Question 1

How does the speed (in a vacuum) of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave compare with a low-frequency electromagnetic wave?

Accepted Answer

A)  the lower-frequency wave has the higher speed because speed is inversely related to frequency 
B)  the two waves have the same speed because the speed of light is constant 
C)  the lower-frequency wave has the higher speed because it has the longest wavelength 
D)  the higher-frequency wave has the higher speed 
A)  the lower-frequency wave has the higher speed because speed is inversely related to frequency 
B)  the two waves have the same speed because the speed of light is constant 
C)  the lower-frequency wave has the higher speed because it has the longest wavelength 
D)  the higher-frequency wave has the higher speed

Question 2

The planets in the solar system

Accepted Answer

A)  revolve around the Sun in the same direction 
B)  orbit around the Sun in nearly the same plane 
C)  have nearly circular orbits 
D)  all of these are true 
A)  revolve around the Sun in the same direction 
B)  orbit around the Sun in nearly the same plane 
C)  have nearly circular orbits 
D)  all of these are true

Question 3

Most of the extrasolar planetary systems discovered to date are

Accepted Answer

A)  very similar to our own solar system with inner rocky terrestrial planets and outer gaseous Jovian planets 
B)  similar to our solar system in having inner rocky terrestrial planets but different in having no Jovian planets 
C)  identical to our own with the same number and types of planets as our own solar system 
D)  quite different than our own solar system, many with Jovian planets found close to their parent stars 
A)  very similar to our own solar system with inner rocky terrestrial planets and outer gaseous Jovian planets 
B)  similar to our solar system in having inner rocky terrestrial planets but different in having no Jovian planets 
C)  identical to our own with the same number and types of planets as our own solar system 
D)  quite different than our own solar system, many with Jovian planets found close to their parent stars

Question 4

Out immediately beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune we find

Accepted Answer

A)  Orion's belt 
B)  the asteroid belt 
C)  the Kuiper belt 
D)  the Oort cloud 
A)  Orion's belt 
B)  the asteroid belt 
C)  the Kuiper belt 
D)  the Oort cloud

Question 5

The process by which molecules escape from a solid directly into the gas phase is called

Accepted Answer

A)  gasification 
B)  evaporation 
C)  condensation 
D)  sublimation 
A)  gasification 
B)  evaporation 
C)  condensation 
D)  sublimation

Question 6

Measuring where the thermal radiation spectrum of a dense object peaks allows us to determine its

Accepted Answer

A)  chemical composition 
B)  physical size 
C)  temperature 
D)  distance 
A)  chemical composition 
B)  physical size 
C)  temperature 
D)  distance

Question 7

Which of the following is an organic molecule?

Accepted Answer

A)  N₂H₄ 
B)  B₂O₂ 
C)  C₂H₄ 
D)  H₂O₂ 
A)  N₂H₄ 
B)  B₂O₂ 
C)  C₂H₄ 
D)  H₂O₂

Question 8

An alternative to the nebular theory for the formation of the solar system suggests that the planets formed from blobs of gas that had been gravitationally pulled out of the Sun during the near-collision with another star. This idea is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

A)  fragmentation hypothesis 
B)  collision-ejection hypothesis 
C)  encounter hypothesis 
D)  tidal distortion hypothesis 
A)  fragmentation hypothesis 
B)  collision-ejection hypothesis 
C)  encounter hypothesis 
D)  tidal distortion hypothesis

Question 9

Which of the following places the structures in our own part of the universe in order of increasing (smallest to largest) scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar System, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Supercluster 
B)  Local Supercluster, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System 
C)  Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Supercluster, Local Group 
D)  Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster 
A)  Solar System, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Supercluster 
B)  Local Supercluster, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System 
C)  Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Supercluster, Local Group 
D)  Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster

Question 10

A star less massive than the Sun will have

Accepted Answer

A)  an identical lifetime as the Sun because although its overall mass is lower, the mass of its nuclear burning core is the same 
B)  a shorter lifetime because it has less fuel to burn 
C)  a longer lifetime because although its overall mass is lower, the mass of its nuclear burning core is larger 
D)  a longer lifetime because its central core is cooler and less dense 
A)  an identical lifetime as the Sun because although its overall mass is lower, the mass of its nuclear burning core is the same 
B)  a shorter lifetime because it has less fuel to burn 
C)  a longer lifetime because although its overall mass is lower, the mass of its nuclear burning core is larger 
D)  a longer lifetime because its central core is cooler and less dense

Question 11

If we had sent a radio signal to an advanced civilization in 2006 which is located in the zeta reticuli star system approximately 39 light-years away, when would the signal arrive at its destination?

Accepted Answer

A)  2006 
B)  2051 
C)  2039 
D)  2045 
A)  2006 
B)  2051 
C)  2039 
D)  2045

Question 12

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, life on Earth appeared

Accepted Answer

A)  in early February 
B)  in early September 
C)  in late December 
D)  in late September 
A)  in early February 
B)  in early September 
C)  in late December 
D)  in late September

Question 13

Given the basic building blocks of planets are widespread and the same laws of physics operate everywhere, we would expect

Accepted Answer

A)  we have not detected any other planetary systems so we have no way of knowing 
B)  other planetary systems to be identical to our own with the same number and types of planets as our own solar system 
C)  other planetary systems to be laid out in a similar manner to our own with inner rocky terrestrial planets and outer gaseous Jovian planets 
D)  other planetary systems to be very different than our own because the detailed conditions that existed in our own solar nebula are unlikely to have been replicated elsewhere 
A)  we have not detected any other planetary systems so we have no way of knowing 
B)  other planetary systems to be identical to our own with the same number and types of planets as our own solar system 
C)  other planetary systems to be laid out in a similar manner to our own with inner rocky terrestrial planets and outer gaseous Jovian planets 
D)  other planetary systems to be very different than our own because the detailed conditions that existed in our own solar nebula are unlikely to have been replicated elsewhere

Question 14

The technique of collecting radiation and splitting it up into its components so it can be analyzed is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  colorimetry 
B)  spectrometry 
C)  astrometry 
D)  photometry 
A)  colorimetry 
B)  spectrometry 
C)  astrometry 
D)  photometry

Question 15

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, the Earth formed

Accepted Answer

A)  in early February 
B)  in early September 
C)  in late December 
D)  in late September 
A)  in early February 
B)  in early September 
C)  in late December 
D)  in late September

Question 16

Which of the following sequence of electromagnetic radiations is in order of increasing wavelength?

Accepted Answer

A)  radio, infrared, UV, gamma ray 
B)  gamma ray, UV, radio, microwave 
C)  X-ray, visible, infrared, radio 
D)  UV, infrared, visible, microwave 
A)  radio, infrared, UV, gamma ray 
B)  gamma ray, UV, radio, microwave 
C)  X-ray, visible, infrared, radio 
D)  UV, infrared, visible, microwave

Question 17

Which of the following words best describes the sum total of all matter and energy that exists?

Accepted Answer

A)  supercluster 
B)  universe 
C)  multiverse 
D)  macrocosm 
A)  supercluster 
B)  universe 
C)  multiverse 
D)  macrocosm

Question 18

A pattern of bright lines on a dark background is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  an emission line spectrum 
B)  an absorption line spectrum 
C)  a continuous spectrum 
D)  a bright spectrum 
A)  an emission line spectrum 
B)  an absorption line spectrum 
C)  a continuous spectrum 
D)  a bright spectrum

Question 19

The energy associated with random atomic and molecular motion is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  thermal energy 
B)  radiative energy 
C)  mass-energy 
D)  potential energy 
A)  thermal energy 
B)  radiative energy 
C)  mass-energy 
D)  potential energy

Question 20

A smooth distribution of radiation across a broad range of wavelengths is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  an emission line spectrum 
B)  an absorption line spectrum 
C)  a continuous spectrum 
D)  a broad spectrum 
A)  an emission line spectrum 
B)  an absorption line spectrum 
C)  a continuous spectrum 
D)  a broad spectrum

How does the speed (in a vacuum) of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave compare with a low-frequency electromagnetic wave?

The planets in the solar system

Most of the extrasolar planetary systems discovered to date are

Out immediately beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune we find

The process by which molecules escape from a solid directly into the gas phase is called

Measuring where the thermal radiation spectrum of a dense object peaks allows us to determine its

Which of the following is an organic molecule?

An alternative to the nebular theory for the formation of the solar system suggests that the planets formed from blobs of gas that had been gravitationally pulled out of the Sun during the near-collision with another star. This idea is referred to as the

Which of the following places the structures in our own part of the universe in order of increasing (smallest to largest) scale?

A star less massive than the Sun will have

If we had sent a radio signal to an advanced civilization in 2006 which is located in the zeta reticuli star system approximately 39 light-years away, when would the signal arrive at its destination?

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, life on Earth appeared

Given the basic building blocks of planets are widespread and the same laws of physics operate everywhere, we would expect

The technique of collecting radiation and splitting it up into its components so it can be analyzed is referred to as

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, the Earth formed

Which of the following sequence of electromagnetic radiations is in order of increasing wavelength?

Which of the following words best describes the sum total of all matter and energy that exists?

A pattern of bright lines on a dark background is referred to as

The energy associated with random atomic and molecular motion is known as

A smooth distribution of radiation across a broad range of wavelengths is referred to as

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 3: The Universal Context of Life

How does the speed (in a vacuum) of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave compare with a low-frequency electromagnetic wave?

The planets in the solar system

Most of the extrasolar planetary systems discovered to date are

Out immediately beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune we find

The process by which molecules escape from a solid directly into the gas phase is called

Measuring where the thermal radiation spectrum of a dense object peaks allows us to determine its

Which of the following is an organic molecule?

An alternative to the nebular theory for the formation of the solar system suggests that the planets formed from blobs of gas that had been gravitationally pulled out of the Sun during the near-collision with another star. This idea is referred to as the

Which of the following places the structures in our own part of the universe in order of increasing (smallest to largest) scale?

A star less massive than the Sun will have

If we had sent a radio signal to an advanced civilization in 2006 which is located in the zeta reticuli star system approximately 39 light-years away, when would the signal arrive at its destination?

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, life on Earth appeared

Given the basic building blocks of planets are widespread and the same laws of physics operate everywhere, we would expect

The technique of collecting radiation and splitting it up into its components so it can be analyzed is referred to as

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, the Earth formed

Which of the following sequence of electromagnetic radiations is in order of increasing wavelength?

Which of the following words best describes the sum total of all matter and energy that exists?

A pattern of bright lines on a dark background is referred to as

The energy associated with random atomic and molecular motion is known as

A smooth distribution of radiation across a broad range of wavelengths is referred to as

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters