Question 1

One unusual aspect of dark matter is

Accepted Answer

A)  its gravitational force pushes (or repels) instead of pulling. 
B)  it does not interact with electromagnetic radiation. 
C)  it exerts a new kind of fundamental force, never observed before. 
D)  it exerts no gravitational force. 
E)  it moves faster than lightspeed. 
A)  its gravitational force pushes (or repels) instead of pulling. 
B)  it does not interact with electromagnetic radiation. 
C)  it exerts a new kind of fundamental force, never observed before. 
D)  it exerts no gravitational force. 
E)  it moves faster than lightspeed. B

Question 2

The evidence favors a universe whose overall geometry is flat. That evidence comes from observations of

Accepted Answer

A)  the force of gravity acting on laboratory objects. 
B)  distant quasars. 
C)  the earliest galaxies in the universe. 
D)  the cosmic background radiation. 
E)  the center of our galaxy. 
A)  the force of gravity acting on laboratory objects. 
B)  distant quasars. 
C)  the earliest galaxies in the universe. 
D)  the cosmic background radiation. 
E)  the center of our galaxy. D

Question 3

How do we know the shape of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  By observing distant stars during eclipses of the sun. 
B)  By triangulation measurements involving the distances to the sun and to the moon. 
C)  From the comparison between the pulsations coming from distant neutron stars. 
D)  By observation of the angular size of a typical wavelike disturbance in the cosmic microwave background. 
E)  By observing the light from distant stars and one star passes in front of another star. 
A)  By observing distant stars during eclipses of the sun. 
B)  By triangulation measurements involving the distances to the sun and to the moon. 
C)  From the comparison between the pulsations coming from distant neutron stars. 
D)  By observation of the angular size of a typical wavelike disturbance in the cosmic microwave background. 
E)  By observing the light from distant stars and one star passes in front of another star. D

Question 4

As evidence for the cosmic inflation hypothesis, this hypothesis explains

Accepted Answer

A)  the observed "flatness" of the overall three- dimensional universe. 
B)  the origin of the "clumping" of matter and energy that we see today in such aggregations as stars and galaxies. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  the force of gravity. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  the observed "flatness" of the overall three- dimensional universe. 
B)  the origin of the "clumping" of matter and energy that we see today in such aggregations as stars and galaxies. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  the force of gravity. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 5

In the theory of cosmic inflation, what is it that experiences a large rapid increase?

Accepted Answer

A)  the temperature of the universe 
B)  the net [or total] energy of the universe 
C)  the mass of the universe 
D)  the size of the universe 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  the temperature of the universe 
B)  the net [or total] energy of the universe 
C)  the mass of the universe 
D)  the size of the universe 
E)  All of the above.

Question 6

The evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate comes from observations of

Accepted Answer

A)  the redshifts of the stars in our own galaxy. 
B)  the rate of rotation of distant galaxies. 
C)  the redshifts in the light of from supernovas in other galaxies far away. 
D)  the center of our own galaxy, which is accelerating as it expands. 
E)  the redshift in the light from the cosmic background radiation. 
A)  the redshifts of the stars in our own galaxy. 
B)  the rate of rotation of distant galaxies. 
C)  the redshifts in the light of from supernovas in other galaxies far away. 
D)  the center of our own galaxy, which is accelerating as it expands. 
E)  the redshift in the light from the cosmic background radiation.

Question 7

Since accelerations are equivalent to gravity, a person could cancel the effects of Earth's gravity by

Accepted Answer

A)  going into orbit around Earth. 
B)  falling from a high place. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  accelerating straight upward at an acceleration of 1g. 
E)  Nonsense-- you can't cancel the effects of gravity. 
A)  going into orbit around Earth. 
B)  falling from a high place. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  accelerating straight upward at an acceleration of 1g. 
E)  Nonsense-- you can't cancel the effects of gravity.

Question 8

What is the universe mostly made of?

Accepted Answer

A)  dark energy 
B)  intergalactic gas 
C)  electromagnetic radiation 
D)  dark matter 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  dark energy 
B)  intergalactic gas 
C)  electromagnetic radiation 
D)  dark matter 
E)  None of the above.

Question 9

One unusual aspect of dark energy is

Accepted Answer

A)  its pushes outward on everything in the universe instead of pulling inward as gravity ordinarily does. 
B)  it's made of a material that has not yet been observed in our laboratories. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  it exerts a new kind of fundamental force, never observed before. 
E)  it exerts no gravitational force. 
A)  its pushes outward on everything in the universe instead of pulling inward as gravity ordinarily does. 
B)  it's made of a material that has not yet been observed in our laboratories. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  it exerts a new kind of fundamental force, never observed before. 
E)  it exerts no gravitational force.

Question 10

In a closed universe, the angles of a triangle add up to

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 180 degrees. 
B)  180 degrees. 
C)  less than 180 degrees. 
A)  more than 180 degrees. 
B)  180 degrees. 
C)  less than 180 degrees.

Question 11

One piece of evidence supporting the theory of cosmic inflation is

Accepted Answer

A)  the observed fact that the temperature of the cosmic background radiation is now about 4 Kelvin. 
B)  the fact that neutrinos are now known to have no rest mass. 
C)  the observed fact that the geometry of the universe is "flat.". 
D)  the observed fact that the geometry of the universe is "open." 
E)  the fact that neutrinos have been found to have rest mass. 
A)  the observed fact that the temperature of the cosmic background radiation is now about 4 Kelvin. 
B)  the fact that neutrinos are now known to have no rest mass. 
C)  the observed fact that the geometry of the universe is "flat.". 
D)  the observed fact that the geometry of the universe is "open." 
E)  the fact that neutrinos have been found to have rest mass.

Question 12

Dark energy

Accepted Answer

A)  has never been directly observed in the laboratory. 
B)  pushes on space. 
C)  has mass. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  has never been directly observed in the laboratory. 
B)  pushes on space. 
C)  has mass. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 13

The emergence of each of the four fundamental forces during the big bang was similar to

Accepted Answer

A)  the collision of two heavy nuclei, such as two lead nuclei. 
B)  the gravitational collapse of matter when a new star forms. 
C)  a change of the "state" of a material substance, such as freezing. 
D)  a supernova explosion. 
E)  a nuclear reaction. 
A)  the collision of two heavy nuclei, such as two lead nuclei. 
B)  the gravitational collapse of matter when a new star forms. 
C)  a change of the "state" of a material substance, such as freezing. 
D)  a supernova explosion. 
E)  a nuclear reaction.

Question 14

According to the theory of cosmic inflation, during a brief early "inflationary period," the universe

Accepted Answer

A)  expanded at lightspeed. 
B)  quickly became far more densely filled with matter. 
C)  expanded at a speed that was only slightly slower than lightspeed. 
D)  quickly became far more densely filled with energy. 
E)  expanded at a speed that exceeded lightspeed. 
A)  expanded at lightspeed. 
B)  quickly became far more densely filled with matter. 
C)  expanded at a speed that was only slightly slower than lightspeed. 
D)  quickly became far more densely filled with energy. 
E)  expanded at a speed that exceeded lightspeed.

Question 15

Is everything in the universe expanding?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, the distances between the galaxies are not expanding. 
B)  No, the Milky Way galaxy is not expanding. 
C)  Both of the above are correct. 
D)  Yes. 
A)  No, the distances between the galaxies are not expanding. 
B)  No, the Milky Way galaxy is not expanding. 
C)  Both of the above are correct. 
D)  Yes.

Question 16

Which of the following observations lend support to the big bang theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  the cosmic background radiation 
B)  the ripples, or variations, in the cosmic background radiation 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  the "red shift" of the light from distant galaxies 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  the cosmic background radiation 
B)  the ripples, or variations, in the cosmic background radiation 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  the "red shift" of the light from distant galaxies 
E)  All of the above.

Question 17

The big bang created

Accepted Answer

A)  space and time. 
B)  matter and energy. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  None of the above. 
A)  space and time. 
B)  matter and energy. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  None of the above.

Question 18

According to Einstein, gravity is

Accepted Answer

A)  the bending of space that is caused by masses. 
B)  the force that masses exert on each other. 
C)  caused by the electromagnetic force. 
D)  due only to velocity. 
E)  due only to acceleration. 
A)  the bending of space that is caused by masses. 
B)  the force that masses exert on each other. 
C)  caused by the electromagnetic force. 
D)  due only to velocity. 
E)  due only to acceleration.

Question 19

If you were in a rocket ship in distant space, far from all gravitational influences, and accelerating at 2g, you would feel

Accepted Answer

A)  your normal weight. 
B)  twice your normal weight. 
C)  weightless. 
D)  This cannot be answered without knowing your speed. 
A)  your normal weight. 
B)  twice your normal weight. 
C)  weightless. 
D)  This cannot be answered without knowing your speed.

Question 20

Which chemical elements were created during the first few minutes of the "big bang" that started our universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  All 92 of the naturally- occurring chemical elements. 
B)  Only the heaviest elements, having atomic numbers higher than that of lead. 
C)  Only the first three elements: hydrogen, helium, and lithium. 
D)  Only the elements through iron in the periodic table, i.e., only elements 1 through 26. 
E)  No elements were produced during the big bang-- all the normal chemical elements were produced much later. 
A)  All 92 of the naturally- occurring chemical elements. 
B)  Only the heaviest elements, having atomic numbers higher than that of lead. 
C)  Only the first three elements: hydrogen, helium, and lithium. 
D)  Only the elements through iron in the periodic table, i.e., only elements 1 through 26. 
E)  No elements were produced during the big bang-- all the normal chemical elements were produced much later.

One unusual aspect of dark matter is

The evidence favors a universe whose overall geometry is flat. That evidence comes from observations of

How do we know the shape of the universe?

As evidence for the cosmic inflation hypothesis, this hypothesis explains

In the theory of cosmic inflation, what is it that experiences a large rapid increase?

The evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate comes from observations of

Since accelerations are equivalent to gravity, a person could cancel the effects of Earth's gravity by

What is the universe mostly made of?

One unusual aspect of dark energy is

In a closed universe, the angles of a triangle add up to

One piece of evidence supporting the theory of cosmic inflation is

Dark energy

The emergence of each of the four fundamental forces during the big bang was similar to

According to the theory of cosmic inflation, during a brief early "inflationary period," the universe

Is everything in the universe expanding?

Which of the following observations lend support to the big bang theory?

The big bang created

According to Einstein, gravity is

If you were in a rocket ship in distant space, far from all gravitational influences, and accelerating at 2g, you would feel

Which chemical elements were created during the first few minutes of the "big bang" that started our universe?

The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Newtons Universe

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

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Exam 11: The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

One unusual aspect of dark matter is

The evidence favors a universe whose overall geometry is flat. That evidence comes from observations of

How do we know the shape of the universe?

As evidence for the cosmic inflation hypothesis, this hypothesis explains

In the theory of cosmic inflation, what is it that experiences a large rapid increase?

The evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate comes from observations of

Since accelerations are equivalent to gravity, a person could cancel the effects of Earth's gravity by

What is the universe mostly made of?

One unusual aspect of dark energy is

In a closed universe, the angles of a triangle add up to

One piece of evidence supporting the theory of cosmic inflation is

Dark energy

The emergence of each of the four fundamental forces during the big bang was similar to

According to the theory of cosmic inflation, during a brief early "inflationary period," the universe

Is everything in the universe expanding?

Which of the following observations lend support to the big bang theory?

The big bang created

According to Einstein, gravity is

If you were in a rocket ship in distant space, far from all gravitational influences, and accelerating at 2g, you would feel

Which chemical elements were created during the first few minutes of the "big bang" that started our universe?

The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Newtons Universe

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

Filters