Question 1

How many fundamental forces are there in nature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Three: strong,electromagnetic,and gravitational 
B)  Six: color,strong,weak,magnetic,electric,and gravitational 
C)  Five: strong,weak,magnetic,electric,and gravitational 
D)  Four: strong,weak,electromagnetic,and gravitational 
A)  Three: strong,electromagnetic,and gravitational 
B)  Six: color,strong,weak,magnetic,electric,and gravitational 
C)  Five: strong,weak,magnetic,electric,and gravitational 
D)  Four: strong,weak,electromagnetic,and gravitational

Question 2

Where are we?

Accepted Answer

A)  Near the edge of an expanding universe,as shown by the Great Wall of Galaxies 
B)  Somewhere in an expanding universe,but not in any special part of it 
C)  At the exact center of an expanding universe,as shown by the universal expansion away from us in all directions 
D)  Off-center in an expanding universe,as shown by the fact that the microwave background radiation is at a different temperature in one direction than in the opposite direction 
A)  Near the edge of an expanding universe,as shown by the Great Wall of Galaxies 
B)  Somewhere in an expanding universe,but not in any special part of it 
C)  At the exact center of an expanding universe,as shown by the universal expansion away from us in all directions 
D)  Off-center in an expanding universe,as shown by the fact that the microwave background radiation is at a different temperature in one direction than in the opposite direction

Question 3

What is the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation we detect as a blackbody curve that originated in the Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

A)  3 K 
B)  3000 K 
C)  30 billion K 
D)  30 K 
A)  3 K 
B)  3000 K 
C)  30 billion K 
D)  30 K

Question 4

What was the inflationary epoch and for what characteristics of the universe is it responsible?

Accepted Answer

The inflationary epoch is a period of ex

Question 5

Which two parameters representing observations of distant objects in the universe are related in the Hubble law?

Accepted Answer

A)  The luminosity of a star and its distance from the center of the galaxy 
B)  The distance to the object and the redshift of its light 
C)  The mass of a distant object and its velocity away from our Galaxy 
D)  The mass of an object and its luminosity 
A)  The luminosity of a star and its distance from the center of the galaxy 
B)  The distance to the object and the redshift of its light 
C)  The mass of a distant object and its velocity away from our Galaxy 
D)  The mass of an object and its luminosity

Question 6

How was the cosmic background radiation discovered?

Accepted Answer

Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson,of Bell T

Question 7

What are the four fundamental forces of nature? Give an example of a physical interaction for which each is responsible.

Accepted Answer

The four fundamental forces are gravity,

Question 8

The present universe seems to require a "cosmological constant" equivalent to that introduced into general relativity by Einstein when his theory would not explain the expected static universe.What is the effect on the evolution of the present universe of the "new" cosmological constant?

Accepted Answer

A)  It produces a pressure to oppose the mutual gravitational pull of all the matter in the universe,accelerating its expansion. 
B)  It is a term that accounts for the negative gravity generated by antimatter in the universe,the presence of which will produce an accelerated expansion. 
C)  It just balances gravity to allow the universe to remain static,as Einstein predicted. 
D)  It produces an extra attractive force in addition to gravity,slowing down the expansion of the universe. 
A)  It produces a pressure to oppose the mutual gravitational pull of all the matter in the universe,accelerating its expansion. 
B)  It is a term that accounts for the negative gravity generated by antimatter in the universe,the presence of which will produce an accelerated expansion. 
C)  It just balances gravity to allow the universe to remain static,as Einstein predicted. 
D)  It produces an extra attractive force in addition to gravity,slowing down the expansion of the universe.

Question 9

Which of the following factors is the most important in determining whether universal expansion continues forever or collapses back onto itself?

Accepted Answer

A)  The average density of the universe 
B)  The total mass of the universe 
C)  The average temperature of the universe 
D)  The total size of the universe 
A)  The average density of the universe 
B)  The total mass of the universe 
C)  The average temperature of the universe 
D)  The total size of the universe

Question 10

What solution has been proposed by cosmologists to explain the remarkable uniformity of temperature throughout our universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  A brief period of extremely rapid contraction of space by a very large factor,from a very large space down to the present-day observed universe 
B)  A brief period of intense mixing soon after the time of creation,allowing temperatures to equilibrate 
C)  A brief period of extremely rapid expansion of space by a very large factor 
D)  There is no uniformity of temperature on a large scale throughout the universe. 
A)  A brief period of extremely rapid contraction of space by a very large factor,from a very large space down to the present-day observed universe 
B)  A brief period of intense mixing soon after the time of creation,allowing temperatures to equilibrate 
C)  A brief period of extremely rapid expansion of space by a very large factor 
D)  There is no uniformity of temperature on a large scale throughout the universe.

Question 11

During the first 300,000 years of the universe,it was a

Accepted Answer

A)  slowly expanding,hot,transparent plasma. 
B)  rapidly expanding,cool,transparent plasma. 
C)  slowly expanding,cool,opaque plasma. 
D)  rapidly expanding,hot,opaque plasma. 
A)  slowly expanding,hot,transparent plasma. 
B)  rapidly expanding,cool,transparent plasma. 
C)  slowly expanding,cool,opaque plasma. 
D)  rapidly expanding,hot,opaque plasma.

Question 12

In cosmology,the phrase "critical density" refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)  smallest density that will produce inflation of the universe. 
B)  density below which stars will never form. 
C)  density above which the universe is opaque to radiation. 
D)  density needed to produce precisely flat space,on average,throughout the universe. 
A)  smallest density that will produce inflation of the universe. 
B)  density below which stars will never form. 
C)  density above which the universe is opaque to radiation. 
D)  density needed to produce precisely flat space,on average,throughout the universe.

Question 13

What does Hubble's law give for the age of the universe? (H0 = Hubble's constant,v is the recessional velocity of objects in the universe,and d = distance to objects in Mpc. )

Accepted Answer

A)  Age = v/H0 
B)  Age = H0 
C)  Age = d/H0 
D)  Age = 1/H0 
A)  Age = v/H0 
B)  Age = H0 
C)  Age = d/H0 
D)  Age = 1/H0

Question 14

When we look out into the universe,far beyond the edges of our own local group of galaxies,we see objects traveling away from us equally in all directions.This shows that

Accepted Answer

A)  the expansion must be the same everywhere in the universe,as we are not likely to be at the exact center of the universe. 
B)  we are at the exact center of the expanding universe. 
C)  there is absorbing matter distributed uniformly throughout the universe,which limits our view of the expansion. 
D)  we are at the very edge of the expanding universe. 
A)  the expansion must be the same everywhere in the universe,as we are not likely to be at the exact center of the universe. 
B)  we are at the exact center of the expanding universe. 
C)  there is absorbing matter distributed uniformly throughout the universe,which limits our view of the expansion. 
D)  we are at the very edge of the expanding universe.

Question 15

Is the universe really expanding? If so,how do we describe the expansion?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is not expanding-it is our local space that is getting smaller as we fall into a supermassive black hole,making the universe seem bigger and bigger. 
B)  Space itself is expanding,carrying the galaxies (or superclusters of galaxies)with it. 
C)  An infinitely small but infinitely dense clump of matter exploded,sending the galaxies (or superclusters of galaxies)hurtling out through space. 
D)  The energy from all the stars is heating the universe,making it expand like a gas that is heated. 
A)  It is not expanding-it is our local space that is getting smaller as we fall into a supermassive black hole,making the universe seem bigger and bigger. 
B)  Space itself is expanding,carrying the galaxies (or superclusters of galaxies)with it. 
C)  An infinitely small but infinitely dense clump of matter exploded,sending the galaxies (or superclusters of galaxies)hurtling out through space. 
D)  The energy from all the stars is heating the universe,making it expand like a gas that is heated.

Question 16

What is the Hubble law,and what does it tell astronomers about the age of the universe?

Accepted Answer

The Hubble law shows that there is a dir

Question 17

Penzias and Wilson were scientists who

Accepted Answer

A)  first showed theoretically that the Big Bang predicts the existence of cosmic background radiation. 
B)  discovered the existence of black holes. 
C)  originated the Big Bang theory. 
D)  discovered the cosmic background radiation. 
A)  first showed theoretically that the Big Bang predicts the existence of cosmic background radiation. 
B)  discovered the existence of black holes. 
C)  originated the Big Bang theory. 
D)  discovered the cosmic background radiation.

Question 18

Inflation accounts for

Accepted Answer

A)  the current acceleration in the expansion of the universe. 
B)  the curvature of the universe. 
C)  evidence that the Big Bang happened. 
D)  the isotropy of the microwave background. 
A)  the current acceleration in the expansion of the universe. 
B)  the curvature of the universe. 
C)  evidence that the Big Bang happened. 
D)  the isotropy of the microwave background.

Question 19

What is the general meaning of the cosmological principle?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no unique time in our universe;it has always looked the way it is now and will always do so. 
B)  We do not occupy a special location in space because the universe is the same everywhere,on average. 
C)  The universe appears to be expanding outward,but this is because of our motion as we descend into a supermassive black hole that has distorted space to produce the illusion of general "expansion." 
D)  We occupy a very special location near the original location of the Big Bang because everything appears to be moving away from this location as the universe expands. 
A)  There is no unique time in our universe;it has always looked the way it is now and will always do so. 
B)  We do not occupy a special location in space because the universe is the same everywhere,on average. 
C)  The universe appears to be expanding outward,but this is because of our motion as we descend into a supermassive black hole that has distorted space to produce the illusion of general "expansion." 
D)  We occupy a very special location near the original location of the Big Bang because everything appears to be moving away from this location as the universe expands.

Question 20

Which of the following does NOT describe the universe as envisioned by Isaac Newton?

Accepted Answer

A)  Infinite 
B)  Static 
C)  Having existed forever 
D)  Expanding slowly 
A)  Infinite 
B)  Static 
C)  Having existed forever 
D)  Expanding slowly

How many fundamental forces are there in nature?

Where are we?

What is the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation we detect as a blackbody curve that originated in the Big Bang?

What was the inflationary epoch and for what characteristics of the universe is it responsible?

Which two parameters representing observations of distant objects in the universe are related in the Hubble law?

How was the cosmic background radiation discovered?

What are the four fundamental forces of nature? Give an example of a physical interaction for which each is responsible.

The present universe seems to require a "cosmological constant" equivalent to that introduced into general relativity by Einstein when his theory would not explain the expected static universe.What is the effect on the evolution of the present universe of the "new" cosmological constant?

Which of the following factors is the most important in determining whether universal expansion continues forever or collapses back onto itself?

What solution has been proposed by cosmologists to explain the remarkable uniformity of temperature throughout our universe?

During the first 300,000 years of the universe,it was a

In cosmology,the phrase "critical density" refers to the

What does Hubble's law give for the age of the universe? (H₀ = Hubble's constant,v is the recessional velocity of objects in the universe,and d = distance to objects in Mpc. )

When we look out into the universe,far beyond the edges of our own local group of galaxies,we see objects traveling away from us equally in all directions.This shows that

Is the universe really expanding? If so,how do we describe the expansion?

What is the Hubble law,and what does it tell astronomers about the age of the universe?

Penzias and Wilson were scientists who

Inflation accounts for

What is the general meaning of the cosmological principle?

Which of the following does NOT describe the universe as envisioned by Isaac Newton?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Filters

Exam 15: Observing the Evolution of the Universe

How many fundamental forces are there in nature?

Where are we?

What is the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation we detect as a blackbody curve that originated in the Big Bang?

What was the inflationary epoch and for what characteristics of the universe is it responsible?

Which two parameters representing observations of distant objects in the universe are related in the Hubble law?

How was the cosmic background radiation discovered?

What are the four fundamental forces of nature? Give an example of a physical interaction for which each is responsible.

The present universe seems to require a "cosmological constant" equivalent to that introduced into general relativity by Einstein when his theory would not explain the expected static universe.What is the effect on the evolution of the present universe of the "new" cosmological constant?

Which of the following factors is the most important in determining whether universal expansion continues forever or collapses back onto itself?

What solution has been proposed by cosmologists to explain the remarkable uniformity of temperature throughout our universe?

During the first 300,000 years of the universe,it was a

In cosmology,the phrase "critical density" refers to the

What does Hubble's law give for the age of the universe? (H0 = Hubble's constant,v is the recessional velocity of objects in the universe,and d = distance to objects in Mpc. )

When we look out into the universe,far beyond the edges of our own local group of galaxies,we see objects traveling away from us equally in all directions.This shows that

Is the universe really expanding? If so,how do we describe the expansion?

What is the Hubble law,and what does it tell astronomers about the age of the universe?

Penzias and Wilson were scientists who

Inflation accounts for

What is the general meaning of the cosmological principle?

Which of the following does NOT describe the universe as envisioned by Isaac Newton?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Filters

What does Hubble's law give for the age of the universe? (H₀ = Hubble's constant,v is the recessional velocity of objects in the universe,and d = distance to objects in Mpc. )