)  as the universe expands, its temperature decreases 
B)  at the beginning, the temperature was hot enough to turn energy into matter 
C)  at the very beginning, the energies were so great that the universe was actually contracting for a while 
D)  at the beginning, the universe was not transparent to electro-magnetic radiation 
E)  at the very beginning, anti-matter (as well as matter) was present in significant quantities

Question 6

Today, we believe that only a small number of elements were actually formed during the Big Bang. Which of the following was NOT one of these:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  lithium 
D)  helium 
E)  you can't fool me, all of the above were definitely formed during the big bang 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  lithium 
D)  helium 
E)  you can't fool me, all of the above were definitely formed during the big bang

Question 7

Which of the following did NOT happen during the first few minutes after the Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

A)  temperatures throughout the universe were hotter than the cores of stars are today 
B)  two or three of the simplest elements fused together 
C)  energy was converted to matter 
D)  some very massive early stars formed 
E)  matter and antimatter collided and turned into energy 
A)  temperatures throughout the universe were hotter than the cores of stars are today 
B)  two or three of the simplest elements fused together 
C)  energy was converted to matter 
D)  some very massive early stars formed 
E)  matter and antimatter collided and turned into energy

Question 8

The first satellite (spacecraft with instruments) to measure and confirm the cosmic microwave background was the:

Accepted Answer

A)  COBE (COsmic Background Explorer) 
B)  Hubble Space Telescope 
C)  Einstein 
D)  Voyager 1 
E)  Chandra 
A)  COBE (COsmic Background Explorer) 
B)  Hubble Space Telescope 
C)  Einstein 
D)  Voyager 1 
E)  Chandra

Question 9

How does a period of extremely fast inflation very early in the history of the universe explain the observation that the geometry of the universe looks flat (not curved) to us?

Accepted Answer

A)  during inflation a lot of the mass drained out of the universe, leaving its gravity much weaker 
B)  inflation increased the size of the universe so much that the resulting universe looks flat from any point of view 
C)  inflation led to the production of so much dark matter that the universe got pulled into the shape of a black hole 
D)  inflation caused the temperature of different parts of the universe that can't see each other still be the same 
E)  The universe is actually highly curved and not flat
Section 29.7: The Anthropic Principle 
A)  during inflation a lot of the mass drained out of the universe, leaving its gravity much weaker 
B)  inflation increased the size of the universe so much that the resulting universe looks flat from any point of view 
C)  inflation led to the production of so much dark matter that the universe got pulled into the shape of a black hole 
D)  inflation caused the temperature of different parts of the universe that can't see each other still be the same 
E)  The universe is actually highly curved and not flat
Section 29.7: The Anthropic Principle

Question 10

The standard bulbs (standard candles) that made it possible for astronomers to discover the acceleration in the expansion of the universe were

Accepted Answer

A)  globular clusters 
B)  Cepheid variable stars 
C)  the brightest irregular galaxy in a rich cluster 
D)  Type Ia supernovae 
E)  the size of a galaxy dark matter halo 
A)  globular clusters 
B)  Cepheid variable stars 
C)  the brightest irregular galaxy in a rich cluster 
D)  Type Ia supernovae 
E)  the size of a galaxy dark matter halo

Question 11

Why did Einstein introduce the cosmological constant into the equations of his General Theory of Relativity when describing the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  Einstein did not realize that black holes would exist at the centers of galaxies and pull everything into them 
B)  Einstein's equations required the universe to expand or contract; he could not imagine or accept it doing either one, so he put a factor in to stop it from moving 
C)  Einstein talked to Hubble and learned about Hubble's observations of the expanding universe, which made him so uncomfortable that he decided to change his equations 
D)  Einstein had a hunch that the universe was accelerating (speeding up its expansion) back in 1918 and so introduced the constant into his equations to describe that 
E)  Einstein liked cups of tea in the afternoon, and his constant was a comment on that habit 
A)  Einstein did not realize that black holes would exist at the centers of galaxies and pull everything into them 
B)  Einstein's equations required the universe to expand or contract; he could not imagine or accept it doing either one, so he put a factor in to stop it from moving 
C)  Einstein talked to Hubble and learned about Hubble's observations of the expanding universe, which made him so uncomfortable that he decided to change his equations 
D)  Einstein had a hunch that the universe was accelerating (speeding up its expansion) back in 1918 and so introduced the constant into his equations to describe that 
E)  Einstein liked cups of tea in the afternoon, and his constant was a comment on that habit

Question 12

According to our textbook, roughly what percent of the mass and energy contents of the universe is made up of dark matter plus dark energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 percent 
B)  10 percent 
C)  50 percent 
D)  95 percent 
E)  astronomers have no way of estimating this percentage 
A)  5 percent 
B)  10 percent 
C)  50 percent 
D)  95 percent 
E)  astronomers have no way of estimating this percentage

Question 13

At about 1 second after the beginning of the universe, one type of particle was able to start traveling freely through the universe. These particles are still with us, but they are extremely hard to detect. They are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  photons 
B)  protons 
C)  electrons 
D)  neutrinos 
E)  college presidents 
A)  photons 
B)  protons 
C)  electrons 
D)  neutrinos 
E)  college presidents

Question 14

In our modern view of the expansion of the universe, we understand that it is space that is stretching; individual galaxies don't speed away from each other as if they were rockets. In that case, why do galaxies show a red-shift?

Accepted Answer

A)  as galaxies age, they get redder and redder 
B)  as space stretches, the waves of radiation in space also stretch and their wavelength increases 
C)  as space stretches, the presence of dark matter slows down the light between galaxies 
D)  as time goes on, waves in space encounter more and more dust, and get redder 
E)  astronomers cannot think of any good explanation for the red-shift if it's space that expands/stretches 
A)  as galaxies age, they get redder and redder 
B)  as space stretches, the waves of radiation in space also stretch and their wavelength increases 
C)  as space stretches, the presence of dark matter slows down the light between galaxies 
D)  as time goes on, waves in space encounter more and more dust, and get redder 
E)  astronomers cannot think of any good explanation for the red-shift if it's space that expands/stretches

Question 15

Scientists looking at an overview of physics today understand that there are four forces that govern all action in the universe. These four forces are the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, electro-magnetism and

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity 
B)  dark matter 
C)  fusion 
D)  inflation 
E)  the force that Luke learned to use in Star Wars 
A)  gravity 
B)  dark matter 
C)  fusion 
D)  inflation 
E)  the force that Luke learned to use in Star Wars

Question 16

According to the most recent data from satellites making precise measurements of the properties of the cosmic background radiation (CBR),

Accepted Answer

A)  normal matter (like the atoms in our bodies) makes up 99% of the total mass-energy of the universe 
B)  dark matter makes up less than 5% of the total mass-energy of the universe; it's only a minor contributor to what makes up the cosmos 
C)  the dark energy makes up just a little less than 70% of the density of the universe, making it the most significant constituent of the mass-energy 
D)  normal matter, dark matter, and dark energy each contribute about 1/3 of the total density of the universe - their contributions are almost exactly equal 
E)  the universe is only about 6,000 years old
Section 29.6: The Inflationary Universe 
A)  normal matter (like the atoms in our bodies) makes up 99% of the total mass-energy of the universe 
B)  dark matter makes up less than 5% of the total mass-energy of the universe; it's only a minor contributor to what makes up the cosmos 
C)  the dark energy makes up just a little less than 70% of the density of the universe, making it the most significant constituent of the mass-energy 
D)  normal matter, dark matter, and dark energy each contribute about 1/3 of the total density of the universe - their contributions are almost exactly equal 
E)  the universe is only about 6,000 years old
Section 29.6: The Inflationary Universe

Question 17

After the Big Bang, in order for the universe to become transparent to light and other electro-magnetic radiation, what had to happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  stars and galaxies had to form 
B)  the whole universe had to be hotter than the interior of a star 
C)  the density of the universe had to decrease (to 1000 nuclei per cubic centimeter or less) 
D)  the dark energy had to dominate over regular matter and energy 
E)  telescopes had to be invented 
A)  stars and galaxies had to form 
B)  the whole universe had to be hotter than the interior of a star 
C)  the density of the universe had to decrease (to 1000 nuclei per cubic centimeter or less) 
D)  the dark energy had to dominate over regular matter and energy 
E)  telescopes had to be invented

Question 18

Factoring in everything we currently know about the history of the universe, our best estimate for the age of the universe is

Accepted Answer

A)  4.6 billion years 
B)  about 100 billion years 
C)  roughly 2 million years 
D)  about 13.8 billion years 
E)  the age of the universe is infinite; there was no beginning 
A)  4.6 billion years 
B)  about 100 billion years 
C)  roughly 2 million years 
D)  about 13.8 billion years 
E)  the age of the universe is infinite; there was no beginning

Question 19

At first, right after the Big Bang, the universe was too hot for nuclei and electrons to combine into the kinds of neutral atoms that are familiar to us today. How soon after the beginning did it become cool enough for neutral atoms to form?

Accepted Answer

A)  10-43 seconds 
B)  3 minutes 
C)  a few hundred thousand years 
D)  a billion years 
E)  only last Thursday 
A)  10-43 seconds 
B)  3 minutes 
C)  a few hundred thousand years 
D)  a billion years 
E)  only last Thursday

Question 20

Based on many surveys of the average density of matter in the universe (regular matter and dark matter), astronomers now conclude that the average density of the universe is

Accepted Answer

A)  less than the critical density 
B)  exactly equal to the critical density 
C)  more than the critical density 
D)  essentially equal to zero 
E)  so great that the universe will experience a "big crunch" before the Sun becomes a red giant 
A)  less than the critical density 
B)  exactly equal to the critical density 
C)  more than the critical density 
D)  essentially equal to zero 
E)  so great that the universe will experience a "big crunch" before the Sun becomes a red giant

Exam 29: The Big Bang

The model of the universe that involves an enormous increase of scale during a very short time in the early universe is called:

In describing the universe using his equations of general relativity, Einstein assumed that it was isotropic (the same in all directions.) What recent observations have confirmed that the universe is isotropic on the large scale?

Which of the following statements about dark matter is FALSE:

The reciprocal of the Hubble constant (1/H) is a rough measure of the:

Which of the following statements about the early universe (as envisioned by the standard model of cosmology) is FALSE?

Today, we believe that only a small number of elements were actually formed during the Big Bang. Which of the following was NOT one of these:

Which of the following did NOT happen during the first few minutes after the Big Bang?

The first satellite (spacecraft with instruments) to measure and confirm the cosmic microwave background was the:

How does a period of extremely fast inflation very early in the history of the universe explain the observation that the geometry of the universe looks flat (not curved) to us?

The standard bulbs (standard candles) that made it possible for astronomers to discover the acceleration in the expansion of the universe were

Why did Einstein introduce the cosmological constant into the equations of his General Theory of Relativity when describing the universe?

According to our textbook, roughly what percent of the mass and energy contents of the universe is made up of dark matter plus dark energy?

At about 1 second after the beginning of the universe, one type of particle was able to start traveling freely through the universe. These particles are still with us, but they are extremely hard to detect. They are called:

In our modern view of the expansion of the universe, we understand that it is space that is stretching; individual galaxies don't speed away from each other as if they were rockets. In that case, why do galaxies show a red-shift?

Scientists looking at an overview of physics today understand that there are four forces that govern all action in the universe. These four forces are the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, electro-magnetism and

According to the most recent data from satellites making precise measurements of the properties of the cosmic background radiation (CBR),

After the Big Bang, in order for the universe to become transparent to light and other electro-magnetic radiation, what had to happen?

Factoring in everything we currently know about the history of the universe, our best estimate for the age of the universe is

At first, right after the Big Bang, the universe was too hot for nuclei and electrons to combine into the kinds of neutral atoms that are familiar to us today. How soon after the beginning did it become cool enough for neutral atoms to form?

Based on many surveys of the average density of matter in the universe (regular matter and dark matter), astronomers now conclude that the average density of the universe is

Science and the Universe: a Brief Tour

Observing the Sky: the Birth of Astronomy

Orbits and Gravity

Earth, Moon, and Sky

Radiation and Spectra

Astronomical Instruments

Other Worlds: an Introduction to the Solar System

Earth As a Planet

Cratered Worlds: the Moon and Mercury

Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars

The Giant Planets

Rings, Moons, and Pluto

Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System

Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System

The Sun: a Garden-Variety Star

The Sun: a Nuclear Powerhouse

Analyzing Starlight

The Stars: a Celestial Census

Celestial Distances

Between the Stars

The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets Outside the Solar System

Stars From Adolescence to Old Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes and Curved Space-Time

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes

The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies

Life in the Universe

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