Question 1

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

Question 2

How are galaxies important to our existence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Without galaxies, there could not have been a Big Bang. 
B)  Without galaxies, the universe could not be expanding. 
C)  Deep in their centers, galaxies created the elements from which we are made. 
D)  Galaxies recycle material from one generation of stars to the next, and without this recycling we could not exist. 
A)  Without galaxies, there could not have been a Big Bang. 
B)  Without galaxies, the universe could not be expanding. 
C)  Deep in their centers, galaxies created the elements from which we are made. 
D)  Galaxies recycle material from one generation of stars to the next, and without this recycling we could not exist. D

Question 3

Where is our solar system located within the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Very near the center of the galaxy 
B)  At the far edge of the galaxy's visible disk 
C)  Roughly halfway between the center and the edge of the visible disk of the galaxy 
D)  In the halo of the galaxy 
A)  Very near the center of the galaxy 
B)  At the far edge of the galaxy's visible disk 
C)  Roughly halfway between the center and the edge of the visible disk of the galaxy 
D)  In the halo of the galaxy C

Question 4

The speed of light is 300,000 km/s. How far is a light-year? Be sure to show all work clearly on your calculation.

Accepted Answer

1 light-year
= (spee

Question 5

You have taken a picture of a galaxy 1 billion light years away. That picture shows:

Accepted Answer

A)  a galaxy that is 1 billion years old. 
B)  a galaxy that is 13 billion years old. 
C)  a galaxy as it was 1 billion years ago. 
D)  a galaxy that is 1 billion light years old. 
A)  a galaxy that is 1 billion years old. 
B)  a galaxy that is 13 billion years old. 
C)  a galaxy as it was 1 billion years ago. 
D)  a galaxy that is 1 billion light years old.

Question 6

On a cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed into 1 year, when did Kepler and Galileo first discover that we live on a planet in a solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 second ago 
B)  1 day ago 
C)  1 week ago 
D)  December 25 
E)  December 30 
A)  1 second ago 
B)  1 day ago 
C)  1 week ago 
D)  December 25 
E)  December 30

Question 7

Which of the following is largest?

Accepted Answer

A)  size of a typical galaxy 
B)  size of Pluto's orbit 
C)  distance to the nearest star (other than our Sun) 
D)  1 light-year 
A)  size of a typical galaxy 
B)  size of Pluto's orbit 
C)  distance to the nearest star (other than our Sun) 
D)  1 light-year

Question 8

Astronomers infer that the universe is expanding because distant galaxies all appear to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  be growing in size 
B)  be moving away from us, with more distant ones moving faster 
C)  be made mostly of dark matter 
D)  rotate rapidly 
A)  be growing in size 
B)  be moving away from us, with more distant ones moving faster 
C)  be made mostly of dark matter 
D)  rotate rapidly

Question 9

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Someday we may build spaceships capable of traveling at a speed of 1 light-second per hour.

Accepted Answer

This statement is fine. A ligh

Question 10

Which of the following correctly describes the concept of galactic recycling?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stars near the center of the Milky Way are continually recycled to the outskirts of the disk by their orbital motion. 
B)  Life is continuously being spread from star to star in the Milky Way. 
C)  New stars are continuously being formed in the Milky Way out of gas that has been ejected from a previous generation of stars. 
D)  New galaxies are continuously being formed out of gas ejected from a previous generation of galaxies. 
E)  In the formation of a star, no matter is wasted as all excess material ends up recycled into planets. 
A)  Stars near the center of the Milky Way are continually recycled to the outskirts of the disk by their orbital motion. 
B)  Life is continuously being spread from star to star in the Milky Way. 
C)  New stars are continuously being formed in the Milky Way out of gas that has been ejected from a previous generation of stars. 
D)  New galaxies are continuously being formed out of gas ejected from a previous generation of galaxies. 
E)  In the formation of a star, no matter is wasted as all excess material ends up recycled into planets.

Question 11

If we use 1 millimeter to represent 1 light-year, how large in diameter is the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  100 millimeters 
B)  100 meters 
C)  1 kilometer 
D)  100 kilometers 
E)  1 million millimeters 
A)  100 millimeters 
B)  100 meters 
C)  1 kilometer 
D)  100 kilometers 
E)  1 million millimeters

Question 12

Suppose we imagine the Sun to be about the size of a grapefruit. Which of the following describes the size and distance of Earth on the same scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is the size of a point about 1 meter away from the Sun. 
B)  Earth is the size of a golf ball about 1 meter away from the Sun. 
C)  Earth is the size of a point about 15 meters away from the Sun. 
D)  Earth is the size of a golf ball about 15 meters away from the Sun. 
E)  Earth is the size of a marble about 25 miles away from the Sun. 
A)  Earth is the size of a point about 1 meter away from the Sun. 
B)  Earth is the size of a golf ball about 1 meter away from the Sun. 
C)  Earth is the size of a point about 15 meters away from the Sun. 
D)  Earth is the size of a golf ball about 15 meters away from the Sun. 
E)  Earth is the size of a marble about 25 miles away from the Sun.

Question 13

Suppose we look at a photograph of many galaxies. Assuming that all galaxies formed at the same time after the Big Bang, which galaxy appears to us as the youngest?

Accepted Answer

A)  The galaxy that is furthest from us. 
B)  The galaxy that is closest to us. 
C)  The galaxy that appears largest to us. 
D)  The galaxy that appears bluest to us. 
E)  All galaxies would appear to have the same age. 
A)  The galaxy that is furthest from us. 
B)  The galaxy that is closest to us. 
C)  The galaxy that appears largest to us. 
D)  The galaxy that appears bluest to us. 
E)  All galaxies would appear to have the same age.

Question 14

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:

Question 15

A typical supercluster contains no more than about 10,000 stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

On the scale of the cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed to 1 year, how long has human civilization (i.e., since ancient Egypt) existed?

Accepted Answer

A)  about half the year 
B)  about a month 
C)  a few hours 
D)  a few seconds 
E)  less than a millionth of a second 
A)  about half the year 
B)  about a month 
C)  a few hours 
D)  a few seconds 
E)  less than a millionth of a second

Question 17

The distribution of the mass of the Milky Way Galaxy is determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  counting the number of stars. 
B)  determining the amount of gas and dust. 
C)  studying how stars are distributed in the Milky Way. 
D)  studying the rotation of the galaxy. 
E)  weighing various parts of the Milky Way. 
A)  counting the number of stars. 
B)  determining the amount of gas and dust. 
C)  studying how stars are distributed in the Milky Way. 
D)  studying the rotation of the galaxy. 
E)  weighing various parts of the Milky Way.

Question 18

What is the ecliptic plane?

Accepted Answer

A)  The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun 
B)  The plane of Earth's equator 
C)  The plane of the Sun's equator 
D)  The plane of the Milky Way Galaxy 
A)  The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun 
B)  The plane of Earth's equator 
C)  The plane of the Sun's equator 
D)  The plane of the Milky Way Galaxy

Question 19

Starting from the Big Bang, briefly explain how our solar system came to contain the chemical elements necessary to make Earth and living organisms.

Accepted Answer

The Big Bang produced hydrogen and heliu

Question 20

If we imagine the history of the universe compressed into one year, dinosaurs became extinct ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  about 6 months ago 
B)  about 3 weeks ago 
C)  yesterday morning 
D)  about an hour ago 
A)  about 6 months ago 
B)  about 3 weeks ago 
C)  yesterday morning 
D)  about an hour ago

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

How are galaxies important to our existence?

Where is our solar system located within the Milky Way Galaxy?

The speed of light is 300,000 km/s. How far is a light-year? Be sure to show all work clearly on your calculation.

You have taken a picture of a galaxy 1 billion light years away. That picture shows:

On a cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed into 1 year, when did Kepler and Galileo first discover that we live on a planet in a solar system?

Which of the following is largest?

Astronomers infer that the universe is expanding because distant galaxies all appear to ________.

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Someday we may build spaceships capable of traveling at a speed of 1 light-second per hour.

Which of the following correctly describes the concept of galactic recycling?

If we use 1 millimeter to represent 1 light-year, how large in diameter is the Milky Way Galaxy?

Suppose we imagine the Sun to be about the size of a grapefruit. Which of the following describes the size and distance of Earth on the same scale?

Suppose we look at a photograph of many galaxies. Assuming that all galaxies formed at the same time after the Big Bang, which galaxy appears to us as the youngest?

A typical supercluster contains no more than about 10,000 stars.

On the scale of the cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed to 1 year, how long has human civilization (i.e., since ancient Egypt) existed?

The distribution of the mass of the Milky Way Galaxy is determined by

What is the ecliptic plane?

Starting from the Big Bang, briefly explain how our solar system came to contain the chemical elements necessary to make Earth and living organisms.

If we imagine the history of the universe compressed into one year, dinosaurs became extinct ________.

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 Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 1: Our Place in the Universe

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

How are galaxies important to our existence?

Where is our solar system located within the Milky Way Galaxy?

The speed of light is 300,000 km/s. How far is a light-year? Be sure to show all work clearly on your calculation.

You have taken a picture of a galaxy 1 billion light years away. That picture shows:

On a cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed into 1 year, when did Kepler and Galileo first discover that we live on a planet in a solar system?

Which of the following is largest?

Astronomers infer that the universe is expanding because distant galaxies all appear to ________.

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Someday we may build spaceships capable of traveling at a speed of 1 light-second per hour.

Which of the following correctly describes the concept of galactic recycling?

If we use 1 millimeter to represent 1 light-year, how large in diameter is the Milky Way Galaxy?

Suppose we imagine the Sun to be about the size of a grapefruit. Which of the following describes the size and distance of Earth on the same scale?

Suppose we look at a photograph of many galaxies. Assuming that all galaxies formed at the same time after the Big Bang, which galaxy appears to us as the youngest?

A typical supercluster contains no more than about 10,000 stars.

On the scale of the cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed to 1 year, how long has human civilization (i.e., since ancient Egypt) existed?

The distribution of the mass of the Milky Way Galaxy is determined by

What is the ecliptic plane?

Starting from the Big Bang, briefly explain how our solar system came to contain the chemical elements necessary to make Earth and living organisms.

If we imagine the history of the universe compressed into one year, dinosaurs became extinct ________.

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 Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters