Question 1

No galaxies existed before the Big Bang.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Explain why it is so difficult to see planets around other stars.

Accepted Answer

Planets are very faint compared to the s

Question 3

How do scientists estimate how old the universe is?

Accepted Answer

A)  They look up the answer in a book. 
B)  They measure the abundances of radioactive elements in meteorites, and use their half-lives to calculate the age. 
C)  They measure how fast the Sun is losing energy, and how much energy it has to lose. 
D)  They make a guess: no one really knows how old the universe is. 
E)  They measure the speeds and distances of galaxies, and calculate the time it took for them to travel that distance. 
A)  They look up the answer in a book. 
B)  They measure the abundances of radioactive elements in meteorites, and use their half-lives to calculate the age. 
C)  They measure how fast the Sun is losing energy, and how much energy it has to lose. 
D)  They make a guess: no one really knows how old the universe is. 
E)  They measure the speeds and distances of galaxies, and calculate the time it took for them to travel that distance.

Question 4

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  One year 
B)  One day 
C)  One month 
D)  One week 
E)  The time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun changes significantly from one orbit to the next. 
A)  One year 
B)  One day 
C)  One month 
D)  One week 
E)  The time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun changes significantly from one orbit to the next.

Question 5

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: NASA hopes to build a new telescope that will allow us to see 100 million light-years into the past.

Accepted Answer

Not sensib

Question 6

A television advertisement claiming that a product is light-years ahead of its time does not make sense because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  it doesn't specify the number of light-years 
B)  it uses "light-years" to talk about time, but a light-year is a unit of distance 
C)  a light-year is an astronomically large unit, so a product could not possibly be so advanced 
D)  light-years can only be used to talk about light 
A)  it doesn't specify the number of light-years 
B)  it uses "light-years" to talk about time, but a light-year is a unit of distance 
C)  a light-year is an astronomically large unit, so a product could not possibly be so advanced 
D)  light-years can only be used to talk about light

Question 7

Light takes approximately one second to travel from the Earth to the Moon. This means that the moon is approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  1 astronomical unit from the Earth 
B)  1 light year from the Earth 
C)  3,000 kilometers from the Earth 
D)  300,000 kilometers from the Earth 
E)  twice the distance from the Earth to the Sun 
A)  1 astronomical unit from the Earth 
B)  1 light year from the Earth 
C)  3,000 kilometers from the Earth 
D)  300,000 kilometers from the Earth 
E)  twice the distance from the Earth to the Sun

Question 8

The Milky Way is moving further away from most other galaxies in the Universe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following correctly lists speeds from slowest to fastest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us 
B)  Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us 
C)  The speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy 
D)  The speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us 
E)  Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us 
A)  Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us 
B)  Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us 
C)  The speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy 
D)  The speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us 
E)  Earth's speed of revolution about the Sun, Earth's speed of rotation on its axis, the speed of our solar system orbiting the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, typical speeds of stars in the local solar neighborhood relative to us, the speeds of very distant galaxies relative to us

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light-years in diameter and containing between 100 billion and 1 trillion stars 
B)  a spiral galaxy with a disk about a billion kilometers in diameter and containing between 100 million and 1 billion stars 
C)  a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light-years in diameter and containing about 100,000 stars 
D)  a spherically shaped collection of stars including our solar system and about a dozen other solar systems, stretching about 4 light-years in diameter 
E)  a spherically shaped collection of about 1 million stars that is about 100 light-years in diameter 
A)  a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light-years in diameter and containing between 100 billion and 1 trillion stars 
B)  a spiral galaxy with a disk about a billion kilometers in diameter and containing between 100 million and 1 billion stars 
C)  a spiral galaxy with a disk about 100,000 light-years in diameter and containing about 100,000 stars 
D)  a spherically shaped collection of stars including our solar system and about a dozen other solar systems, stretching about 4 light-years in diameter 
E)  a spherically shaped collection of about 1 million stars that is about 100 light-years in diameter

Question 11

Suppose we make a scale model of our solar system, with the Sun the size of a grapefruit. Which of the following best describes what the planets would look like?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planets are all much smaller than the Sun. Four planets are within about 20 meters of the Sun, while the rest planets are spread much farther apart. 
B)  The planets are all much smaller than the Sun and are spread out evenly over a distance about the length of a large classroom. 
C)  The planets are all much smaller than the Sun. Four planets are located within a few centimeters of the Sun, and four planets are located at distances ranging up to about a meter. 
D)  The planets range in size from about the size of a marble to the size of a baseball. They are spread out over a region about the size of a football field. 
A)  The planets are all much smaller than the Sun. Four planets are within about 20 meters of the Sun, while the rest planets are spread much farther apart. 
B)  The planets are all much smaller than the Sun and are spread out evenly over a distance about the length of a large classroom. 
C)  The planets are all much smaller than the Sun. Four planets are located within a few centimeters of the Sun, and four planets are located at distances ranging up to about a meter. 
D)  The planets range in size from about the size of a marble to the size of a baseball. They are spread out over a region about the size of a football field.

Question 12

What is nuclear fusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  an explosion caused by putting together two volatile chemicals 
B)  the process of splitting nuclei to produce energy 
C)  the process of turning matter into pure energy 
D)  the process of combining lightweight nuclei to make heavier nuclei 
E)  a process that only occurs in bombs 
A)  an explosion caused by putting together two volatile chemicals 
B)  the process of splitting nuclei to produce energy 
C)  the process of turning matter into pure energy 
D)  the process of combining lightweight nuclei to make heavier nuclei 
E)  a process that only occurs in bombs

Question 13

The solar system contains about 100 billion stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

On a scale in which the distance from Earth to the Sun is about 15 meters, the distance from Earth to the Moon is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  small enough to fit within your hand 
B)  about 1 meter 
C)  about 5 meters 
D)  about 30 meters 
A)  small enough to fit within your hand 
B)  about 1 meter 
C)  about 5 meters 
D)  about 30 meters

Question 15

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: It will take me light-years to complete this homework assignment.

Accepted Answer

This statement does not make s

Question 16

The Observable Universe: How does the age of the universe (estimated at 14 billion years) introduce the concept of the "observable universe?" Suppose you feel, as do many astronomers, that the universe is much larger than the observable universe. Do you think there is any way to obtain direct evidence for this larger universe?

Accepted Answer

The age of the universe, estimated at 14

Question 17

One of the main reasons the Hubble Space Telescope was built and launched was to measure how fast the universe is expanding. If the expansion turns out to be faster than we thought, our estimate for the age of the universe will be:

Accepted Answer

A)  unaffected. 
B)  younger (less time between now and the Big Bang). 
C)  older (more time between now and the Big Bang). 
A)  unaffected. 
B)  younger (less time between now and the Big Bang). 
C)  older (more time between now and the Big Bang).

Question 18

In the grapefruit model of the solar system, it would take a few minutes to walk from the Sun to Pluto.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

On the 1-to-10-billion scale, about how far is it to the nearest stars besides the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 kilometers 
B)  400 kilometers 
C)  1,000 kilometers 
D)  4,400 kilometers 
E)  10,000 kilometers 
A)  4 kilometers 
B)  400 kilometers 
C)  1,000 kilometers 
D)  4,400 kilometers 
E)  10,000 kilometers

Question 20

Voyager 2 should reach the nearest stars (besides the Sun) in about 500 years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

No galaxies existed before the Big Bang.

Explain why it is so difficult to see planets around other stars.

How do scientists estimate how old the universe is?

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: NASA hopes to build a new telescope that will allow us to see 100 million light-years into the past.

A television advertisement claiming that a product is light-years ahead of its time does not make sense because ________.

Light takes approximately one second to travel from the Earth to the Moon. This means that the moon is approximately

The Milky Way is moving further away from most other galaxies in the Universe.

Which of the following correctly lists speeds from slowest to fastest?

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy?

Suppose we make a scale model of our solar system, with the Sun the size of a grapefruit. Which of the following best describes what the planets would look like?

What is nuclear fusion?

The solar system contains about 100 billion stars.

On a scale in which the distance from Earth to the Sun is about 15 meters, the distance from Earth to the Moon is ________.

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: It will take me light-years to complete this homework assignment.

One of the main reasons the Hubble Space Telescope was built and launched was to measure how fast the universe is expanding. If the expansion turns out to be faster than we thought, our estimate for the age of the universe will be:

In the grapefruit model of the solar system, it would take a few minutes to walk from the Sun to Pluto.

On the 1-to-10-billion scale, about how far is it to the nearest stars besides the Sun?

Voyager 2 should reach the nearest stars (besides the Sun) in about 500 years.

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

No galaxies existed before the Big Bang.

Explain why it is so difficult to see planets around other stars.

How do scientists estimate how old the universe is?

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: NASA hopes to build a new telescope that will allow us to see 100 million light-years into the past.

A television advertisement claiming that a product is light-years ahead of its time does not make sense because ________.

Light takes approximately one second to travel from the Earth to the Moon. This means that the moon is approximately

The Milky Way is moving further away from most other galaxies in the Universe.

Which of the following correctly lists speeds from slowest to fastest?

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy?

Suppose we make a scale model of our solar system, with the Sun the size of a grapefruit. Which of the following best describes what the planets would look like?

What is nuclear fusion?

The solar system contains about 100 billion stars.

On a scale in which the distance from Earth to the Sun is about 15 meters, the distance from Earth to the Moon is ________.

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: It will take me light-years to complete this homework assignment.

One of the main reasons the Hubble Space Telescope was built and launched was to measure how fast the universe is expanding. If the expansion turns out to be faster than we thought, our estimate for the age of the universe will be:

In the grapefruit model of the solar system, it would take a few minutes to walk from the Sun to Pluto.

On the 1-to-10-billion scale, about how far is it to the nearest stars besides the Sun?

Voyager 2 should reach the nearest stars (besides the Sun) in about 500 years.

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