Question 1

How do the speeds at which we are moving with Earth's rotation and orbit compare to the speeds of more familiar objects?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis faster than a commercial jet travels, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun faster than the Space Shuttle orbits Earth. 
B) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed at which the Space Shuttle orbits Earth, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at nearly the speed of light. 
C) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a commercial jet, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a military jet. 
D) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a car on the freeway, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a commercial jet. 
A) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis faster than a commercial jet travels, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun faster than the Space Shuttle orbits Earth. 
B) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed at which the Space Shuttle orbits Earth, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at nearly the speed of light. 
C) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a commercial jet, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a military jet. 
D) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a car on the freeway, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a commercial jet.

Question 2

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) one day 
B) one year 
C) one month 
D) one week 
E) The time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun changes significantly from one orbit to the next. 
A) one day 
B) one year 
C) one month 
D) one week 
E) The time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun changes significantly from one orbit to the next.

Question 3

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Earth is always precisely 1 AU from the Sun.

Accepted Answer

Not sensible: One AU

Question 4

Which statement correctly locates the formation of the Earth and the appearance of the first humans on the cosmic calendar, which compresses the 14- billion year history of the universe into one "year," where "now" is exactly midnight, Dec 31?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth forms in early September, life begins in November, and humans appear on Dec 15. 
B) Earth forms in early September, life begins in late September, humans appear a few hours before midnight, Dec 31. 
C) Earth forms in January, life begins in April, and humans appear in early December. 
D) Earth forms in January, life begins in September, and humans appear in October. 
A) Earth forms in early September, life begins in November, and humans appear on Dec 15. 
B) Earth forms in early September, life begins in late September, humans appear a few hours before midnight, Dec 31. 
C) Earth forms in January, life begins in April, and humans appear in early December. 
D) Earth forms in January, life begins in September, and humans appear in October.

Question 5

Why do the patterns of the stars in our sky look the same from year to year?

Accepted Answer

A) because the stars in the constellations move so slowly- typically about the speed of a snail- that their motions are not noticeable 
B) because the stars in the constellations are not moving 
C) because the stars in the constellations are so far away 
D) because the stars in the constellations all move at the same speeds and in the same directions, so they don't change their relative positions 
A) because the stars in the constellations move so slowly- typically about the speed of a snail- that their motions are not noticeable 
B) because the stars in the constellations are not moving 
C) because the stars in the constellations are so far away 
D) because the stars in the constellations all move at the same speeds and in the same directions, so they don't change their relative positions

Question 6

One light year is about 10 trillion kilometers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The speed of light is about 300,000 km/s (3 × 105 km/s). How far does light travel in 30 seconds?

Accepted Answer

A) 900 thousand km (900,000, or 9 × 105 km) 
B) 9 million km (9,000,000, or 9 × 106 km) 
C) 10 thousand km (10,000, or 106 km) 
D) 300 thousand km (300,000, or 3 × 105 km) 
A) 900 thousand km (900,000, or 9 × 105 km) 
B) 9 million km (9,000,000, or 9 × 106 km) 
C) 10 thousand km (10,000, or 106 km) 
D) 300 thousand km (300,000, or 3 × 105 km)

Question 8

Relative to the age of the universe, how old is our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) It is about one- third the age of the universe. 
B) It is nearly the same age as the universe. 
C) It is between about 5% and 10% as old as the universe. 
D) It is about 1% as old as the universe. 
A) It is about one- third the age of the universe. 
B) It is nearly the same age as the universe. 
C) It is between about 5% and 10% as old as the universe. 
D) It is about 1% as old as the universe.

Question 9

Which of the following has your "cosmic address" in the correct order?

Accepted Answer

A) you, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe 
B) you, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Supercluster, universe 
C) you, Earth, Local Group, Local Supercluster, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, universe 
D) you, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, Milky Way Galaxy, universe 
E) you, Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe 
A) you, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe 
B) you, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Supercluster, universe 
C) you, Earth, Local Group, Local Supercluster, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, universe 
D) you, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, Milky Way Galaxy, universe 
E) you, Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe

Question 10

The solar system is a member of a galaxy containing approximately 100 billion stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Compared to its size, the Sun is very far away from all other stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Using the ideas discussed in your textbook, in what sense are we "star stuff"?

Accepted Answer

A) Movie stars and other people are all made of the same stuff, so we all have the potential to be famous. 
B) Nearly every atom from which we are made was once inside of a star. 
C) The overall chemical composition of our bodies is about the same as that of stars. 
D) We could not survive without light from our star, the Sun. 
A) Movie stars and other people are all made of the same stuff, so we all have the potential to be famous. 
B) Nearly every atom from which we are made was once inside of a star. 
C) The overall chemical composition of our bodies is about the same as that of stars. 
D) We could not survive without light from our star, the Sun.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star?

Accepted Answer

A) Planets are smaller than stars. 
B) Planets orbit stars, while stars orbit the center of the galaxy. 
C) All planets are made of rock, and all stars are made of gas. 
D) Planets are dimmer than stars. 
A) Planets are smaller than stars. 
B) Planets orbit stars, while stars orbit the center of the galaxy. 
C) All planets are made of rock, and all stars are made of gas. 
D) Planets are dimmer than stars.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) a spherically shaped collection of stars including our solar system and about a dozen other solar systems, stretching about 4 light- years in diameter 
B) a spiral galaxy with a disk about a billion kilometers in diameter and containing between 100 million and 1 billion stars 
C) a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light- years in diameter and containing between 100 billion and 1 trillion stars 
D) a spherically shaped collection of about 1 million stars that is about 100 light- years in diameter 
E) a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light- years in diameter and containing about 100,000 stars 
A) a spherically shaped collection of stars including our solar system and about a dozen other solar systems, stretching about 4 light- years in diameter 
B) a spiral galaxy with a disk about a billion kilometers in diameter and containing between 100 million and 1 billion stars 
C) a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light- years in diameter and containing between 100 billion and 1 trillion stars 
D) a spherically shaped collection of about 1 million stars that is about 100 light- years in diameter 
E) a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light- years in diameter and containing about 100,000 stars

Question 15

Briefly explain what we mean by the statement "The farther away we look in distance, the further back we look in time."

Accepted Answer

It means that when we look at

Question 16

Wendy measures a recession velocity for two distant galaxies, well outside our Local Group of galaxies. Galaxy A has a recession velocity of 35,000 km/s and Galaxy B has a recession velocity of 70,000 km/s. What can she say about the distances to those galaxies?

Accepted Answer

A) She can't say anything about the distances to Galaxy A or B. 
B) Galaxy B is twice as far as Galaxy A. 
C) Galaxy B is four times as far as Galaxy A. 
D) Galaxy A is four times as far as Galaxy B. 
E) Galaxy A is twice as far as Galaxy B. 
A) She can't say anything about the distances to Galaxy A or B. 
B) Galaxy B is twice as far as Galaxy A. 
C) Galaxy B is four times as far as Galaxy A. 
D) Galaxy A is four times as far as Galaxy B. 
E) Galaxy A is twice as far as Galaxy B.

Question 17

Which of the following is smallest?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 AU 
B) size of a typical planet 
C) 1 light- second 
D) size of a typical star 
A) 1 AU 
B) size of a typical planet 
C) 1 light- second 
D) size of a typical star

Question 18

In the grapefruit model of the solar system, it would take a few minutes to walk from the Sun to Pluto.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The planet Neptune is, on average, about 4.5 billion km from the sun. How long does it take light from the sun to reach Neptune? (Recall that the speed of light is about 300,000 km/s)

Accepted Answer

A) about 4 days 
B) about 4 minutes 
C) about 4 seconds 
D) about 4 hours 
A) about 4 days 
B) about 4 minutes 
C) about 4 seconds 
D) about 4 hours

Question 20

A Life Calendar: Make a "life calendar" for hypothetical person. Assume that this person lived 80 years and represent the 80 year period as a single calendar year in which he or she was born on January 1st and died on December 31st. Estimate the calendar dates on which this person reached various life milestones. For example, when did he or she take their first step? Speak their first word? Start elementary school? Finish high school? When did he or she retire? Does your life calendar for this particular person give any insight into human lives in general?

Accepted Answer

Life Calendar for Hypothetical Person:

How do the speeds at which we are moving with Earth's rotation and orbit compare to the speeds of more familiar objects?

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Earth is always precisely 1 AU from the Sun.

Which statement correctly locates the formation of the Earth and the appearance of the first humans on the cosmic calendar, which compresses the 14- billion year history of the universe into one "year," where "now" is exactly midnight, Dec 31?

Why do the patterns of the stars in our sky look the same from year to year?

One light year is about 10 trillion kilometers.

The speed of light is about 300,000 km/s (3 × 105 km/s). How far does light travel in 30 seconds?

Relative to the age of the universe, how old is our solar system?

Which of the following has your "cosmic address" in the correct order?

The solar system is a member of a galaxy containing approximately 100 billion stars.

Compared to its size, the Sun is very far away from all other stars.

Using the ideas discussed in your textbook, in what sense are we "star stuff"?

Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star?

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy?

Briefly explain what we mean by the statement "The farther away we look in distance, the further back we look in time."

Wendy measures a recession velocity for two distant galaxies, well outside our Local Group of galaxies. Galaxy A has a recession velocity of 35,000 km/s and Galaxy B has a recession velocity of 70,000 km/s. What can she say about the distances to those galaxies?

Which of the following is smallest?

In the grapefruit model of the solar system, it would take a few minutes to walk from the Sun to Pluto.

The planet Neptune is, on average, about 4.5 billion km from the sun. How long does it take light from the sun to reach Neptune? (Recall that the speed of light is about 300,000 km/s)

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 1: A Modern View of the Universe

How do the speeds at which we are moving with Earth's rotation and orbit compare to the speeds of more familiar objects?

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Earth is always precisely 1 AU from the Sun.

Which statement correctly locates the formation of the Earth and the appearance of the first humans on the cosmic calendar, which compresses the 14- billion year history of the universe into one "year," where "now" is exactly midnight, Dec 31?

Why do the patterns of the stars in our sky look the same from year to year?

One light year is about 10 trillion kilometers.

The speed of light is about 300,000 km/s (3 × 105 km/s). How far does light travel in 30 seconds?

Relative to the age of the universe, how old is our solar system?

Which of the following has your "cosmic address" in the correct order?

The solar system is a member of a galaxy containing approximately 100 billion stars.

Compared to its size, the Sun is very far away from all other stars.

Using the ideas discussed in your textbook, in what sense are we "star stuff"?

Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star?

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy?

Briefly explain what we mean by the statement "The farther away we look in distance, the further back we look in time."

Wendy measures a recession velocity for two distant galaxies, well outside our Local Group of galaxies. Galaxy A has a recession velocity of 35,000 km/s and Galaxy B has a recession velocity of 70,000 km/s. What can she say about the distances to those galaxies?

Which of the following is smallest?

In the grapefruit model of the solar system, it would take a few minutes to walk from the Sun to Pluto.

The planet Neptune is, on average, about 4.5 billion km from the sun. How long does it take light from the sun to reach Neptune? (Recall that the speed of light is about 300,000 km/s)

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters