Question 1

How did the observations of globular clusters help determine Earth's position in the Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

William Hershel found approximately the

Question 2

Which component of our Galaxy accounts for interstellar extinction-the dimming of light from distant objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Molecules such as H2 and CO,which are strong absorbers,in molecular clouds 
B)  Dust 
C)  The so-called dark matter,because its absorbing properties render it invisible in the Galaxy 
D)  Cool hydrogen gas 
A)  Molecules such as H2 and CO,which are strong absorbers,in molecular clouds 
B)  Dust 
C)  The so-called dark matter,because its absorbing properties render it invisible in the Galaxy 
D)  Cool hydrogen gas

Question 3

Which component of globular clusters allowed Harlow Shapley to use these star groupings to find the location of the center of our Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  RR Lyrae variable stars 
B)  Cepheid variable stars 
C)  Nova star explosions 
D)  The emitted radio signals 
A)  RR Lyrae variable stars 
B)  Cepheid variable stars 
C)  Nova star explosions 
D)  The emitted radio signals

Question 4

Which two parameters of star motion in the Milky Way are represented by its rotation curve?

Accepted Answer

A)  Orbital speed of the stars as a function of their age 
B)  Orbital period of the stars as a function of their distance from the galactic center 
C)  Orbital speed as a function of star distance from the galactic center 
D)  Star position above or below the galactic plane as a function of distance from the galactic center 
A)  Orbital speed of the stars as a function of their age 
B)  Orbital period of the stars as a function of their distance from the galactic center 
C)  Orbital speed as a function of star distance from the galactic center 
D)  Star position above or below the galactic plane as a function of distance from the galactic center

Question 5

What is the general path of motion of stars in the halo and in the disk?

Accepted Answer

Stars in the disk of the Galax

Question 6

What does a spiral galaxy look like when seen edge-on?

Accepted Answer

A)  Round,but without spiral arms because they are hidden 
B)  A thick line curved into a spiral shape 
C)  A thick,flat line with a bulge in the center 
D)  A thick,flat line 
A)  Round,but without spiral arms because they are hidden 
B)  A thick line curved into a spiral shape 
C)  A thick,flat line with a bulge in the center 
D)  A thick,flat line

Question 7

The method used by Harlow Shapley in 1917 to estimate the Sun's location in our Galaxy was the measurement of the

Accepted Answer

A)  locations of globular clusters around the Galaxy. 
B)  density of stars in different directions along the Milky Way. 
C)  distances to open star clusters and H II regions in the disk of the Galaxy. 
D)  structure of the Andromeda Galaxy,and comparing it with the structure of our Galaxy. 
A)  locations of globular clusters around the Galaxy. 
B)  density of stars in different directions along the Milky Way. 
C)  distances to open star clusters and H II regions in the disk of the Galaxy. 
D)  structure of the Andromeda Galaxy,and comparing it with the structure of our Galaxy.

Question 8

Where is the solar system located in our Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is not in a galaxy,but in intergalactic space. 
B)  In the galactic halo 
C)  In the galactic disk 
D)  In the galactic nucleus 
A)  It is not in a galaxy,but in intergalactic space. 
B)  In the galactic halo 
C)  In the galactic disk 
D)  In the galactic nucleus

Question 9

The 21-centimeter line is one of the most important wavelengths in radio astronomy.It is produced mainly in

Accepted Answer

A)  emission nebulae. 
B)  neutral hydrogen. 
C)  ionized hydrogen. 
D)  hot O and B stars. 
A)  emission nebulae. 
B)  neutral hydrogen. 
C)  ionized hydrogen. 
D)  hot O and B stars.

Question 10

Henrietta Leavitt found that the longer a Cepheid's period,

Accepted Answer

A)  the lesser the luminosity. 
B)  the greater the luminosity. 
C)  the further away it is. 
D)  the closer it is. 
A)  the lesser the luminosity. 
B)  the greater the luminosity. 
C)  the further away it is. 
D)  the closer it is.

Question 11

Dark streaks across the Milky Way from the viewpoint of Earth are caused by interstellar dust in the plane of our Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Stars are evenly distributed across the spherical region enclosing our Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The density wave that produces the spiral arm in the Milky Way Galaxy is similar in properties to a

Accepted Answer

A)  light wave. 
B)  wave on a stretched string. 
C)  compression wave. 
D)  gravitational wave. 
A)  light wave. 
B)  wave on a stretched string. 
C)  compression wave. 
D)  gravitational wave.

Question 14

The Sun is one of several

Accepted Answer

A)  thousands of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. 
B)  hundred thousands of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
C)  millions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
D)  hundred billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
A)  thousands of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. 
B)  hundred thousands of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
C)  millions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
D)  hundred billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.

Question 15

Astronomers have found the existence of spiral arms in galaxies difficult to account for because the

Accepted Answer

A)  inner part of a galaxy rotates in a shorter time than the outer parts,so the arms should have wound up so tightly that they would have disappeared over the lifetime of the galaxy. 
B)  arms should have been destroyed by collisions with other galaxies over the galaxy's lifetime. 
C)  outer regions of a galaxy including the spiral arms have no significant rotation,so the arms should have fallen into the center of the galaxy. 
D)  outer parts of a galaxy rotate faster than the inner parts,so the arms should have straightened out into spokes like those of a bicycle wheel. 
A)  inner part of a galaxy rotates in a shorter time than the outer parts,so the arms should have wound up so tightly that they would have disappeared over the lifetime of the galaxy. 
B)  arms should have been destroyed by collisions with other galaxies over the galaxy's lifetime. 
C)  outer regions of a galaxy including the spiral arms have no significant rotation,so the arms should have fallen into the center of the galaxy. 
D)  outer parts of a galaxy rotate faster than the inner parts,so the arms should have straightened out into spokes like those of a bicycle wheel.

Question 16

What surprising conclusion about the distribution of mass in our Galaxy has resulted from a study of orbital speeds across the galactic disk?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of the mass in the Galaxy is dark and is detected only by its gravitational influence. 
B)  Most of the mass of the Galaxy is in the form of hydrogen gas and giant molecular clouds in the outer region beyond the Sun's orbit. 
C)  Most of the Galaxy's mass is concentrated in a supermassive nucleus at the center of the Galaxy. 
D)  Most of the mass in the Galaxy is in the form of O and B stars. 
A)  Most of the mass in the Galaxy is dark and is detected only by its gravitational influence. 
B)  Most of the mass of the Galaxy is in the form of hydrogen gas and giant molecular clouds in the outer region beyond the Sun's orbit. 
C)  Most of the Galaxy's mass is concentrated in a supermassive nucleus at the center of the Galaxy. 
D)  Most of the mass in the Galaxy is in the form of O and B stars.

Question 17

What is the difference between dark nebulae and dark matter?

Accepted Answer

A dark nebula is a cloud of du

Question 18

Globular clusters are composed of

Accepted Answer

A)  very young,metal-poor stars. 
B)  very old,metal-poor stars. 
C)  very young,metal-rich stars. 
D)  very old,metal-rich stars. 
A)  very young,metal-poor stars. 
B)  very old,metal-poor stars. 
C)  very young,metal-rich stars. 
D)  very old,metal-rich stars.

Question 19

What appear to be the characteristics of the object at the center of our Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  About 500 billion solar masses in a volume smaller then Jupiter's orbit 
B)  About 4 million solar masses in a volume the size of our solar system 
C)  About 800 solar masses in a volume the size of Earth 
D)  About 20 solar masses in a volume the size of the Sun 
A)  About 500 billion solar masses in a volume smaller then Jupiter's orbit 
B)  About 4 million solar masses in a volume the size of our solar system 
C)  About 800 solar masses in a volume the size of Earth 
D)  About 20 solar masses in a volume the size of the Sun

Question 20

Which of the following has NOT been proposed as a candidate for dark matter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) 
B)  Dark nebulae 
C)  Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS) 
D)  Neutrinos 
A)  Massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) 
B)  Dark nebulae 
C)  Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS) 
D)  Neutrinos

How did the observations of globular clusters help determine Earth's position in the Galaxy?

Which component of our Galaxy accounts for interstellar extinction-the dimming of light from distant objects?

Which component of globular clusters allowed Harlow Shapley to use these star groupings to find the location of the center of our Galaxy?

Which two parameters of star motion in the Milky Way are represented by its rotation curve?

What is the general path of motion of stars in the halo and in the disk?

What does a spiral galaxy look like when seen edge-on?

The method used by Harlow Shapley in 1917 to estimate the Sun's location in our Galaxy was the measurement of the

Where is the solar system located in our Galaxy?

The 21-centimeter line is one of the most important wavelengths in radio astronomy.It is produced mainly in

Henrietta Leavitt found that the longer a Cepheid's period,

Dark streaks across the Milky Way from the viewpoint of Earth are caused by interstellar dust in the plane of our Galaxy.

Stars are evenly distributed across the spherical region enclosing our Galaxy.

The density wave that produces the spiral arm in the Milky Way Galaxy is similar in properties to a

The Sun is one of several

Astronomers have found the existence of spiral arms in galaxies difficult to account for because the

What surprising conclusion about the distribution of mass in our Galaxy has resulted from a study of orbital speeds across the galactic disk?

What is the difference between dark nebulae and dark matter?

Globular clusters are composed of

What appear to be the characteristics of the object at the center of our Galaxy?

Which of the following has NOT been proposed as a candidate for dark matter?

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

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

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Exam 13: Exploring Our Galaxy

How did the observations of globular clusters help determine Earth's position in the Galaxy?

Which component of our Galaxy accounts for interstellar extinction-the dimming of light from distant objects?

Which component of globular clusters allowed Harlow Shapley to use these star groupings to find the location of the center of our Galaxy?

Which two parameters of star motion in the Milky Way are represented by its rotation curve?

What is the general path of motion of stars in the halo and in the disk?

What does a spiral galaxy look like when seen edge-on?

The method used by Harlow Shapley in 1917 to estimate the Sun's location in our Galaxy was the measurement of the

Where is the solar system located in our Galaxy?

The 21-centimeter line is one of the most important wavelengths in radio astronomy.It is produced mainly in

Henrietta Leavitt found that the longer a Cepheid's period,

Dark streaks across the Milky Way from the viewpoint of Earth are caused by interstellar dust in the plane of our Galaxy.

Stars are evenly distributed across the spherical region enclosing our Galaxy.

The density wave that produces the spiral arm in the Milky Way Galaxy is similar in properties to a

The Sun is one of several

Astronomers have found the existence of spiral arms in galaxies difficult to account for because the

What surprising conclusion about the distribution of mass in our Galaxy has resulted from a study of orbital speeds across the galactic disk?

What is the difference between dark nebulae and dark matter?

Globular clusters are composed of

What appear to be the characteristics of the object at the center of our Galaxy?

Which of the following has NOT been proposed as a candidate for dark matter?

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

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

Filters