Question 1

Ordinary matter in the form stars and planet makes up approximately what proportion of the total mass and energy in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 70 percent 
B)  a few percent 
C)  about 25 percent 
D)  nearly a 100 percent 
A)  about 70 percent 
B)  a few percent 
C)  about 25 percent 
D)  nearly a 100 percent

Question 2

An isotope of the element Manganese (Mn) has an atomic number of 25 and a mass number of 55. Assuming the atom is neutral, this means it has

Accepted Answer

A)  55 protons, 55 electrons, and 25 neutrons 
B)  25 protons, 25 electrons, and 30 neutrons 
C)  25 protons, 30 electrons, and 25 neutrons 
D)  25 protons, 25 electrons, and 55 neutrons 
A)  55 protons, 55 electrons, and 25 neutrons 
B)  25 protons, 25 electrons, and 30 neutrons 
C)  25 protons, 30 electrons, and 25 neutrons 
D)  25 protons, 25 electrons, and 55 neutrons

Question 3

The outer Jovian planets most likely formed from

Accepted Answer

A)  clumps of hydrogen and helium gas spun from a rapidly rotating protosun 
B)  larger collections of hydrogen and helium gas attracting particles of rock and ice to them 
C)  the collision and coalescence of clumps of hydrogen and helium gas within the solar nebula 
D)  planetesimals of rock and ice attracting hydrogen and helium gas from the solar nebula 
A)  clumps of hydrogen and helium gas spun from a rapidly rotating protosun 
B)  larger collections of hydrogen and helium gas attracting particles of rock and ice to them 
C)  the collision and coalescence of clumps of hydrogen and helium gas within the solar nebula 
D)  planetesimals of rock and ice attracting hydrogen and helium gas from the solar nebula

Question 4

The expansion of the universe is due to the

Accepted Answer

A)  motion of galaxies through space 
B)  expansion of space within galaxies 
C)  expansion of stars within galaxies 
D)  expansion of space between galaxies 
A)  motion of galaxies through space 
B)  expansion of space within galaxies 
C)  expansion of stars within galaxies 
D)  expansion of space between galaxies

Question 5

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, modern humans evolved

Accepted Answer

A)  at 9 PM on New Year's Eve 
B)  at midnight on New Year's Eve 
C)  a couple of minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve 
D)  a few seconds before midnight on New Year's Eve 
A)  at 9 PM on New Year's Eve 
B)  at midnight on New Year's Eve 
C)  a couple of minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve 
D)  a few seconds before midnight on New Year's Eve

Question 6

If we compress the entire history of the into one year, each day represents

Accepted Answer

A)  about a billion years 
B)  a few tens of millions of years 
C)  a few hundred years 
D)  a few million years 
A)  about a billion years 
B)  a few tens of millions of years 
C)  a few hundred years 
D)  a few million years

Question 7

Inward migration is a hypothesis used to explain why

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter-sized planets are seen orbiting close to some stars 
B)  some stars do not have Jupiter-sized planets 
C)  some stars do not have planets at all 
D)  Terrestrial-sized planets are seen orbiting far from some stars 
A)  Jupiter-sized planets are seen orbiting close to some stars 
B)  some stars do not have Jupiter-sized planets 
C)  some stars do not have planets at all 
D)  Terrestrial-sized planets are seen orbiting far from some stars

Question 8

According to current theories, the universe appears to be made

Accepted Answer

A)  of dark matter 
B)  of dark energy 
C)  mostly of ordinary matter in the form of stars and galaxies 
D)  of an equal mixture of dark matter and dark energy 
A)  of dark matter 
B)  of dark energy 
C)  mostly of ordinary matter in the form of stars and galaxies 
D)  of an equal mixture of dark matter and dark energy

Question 9

Chunks of rock and metal that orbit the Sun but are much smaller than the planets are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  comets 
B)  dwarf planets 
C)  meteors 
D)  asteroids 
A)  comets 
B)  dwarf planets 
C)  meteors 
D)  asteroids

Question 10

The strongest piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang is the

Accepted Answer

A)  fact that the universe is expanding 
B)  detection of dark matter in galaxies 
C)  fact that stars have finite lifetimes 
D)  detection of the cosmic microwave background radiation left over from the formation of the universe 
A)  fact that the universe is expanding 
B)  detection of dark matter in galaxies 
C)  fact that stars have finite lifetimes 
D)  detection of the cosmic microwave background radiation left over from the formation of the universe

Question 11

The nearest star is at a distance of 4.4 light-years. Given that light travels at 300,000 km/s in space, how far away is the nearest star in kilometers (km)?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.2 10¹³ km 
B)  2.7 10¹⁵ km 
C)  3.0 10⁸ km 
D)  9.5 10¹² km 
A)  4.2 10¹³ km 
B)  2.7 10¹⁵ km 
C)  3.0 10⁸ km 
D)  9.5 10¹² km

Question 12

In the context of life in the universe, which of the following discoveries of astronomy suggests that extraterrestrial life may be constructed in a similar fashion to life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe is very large 
B)  the universe is very old 
C)  the laws of physics are the same everywhere 
D)  the chemical elements that make up life on Earth are common 
A)  the universe is very large 
B)  the universe is very old 
C)  the laws of physics are the same everywhere 
D)  the chemical elements that make up life on Earth are common

Question 13

The number of protons in the nucleus of an tom is referred to as its

Accepted Answer

A)  atomic mass number 
B)  average atomic mass 
C)  proton number 
D)  atomic number 
A)  atomic mass number 
B)  average atomic mass 
C)  proton number 
D)  atomic number

Question 14

The total number of galaxies in our observable universe is

Accepted Answer

A)  about ten million 
B)  about a hundred billion 
C)  infinite 
D)  a few trillion 
A)  about ten million 
B)  about a hundred billion 
C)  infinite 
D)  a few trillion

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  it is impossible to tell because frequency and wavelength are not related 
B)  the lower-frequency wave has the longer wavelength because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other 
C)  the two waves have the same wavelength because the wavelengths of all electromagnetic waves are the same 
D)  the higher-frequency wave has the longer wavelength because frequency and wavelength are directly proportional to each other 
A)  it is impossible to tell because frequency and wavelength are not related 
B)  the lower-frequency wave has the longer wavelength because frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other 
C)  the two waves have the same wavelength because the wavelengths of all electromagnetic waves are the same 
D)  the higher-frequency wave has the longer wavelength because frequency and wavelength are directly proportional to each other

Question 16

A car uses gasoline to convert

Accepted Answer

A)  potential energy into radiative energy 
B)  kinetic energy into potential energy 
C)  radiative energy into kinetic energy 
D)  potential energy into kinetic energy 
A)  potential energy into radiative energy 
B)  kinetic energy into potential energy 
C)  radiative energy into kinetic energy 
D)  potential energy into kinetic energy

Question 17

One of the unusual features of the Earth's moon is that it is

Accepted Answer

A)  very large 
B)  very small 
C)  made mostly of rock 
D)  keeps one side facing the Earth 
A)  very large 
B)  very small 
C)  made mostly of rock 
D)  keeps one side facing the Earth

Question 18

The mysterious component if the universe which appears to be pushing galaxies apart is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  dark energy 
B)  anti-gravity 
C)  dark matter 
D)  inflation 
A)  dark energy 
B)  anti-gravity 
C)  dark matter 
D)  inflation

Question 19

O₂ is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a molecule only 
B)  a compound only 
C)  both a molecule and a compound 
D)  a collection of isolated atoms 
A)  a molecule only 
B)  a compound only 
C)  both a molecule and a compound 
D)  a collection of isolated atoms

Question 20

How many electrons are present in the ion of the isotope of oxygen, ¹⁸O³⁻ if oxygen has an atomic number of 8?

Accepted Answer

A)  18 
B)  5 
C)  8 
D)  11 
A)  18 
B)  5 
C)  8 
D)  11

Ordinary matter in the form stars and planet makes up approximately what proportion of the total mass and energy in the universe?

An isotope of the element Manganese (Mn) has an atomic number of 25 and a mass number of 55. Assuming the atom is neutral, this means it has

The outer Jovian planets most likely formed from

The expansion of the universe is due to the

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, modern humans evolved

If we compress the entire history of the into one year, each day represents

Inward migration is a hypothesis used to explain why

According to current theories, the universe appears to be made

Chunks of rock and metal that orbit the Sun but are much smaller than the planets are referred to as

The strongest piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang is the

The nearest star is at a distance of 4.4 light-years. Given that light travels at 300,000 km/s in space, how far away is the nearest star in kilometers (km)?

In the context of life in the universe, which of the following discoveries of astronomy suggests that extraterrestrial life may be constructed in a similar fashion to life on Earth?

The number of protons in the nucleus of an tom is referred to as its

The total number of galaxies in our observable universe is

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

A car uses gasoline to convert

One of the unusual features of the Earth's moon is that it is

The mysterious component if the universe which appears to be pushing galaxies apart is referred to as

O₂ is an example of

How many electrons are present in the ion of the isotope of oxygen, ¹⁸O³⁻ if oxygen has an atomic number of 8?

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

Ordinary matter in the form stars and planet makes up approximately what proportion of the total mass and energy in the universe?

An isotope of the element Manganese (Mn) has an atomic number of 25 and a mass number of 55. Assuming the atom is neutral, this means it has

The outer Jovian planets most likely formed from

The expansion of the universe is due to the

If we compress the entire history of the universe into one year, modern humans evolved

If we compress the entire history of the into one year, each day represents

Inward migration is a hypothesis used to explain why

According to current theories, the universe appears to be made

Chunks of rock and metal that orbit the Sun but are much smaller than the planets are referred to as

The strongest piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang is the

The nearest star is at a distance of 4.4 light-years. Given that light travels at 300,000 km/s in space, how far away is the nearest star in kilometers (km)?

In the context of life in the universe, which of the following discoveries of astronomy suggests that extraterrestrial life may be constructed in a similar fashion to life on Earth?

The number of protons in the nucleus of an tom is referred to as its

The total number of galaxies in our observable universe is

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

A car uses gasoline to convert

One of the unusual features of the Earth's moon is that it is

The mysterious component if the universe which appears to be pushing galaxies apart is referred to as

O₂ is an example of

How many electrons are present in the ion of the isotope of oxygen, ¹⁸O³⁻ if oxygen has an atomic number of 8?

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