Question 1

The "framework" of molecules important for life on Earth is based on _____atoms

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  helium 
C)  silicon 
D)  oxygen 
E)  nitrogen 
A)  carbon 
B)  helium 
C)  silicon 
D)  oxygen 
E)  nitrogen A

Question 2

A single human cell encloses about 1.5 meters of DNA containing 4.5 billion base pairs.How far apart are these base pairs in the DNA,in nanometers? [This question requires the use of mathematics.]

Accepted Answer

A)  3.3*10-10 
B)  3.3*1010 
C)  3*109 
D)  300 
E)  0.34 
A)  3.3*10-10 
B)  3.3*1010 
C)  3*109 
D)  300 
E)  0.34 E

Question 3

The ____________________ is a region around a star where liquid water can exist.

Accepted Answer

life zone

Question 4

Which of the answers below is NOT a factor in the Drake equation estimating the number of communicative technological civilizations in our galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of stars in our galaxy.. 
B)  the fraction of stars with planets 
C)  the number of suitable planets (with liquid water)per system of planets 
D)  the fraction of suitable planets on which life arises. 
E)  the distance of the Earth from our sun. 
A)  the number of stars in our galaxy.. 
B)  the fraction of stars with planets 
C)  the number of suitable planets (with liquid water)per system of planets 
D)  the fraction of suitable planets on which life arises. 
E)  the distance of the Earth from our sun.

Question 5

Which of the type stars below would be LEAST suitable for life to originate and evolve over several billion years?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 solar mass stars 
B)  1.0 solar mass stars 
C)  2.0 solar mass stars 
D)  20 solar mass stars 
A)  0.5 solar mass stars 
B)  1.0 solar mass stars 
C)  2.0 solar mass stars 
D)  20 solar mass stars

Question 6

DNA molecules cannot be altered by chance errors in reproduction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The stars most likely to have inhabited planets are

Accepted Answer

A)  spectral type "G" to "K" main sequence stars. 
B)  main sequence spectral type "O" stars. 
C)  protostars 
D)  neutron stars. 
E)  black holes 
A)  spectral type "G" to "K" main sequence stars. 
B)  main sequence spectral type "O" stars. 
C)  protostars 
D)  neutron stars. 
E)  black holes

Question 8

A change in the genetic information in a cell is called a(n)____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A change in the genetic information in...

Question 9

Chemical evolution concentrated the varied smaller molecules into the more stable forms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

If life is to develop on a planet,the planet must lie just inside the inner edge of its star's life zone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Even if a society on the nearest start to our Sun survived at a technological level for only 4 years,that is long enough to exchange messages with them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the elements or chemical compounds necessary for life on earth have NOT been identified in meteorites?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydrogen 
B)  Oxygen 
C)  Carbon 
D)  Amino acids 
E)  All have been found 
A)  Hydrogen 
B)  Oxygen 
C)  Carbon 
D)  Amino acids 
E)  All have been found

Question 13

Assume we send a space ship to a nearby one solar mass type G main sequence star.As we approach,we see that there are three earth-mass planets circling the star,planet A at 0.4 AU,B at 1.0 AU and C at 5 AU. Which planet would be more likely to have earth type life on its surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  Planet A 
B)  Planet B 
C)  Planet C 
D)  All surfaces would be too hot. 
E)  All surfaces would be too cold. 
A)  Planet A 
B)  Planet B 
C)  Planet C 
D)  All surfaces would be too hot. 
E)  All surfaces would be too cold.

Question 14

Why are massive main sequence stars not likely to have planets that contain life?

Accepted Answer

A)  The life zones around these stars are too small. 
B)  These stars would sweep away all of the material from which planets could form. 
C)  These stars are too hot to allow water to exist as a liquid on any planets that might form. 
D)  These stars are on the main sequence for too short a time to allow life to evolve. 
A)  The life zones around these stars are too small. 
B)  These stars would sweep away all of the material from which planets could form. 
C)  These stars are too hot to allow water to exist as a liquid on any planets that might form. 
D)  These stars are on the main sequence for too short a time to allow life to evolve.

Question 15

The most likely low interference region of the radio spectrum for communication with other civilizations is the water hole,the part of the spectrum

Accepted Answer

A)  at the radio emission of hdrogen in our Galaxy. 
B)  at the radio emission of OH. 
C)  at the radio emission of noise from Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  between the radio emissions of hydrogen and OH. 
E)  near the radio band where water in the Earth's atmosphere strongly absorbs energy. 
A)  at the radio emission of hdrogen in our Galaxy. 
B)  at the radio emission of OH. 
C)  at the radio emission of noise from Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  between the radio emissions of hydrogen and OH. 
E)  near the radio band where water in the Earth's atmosphere strongly absorbs energy.

Question 16

The failure of improperly adapted life forms to survive versus the survival of properly adapted forms is called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The failure of improperly adapted life forms...

Question 17

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen and the 18-cm line of OH is known as the ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between...

Question 18

It is expected that planets around high-mass main sequence stars would be good places to search for extraterrestrial life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

____ is a segment of a chromosome that controls a specific function.

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA 
B)  RNA 
C)  An enzyme 
D)  A gene 
E)  An amino acid 
A)  DNA 
B)  RNA 
C)  An enzyme 
D)  A gene 
E)  An amino acid

Question 20

What is important about the habitable zone around a star that makes astronomers believe life could exist there?

Accepted Answer

A)  The level of electromagnetic radiation from the star is zero there. 
B)  Only on the star's photspheric surface can complex organic molecules be found. 
C)  Only planets in the habitable zone will have atmospheres. 
D)  In the habitable zone water can exist as a liquid on the planet. 
A)  The level of electromagnetic radiation from the star is zero there. 
B)  Only on the star's photspheric surface can complex organic molecules be found. 
C)  Only planets in the habitable zone will have atmospheres. 
D)  In the habitable zone water can exist as a liquid on the planet.

Exam 26: Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

The "framework" of molecules important for life on Earth is based on _____atoms

A single human cell encloses about 1.5 meters of DNA containing 4.5 billion base pairs.How far apart are these base pairs in the DNA,in nanometers? [This question requires the use of mathematics.]

The ____________________ is a region around a star where liquid water can exist.

Which of the answers below is NOT a factor in the Drake equation estimating the number of communicative technological civilizations in our galaxy?

Which of the type stars below would be LEAST suitable for life to originate and evolve over several billion years?

DNA molecules cannot be altered by chance errors in reproduction.

The stars most likely to have inhabited planets are

A change in the genetic information in a cell is called a(n)____________________.

Chemical evolution concentrated the varied smaller molecules into the more stable forms.

If life is to develop on a planet,the planet must lie just inside the inner edge of its star's life zone.

Even if a society on the nearest start to our Sun survived at a technological level for only 4 years,that is long enough to exchange messages with them.

Which of the elements or chemical compounds necessary for life on earth have NOT been identified in meteorites?

Assume we send a space ship to a nearby one solar mass type G main sequence star.As we approach,we see that there are three earth-mass planets circling the star,planet A at 0.4 AU,B at 1.0 AU and C at 5 AU. Which planet would be more likely to have earth type life on its surface?

Why are massive main sequence stars not likely to have planets that contain life?

The most likely low interference region of the radio spectrum for communication with other civilizations is the water hole,the part of the spectrum

The failure of improperly adapted life forms to survive versus the survival of properly adapted forms is called ____________________.

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen and the 18-cm line of OH is known as the ____________________.

It is expected that planets around high-mass main sequence stars would be good places to search for extraterrestrial life.

____ is a segment of a chromosome that controls a specific function.

What is important about the habitable zone around a star that makes astronomers believe life could exist there?

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Interstellar Medium

The Formation and Structure of Stars

Stellar Evolution

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Active Galaxies and Supermassive Black Holes

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth: the Standard of Comparative Planetology

The Moon and Mercury: Comparing Airless Worlds

Venus and Mars

Jupiter and Saturn

Uranus,neptune,and the Kuiper Belt

Meteorites,asteroids,and Comets

Filters