Question 1

What do we mean by inflation?

Accepted Answer

A)  A sudden and extremely rapid expansion of the universe that occurred in a tiny fraction of a second during the universe's first second of existence 
B)  The expansion of the universe that we still observe today 
C)  The sudden release of photons when a particle and antiparticle annihilate one another 
D)  Quantum fluctuations by high speed, relativistic particles in a state of false vacuum that caused disturbances in the space-time continuum leading to the process described in the question to which this answer refers 
A)  A sudden and extremely rapid expansion of the universe that occurred in a tiny fraction of a second during the universe's first second of existence 
B)  The expansion of the universe that we still observe today 
C)  The sudden release of photons when a particle and antiparticle annihilate one another 
D)  Quantum fluctuations by high speed, relativistic particles in a state of false vacuum that caused disturbances in the space-time continuum leading to the process described in the question to which this answer refers

Question 2

Why did the era of nuclei end when the universe was about 380,000 years old?

Accepted Answer

A)  All the free particles had combined to form the nuclei of atoms. 
B)  The universe had expanded and cooled enough for stable, neutral atoms to form. 
C)  Atomic nuclei were finally able to escape the plasma of the early universe. 
D)  Photons were finally able to escape the plasma of the early universe and were no longer available to produce hydrogen and helium nuclei. 
E)  The nucleosynthesis era that produced the nuclei heavier than helium ended. 
A)  All the free particles had combined to form the nuclei of atoms. 
B)  The universe had expanded and cooled enough for stable, neutral atoms to form. 
C)  Atomic nuclei were finally able to escape the plasma of the early universe. 
D)  Photons were finally able to escape the plasma of the early universe and were no longer available to produce hydrogen and helium nuclei. 
E)  The nucleosynthesis era that produced the nuclei heavier than helium ended.

Question 3

What are the two key observational facts that led to widespread acceptance of the Big Bang model?

Accepted Answer

A)  the cosmic background radiation and the helium content of the universe 
B)  the cosmic background radiation and the expansion of the universe 
C)  the cosmic background radiation and the near-critical density of the universe 
D)  the predominance of matter over antimatter and the near-critical density of the universe 
E)  the predominance of matter over antimatter and the large scale structure of the universe 
A)  the cosmic background radiation and the helium content of the universe 
B)  the cosmic background radiation and the expansion of the universe 
C)  the cosmic background radiation and the near-critical density of the universe 
D)  the predominance of matter over antimatter and the near-critical density of the universe 
E)  the predominance of matter over antimatter and the large scale structure of the universe

Question 4

The cosmic microwave background gives us a view of the universe when it was

Accepted Answer

A)  14 billion years old. 
B)  3-5 minutes old. 
C)  380,000 years old. 
D)  about 1 million years old. 
A)  14 billion years old. 
B)  3-5 minutes old. 
C)  380,000 years old. 
D)  about 1 million years old.

Question 5

Helium originates from

Accepted Answer

A)  stellar nucleosynthesis only. 
B)  the Big Bang only. 
C)  mostly from stellar nucleosynthesis with a small contribution from the Big Bang. 
D)  mostly from the Big Bang with a small contribution from stellar nucleosynthesis. 
E)  radioactive decay of elements heavier than carbon. 
A)  stellar nucleosynthesis only. 
B)  the Big Bang only. 
C)  mostly from stellar nucleosynthesis with a small contribution from the Big Bang. 
D)  mostly from the Big Bang with a small contribution from stellar nucleosynthesis. 
E)  radioactive decay of elements heavier than carbon.

Question 6

What was the significance of the end of the era of nucleosynthesis, when the universe was about 5 minutes old?

Accepted Answer

A)  The basic chemical composition of the universe had been determined. 
B)  The proportions of dark matter and luminous matter had been determined. 
C)  It marks the time at which the first stars formed. 
D)  It marks the time at which the expansion of the universe had settled down to its current rate. 
A)  The basic chemical composition of the universe had been determined. 
B)  The proportions of dark matter and luminous matter had been determined. 
C)  It marks the time at which the first stars formed. 
D)  It marks the time at which the expansion of the universe had settled down to its current rate.

Question 7

Recent measurements of the temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation support the prediction of inflation that the overall geometry of the universe is flat.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In the cosmic timeline for the universe starting at the Big Bang, we live in the Planck era.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

How does the idea of inflation account for the existence of the "seeds" of density from which galaxies and other large structures formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Inflation would have caused random, microscopic quantum fluctuations to grow so large in size that they became the seeds of structure. 
B)  Inflation predicts that gravity would have been very strong and thereby would have concentrated mass into seeds. 
C)  Inflation tells us that the universe should have a "flat" overall geometry, and this led to the flat disks of galaxies. 
D)  Inflation predicts that temperatures and densities should have become nearly equal throughout the universe. 
A)  Inflation would have caused random, microscopic quantum fluctuations to grow so large in size that they became the seeds of structure. 
B)  Inflation predicts that gravity would have been very strong and thereby would have concentrated mass into seeds. 
C)  Inflation tells us that the universe should have a "flat" overall geometry, and this led to the flat disks of galaxies. 
D)  Inflation predicts that temperatures and densities should have become nearly equal throughout the universe.

Question 10

Approximately how long did the nucleosynthesis era last?

Accepted Answer

A)  10⁻¹⁰ seconds 
B)  0.001 seconds 
C)  5 seconds 
D)  5 minutes 
E)  5 years 
A)  10⁻¹⁰ seconds 
B)  0.001 seconds 
C)  5 seconds 
D)  5 minutes 
E)  5 years

Question 11

What happens when a particle of matter meets its corresponding antiparticle of antimatter?

Accepted Answer

A)  The combined mass of the two particles is completely transformed into energy (photons). 
B)  They can form a complete atom. 
C)  They fuse to make a heavier particle. 
D)  The question makes no sense, since antimatter does not really exist. 
A)  The combined mass of the two particles is completely transformed into energy (photons). 
B)  They can form a complete atom. 
C)  They fuse to make a heavier particle. 
D)  The question makes no sense, since antimatter does not really exist.

Question 12

Refer to this scenario for the following questions:
A multi-dimensional being reaches down to Earth and pulls you out of the universe. You are then thrown back into the universe at a place and time of the being's choosing, and you are permitted to leave only after you have identified your surroundings. This process is repeated several times. Through a scientifically unexplainable miracle, you are able to survive in every one of the places that you find yourself. In each scenario below, identify your surroundings (and potentially your cosmic era) from among the choices given.
-You are in a hot, dense place. You are surrounded by nuclear reactions that are rapidly fusing hydrogen into helium. You notice that your surroundings are cooling and rapidly dropping in density. Within about 5 minutes, the fusion reactions stop. Where are you?

Accepted Answer

A)  You are in the center of a star very much like our Sun. 
B)  You are in the early universe during the era of nucleosynthesis. 
C)  You are inside a nuclear power plant on Earth. 
D)  You are in the center of a star much smaller than the Sun. 
E)  You are in the center of a massive star near the end of its life. 
A)  You are in the center of a star very much like our Sun. 
B)  You are in the early universe during the era of nucleosynthesis. 
C)  You are inside a nuclear power plant on Earth. 
D)  You are in the center of a star much smaller than the Sun. 
E)  You are in the center of a massive star near the end of its life.

Question 13

Which of the following hypothetical observations, if true, would disprove a prediction of the Big Bang theory? The discovery of

Accepted Answer

A)  a galaxy with 30% helium abundance. 
B)  the temperature of the universe is only 2.73 K. 
C)  a galaxy with 10% helium abundance. 
D)  a galaxy moving toward us. 
E)  two galaxies, at the same distance, moving away with slightly different speeds. 
A)  a galaxy with 30% helium abundance. 
B)  the temperature of the universe is only 2.73 K. 
C)  a galaxy with 10% helium abundance. 
D)  a galaxy moving toward us. 
E)  two galaxies, at the same distance, moving away with slightly different speeds.

Question 14

Why do we expect the cosmic background radiation to be almost, but not quite, the same in all directions?

Accepted Answer

A)  The overall structure of the universe is very uniform, but the universe must have contained some regions of higher density in order for galaxies to form. 
B)  The temperature of the universe can be found by taking an average over the entire sky, but individual stars will create peaks in the temperature over small angles. 
C)  Dark matter will smooth out the spectrum, but the small patches of "light" matter create fluctuations in the temperature. 
D)  The overall structure of the universe is very uniform, but the synthesis of different elements produces varying signatures within the background radiation. 
E)  The overall structure of the universe is very uniform, but intervening gas between us and the era of nuclei absorbs wavelengths depending on the composition and redshift of the gas. 
A)  The overall structure of the universe is very uniform, but the universe must have contained some regions of higher density in order for galaxies to form. 
B)  The temperature of the universe can be found by taking an average over the entire sky, but individual stars will create peaks in the temperature over small angles. 
C)  Dark matter will smooth out the spectrum, but the small patches of "light" matter create fluctuations in the temperature. 
D)  The overall structure of the universe is very uniform, but the synthesis of different elements produces varying signatures within the background radiation. 
E)  The overall structure of the universe is very uniform, but intervening gas between us and the era of nuclei absorbs wavelengths depending on the composition and redshift of the gas.

Question 15

Consider the data points together with the models in the graph of expansion models. Which model is most strongly supported by the data?

Accepted Answer

A)  Critical 
B)  Accelerating 
C)  Recollapsing 
D)  Coasting 
A)  Critical 
B)  Accelerating 
C)  Recollapsing 
D)  Coasting

Question 16

A "GUT" (grand unified theory) refers to theories that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  unify the strong force with the electromagnetic and weak forces 
B)  unify gravity with the strong and weak forces 
C)  unify the electromagnetic and weak forces 
D)  unify all four forces together 
A)  unify the strong force with the electromagnetic and weak forces 
B)  unify gravity with the strong and weak forces 
C)  unify the electromagnetic and weak forces 
D)  unify all four forces together

Question 17

Briefly describe one of the three questions left unanswered by the standard Big Bang theory which are solved by inflation. That is, describe either the structure problem, the uniformity (or smoothness) problem, or the density (or flatness) problem.

Accepted Answer

Structure problem: The fact that there a

Question 18

What happens when matter collides with anti-matter?

Accepted Answer

A)  The two particles attract each other, and form a neutral atom. 
B)  The two particles destroy each other, and create photons. 
C)  The two particles repel each other, and they fly apart. 
A)  The two particles attract each other, and form a neutral atom. 
B)  The two particles destroy each other, and create photons. 
C)  The two particles repel each other, and they fly apart.

Question 19

Refer to this scenario for the following questions:
A multi-dimensional being reaches down to Earth and pulls you out of the universe. You are then thrown back into the universe at a place and time of the being's choosing, and you are permitted to leave only after you have identified your surroundings. This process is repeated several times. Through a scientifically unexplainable miracle, you are able to survive in every one of the places that you find yourself. In each scenario below, identify your surroundings (and potentially your cosmic era) from among the choices given.
-You find yourself in a place that is unimaginably hot and dense. A rapidly changing gravitational field randomly warps space and time. Gripped by these huge fluctuations, you notice that there is but a single, unified force governing the universe. Where are you?

Accepted Answer

A)  You are in the center of a young star. 
B)  You are in the early universe before the Planck time. 
C)  You are floating somewhere in the universe near its end, 10¹⁰⁰ years from now. 
D)  You are inside the nucleus of an atom. 
E)  You are in the universe shortly after inflation. 
A)  You are in the center of a young star. 
B)  You are in the early universe before the Planck time. 
C)  You are floating somewhere in the universe near its end, 10¹⁰⁰ years from now. 
D)  You are inside the nucleus of an atom. 
E)  You are in the universe shortly after inflation.

Question 20

Creation science claims that scientific evidence can and does prove God made the universe. Select the statement which does NOT identify a legitimate objection to this claim. (Recall the hallmarks of science.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Scientists are not allowed to believe in God. 
B)  If "God did it" is the explanation for everything, then final exams in astronomy would be very simple (all answers would be the same!), and science experiments would be very easy to explain: but we wouldn't learn much about the natural world. 
C)  Science cannot prove (or disprove) the existence of a superpowerful, supernatural deity. 
D)  The statement that "God did it" cannot be falsified by science, and therefore it is not a statement that science can test. 
A)  Scientists are not allowed to believe in God. 
B)  If "God did it" is the explanation for everything, then final exams in astronomy would be very simple (all answers would be the same!), and science experiments would be very easy to explain: but we wouldn't learn much about the natural world. 
C)  Science cannot prove (or disprove) the existence of a superpowerful, supernatural deity. 
D)  The statement that "God did it" cannot be falsified by science, and therefore it is not a statement that science can test.

What do we mean by inflation?

Why did the era of nuclei end when the universe was about 380,000 years old?

What are the two key observational facts that led to widespread acceptance of the Big Bang model?

The cosmic microwave background gives us a view of the universe when it was

Helium originates from

What was the significance of the end of the era of nucleosynthesis, when the universe was about 5 minutes old?

Recent measurements of the temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation support the prediction of inflation that the overall geometry of the universe is flat.

In the cosmic timeline for the universe starting at the Big Bang, we live in the Planck era.

How does the idea of inflation account for the existence of the "seeds" of density from which galaxies and other large structures formed?

Approximately how long did the nucleosynthesis era last?

What happens when a particle of matter meets its corresponding antiparticle of antimatter?

Which of the following hypothetical observations, if true, would disprove a prediction of the Big Bang theory? The discovery of

Why do we expect the cosmic background radiation to be almost, but not quite, the same in all directions?

Consider the data points together with the models in the graph of expansion models. Which model is most strongly supported by the data?

A "GUT" (grand unified theory) refers to theories that ________.

Briefly describe one of the three questions left unanswered by the standard Big Bang theory which are solved by inflation. That is, describe either the structure problem, the uniformity (or smoothness) problem, or the density (or flatness) problem.

What happens when matter collides with anti-matter?

Creation science claims that scientific evidence can and does prove God made the universe. Select the statement which does NOT identify a legitimate objection to this claim. (Recall the hallmarks of science.)

Our Place in the Universe

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

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 17: The Beginning of Time

What do we mean by inflation?

Why did the era of nuclei end when the universe was about 380,000 years old?

What are the two key observational facts that led to widespread acceptance of the Big Bang model?

The cosmic microwave background gives us a view of the universe when it was

Helium originates from

What was the significance of the end of the era of nucleosynthesis, when the universe was about 5 minutes old?

Recent measurements of the temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation support the prediction of inflation that the overall geometry of the universe is flat.

In the cosmic timeline for the universe starting at the Big Bang, we live in the Planck era.

How does the idea of inflation account for the existence of the "seeds" of density from which galaxies and other large structures formed?

Approximately how long did the nucleosynthesis era last?

What happens when a particle of matter meets its corresponding antiparticle of antimatter?

Which of the following hypothetical observations, if true, would disprove a prediction of the Big Bang theory? The discovery of

Why do we expect the cosmic background radiation to be almost, but not quite, the same in all directions?

Consider the data points together with the models in the graph of expansion models. Which model is most strongly supported by the data?

A "GUT" (grand unified theory) refers to theories that ________.

Briefly describe one of the three questions left unanswered by the standard Big Bang theory which are solved by inflation. That is, describe either the structure problem, the uniformity (or smoothness) problem, or the density (or flatness) problem.

What happens when matter collides with anti-matter?

Creation science claims that scientific evidence can and does prove God made the universe. Select the statement which does NOT identify a legitimate objection to this claim. (Recall the hallmarks of science.)

Our Place in the Universe

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

Life in the Universe

Filters