Question 1

There are 1000 mm in 1 m. This means that a distance of 5 mm is:

Accepted Answer

A) 5 × 103 m. 
B) 5 × 10-3 m. 
C) 2 × 10-4 m. 
D) 5 × 10-2 m. 
A) 5 × 103 m. 
B) 5 × 10-3 m. 
C) 2 × 10-4 m. 
D) 5 × 10-2 m.

Question 2

So far, our study of the other bodies in our solar system is based on:

Accepted Answer

A) Earth-based telescopic observations only. 
B) telescopic observations from Earth and from spacecraft only. 
C) telescopic observations from Earth and spacecraft plus geologic samples brought back from the Moon. 
D) telescopic observations from Earth and spacecraft plus information from crewed landings on about half the planets. 
A) Earth-based telescopic observations only. 
B) telescopic observations from Earth and from spacecraft only. 
C) telescopic observations from Earth and spacecraft plus geologic samples brought back from the Moon. 
D) telescopic observations from Earth and spacecraft plus information from crewed landings on about half the planets.

Question 3

If a supernova was first seen in 1572 C.E. and its distance from Earth is measured to be 2 kpc, approximately when did the supernova actually explode?

Accepted Answer

A)  1572 B.C.E. 
B)  4968 B.C.E. 
C)  428 B.C.E. 
D)  4968 C.E. 
A)  1572 B.C.E. 
B)  4968 B.C.E. 
C)  428 B.C.E. 
D)  4968 C.E.

Question 4

At what distance would a friend have to hold a dime (about 1 cm diameter) for it to subtend an angle of 2 arcseconds?

Accepted Answer

A) at the distance of the Moon 
B) 1 km 
C) 10 cm 
D) 105 km 
A) at the distance of the Moon 
B) 1 km 
C) 10 cm 
D) 105 km

Question 5

In angular measurements used in astronomy, how many right angles are there in a full circle?

Accepted Answer

A) two 
B) six 
C) one 
D) four 
A) two 
B) six 
C) one 
D) four

Question 6

The following distance units, arranged in size from smallest to largest, are:

Accepted Answer

A) km, ly, au, pc. 
B) ly, au, pc, km. 
C) km, au, ly, pc. 
D) au, pc, km, ly. 
A) km, ly, au, pc. 
B) ly, au, pc, km. 
C) km, au, ly, pc. 
D) au, pc, km, ly.

Question 7

Which of the following is not considered to be part of our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) meteors 
B) comets 
C) exoplanets 
D) asteroids 
A) meteors 
B) comets 
C) exoplanets 
D) asteroids

Question 8

The element helium was discovered (through spectroscopy) in the atmosphere of the Sun before it was discovered in trace amounts on Earth. This was possible because:

Accepted Answer

A) helium is the simplest element in its atomic structure. 
B) the helium on Earth ultimately came from the Sun; thus we know the structure of solar helium must be the same as that of terrestrial helium. 
C) all helium atoms in the universe are believed to be fundamentally the same. 
D) both Earth and the Sun sweep up helium in their motion through space, so it is not surprising that the helium discovered on the Sun was the same as terrestrial helium. 
A) helium is the simplest element in its atomic structure. 
B) the helium on Earth ultimately came from the Sun; thus we know the structure of solar helium must be the same as that of terrestrial helium. 
C) all helium atoms in the universe are believed to be fundamentally the same. 
D) both Earth and the Sun sweep up helium in their motion through space, so it is not surprising that the helium discovered on the Sun was the same as terrestrial helium.

Question 9

Heavy elements, such as those throughout Earth and within our bodies, appear to have been formed:

Accepted Answer

A) only during the initial Big Bang formation of the universe. 
B) by radioactive decay here on Earth. 
C) inside the Sun. 
D) deep inside some now-vanished star. 
A) only during the initial Big Bang formation of the universe. 
B) by radioactive decay here on Earth. 
C) inside the Sun. 
D) deep inside some now-vanished star.

Question 10

The speed of light is approximately 3 × 108 m/sec. This is the same as:

Accepted Answer

A) 1.34 × 108 mi/hr. 
B) 3.35 × 108 mi/hr. 
C) 4.41 × 108 mi/hr. 
D) 6.71 × 108 mi/hr. 
A) 1.34 × 108 mi/hr. 
B) 3.35 × 108 mi/hr. 
C) 4.41 × 108 mi/hr. 
D) 6.71 × 108 mi/hr.

Question 11

Based on dating of meteorites, the oldest rocks found on Earth, we have concluded that our solar system formed about 4.56 __________ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A) thousand 
B) million 
C) billion 
D) trillion 
A) thousand 
B) million 
C) billion 
D) trillion

Question 12

Which of the following is not considered to be part of our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun 
B) the Moon 
C) Pluto 
D) the Orion Nebula 
A) the Sun 
B) the Moon 
C) Pluto 
D) the Orion Nebula

Question 13

The idea of thermonuclear fusion, the release of energy following the conversion of hydrogen nuclei into a helium nucleus, was first suggested as the source of energy in:

Accepted Answer

A) the interior of Earth. 
B) the central core of the Sun. 
C) a weapon of mass destruction. 
D) a controllable nuclear power station. 
A) the interior of Earth. 
B) the central core of the Sun. 
C) a weapon of mass destruction. 
D) a controllable nuclear power station.

Question 14

The rules that govern the behavior of matter and have inspired major advances in engineering are known as:

Accepted Answer

A) Murphy's laws. 
B) the laws of physics. 
C) the laws of social behavior. 
D) the laws of chance. 
A) Murphy's laws. 
B) the laws of physics. 
C) the laws of social behavior. 
D) the laws of chance.

Question 15

Which of the following space exploits has not yet been accomplished by humans?

Accepted Answer

A) walking on the surface of the Moon 
B) landing a spacecraft on Saturn's surface 
C) studying the surface of Venus under its thick, permanent cloud cover 
D) discovering active volcanoes on other worlds 
A) walking on the surface of the Moon 
B) landing a spacecraft on Saturn's surface 
C) studying the surface of Venus under its thick, permanent cloud cover 
D) discovering active volcanoes on other worlds

Question 16

If an extraterrestrial being were to send a signal to Earth immediately to confirm the sighting in 2018 of a nuclear explosion on Earth in July 1945, and we were ready to receive such a message, when would we expect it? (Note to instructors: This question is linked to the previous question.)

Accepted Answer

A)  2032 C.E. 
B)  2127 C.E. 
C)  2016 C.E. 
D)  2077 C.E. 
A)  2032 C.E. 
B)  2127 C.E. 
C)  2016 C.E. 
D)  2077 C.E.

Question 17

Which scientific discipline can be considered as truly universal?

Accepted Answer

A) astronomy 
B) social studies 
C) geology 
D) biological science 
A) astronomy 
B) social studies 
C) geology 
D) biological science

Question 18

(9.0 × 105)/(1.5 × 103) =

Accepted Answer

A) 13.5 × 1015 
B) 3 × 10-2 
C) 600 
D) 7.5 × 10-2 
A) 13.5 × 1015 
B) 3 × 10-2 
C) 600 
D) 7.5 × 10-2

Exam 1: Astronomy and the Universe

There are 1000 mm in 1 m. This means that a distance of 5 mm is:

So far, our study of the other bodies in our solar system is based on:

If a supernova was first seen in 1572 C.E. and its distance from Earth is measured to be 2 kpc, approximately when did the supernova actually explode?

At what distance would a friend have to hold a dime (about 1 cm diameter) for it to subtend an angle of 2 arcseconds?

In angular measurements used in astronomy, how many right angles are there in a full circle?

The following distance units, arranged in size from smallest to largest, are:

Which of the following is not considered to be part of our solar system?

The element helium was discovered (through spectroscopy) in the atmosphere of the Sun before it was discovered in trace amounts on Earth. This was possible because:

Heavy elements, such as those throughout Earth and within our bodies, appear to have been formed:

The speed of light is approximately 3 × 108 m/sec. This is the same as:

Based on dating of meteorites, the oldest rocks found on Earth, we have concluded that our solar system formed about 4.56 __________ years ago.

Which of the following is not considered to be part of our solar system?

The idea of thermonuclear fusion, the release of energy following the conversion of hydrogen nuclei into a helium nucleus, was first suggested as the source of energy in:

The rules that govern the behavior of matter and have inspired major advances in engineering are known as:

Which of the following space exploits has not yet been accomplished by humans?

If an extraterrestrial being were to send a signal to Earth immediately to confirm the sighting in 2018 of a nuclear explosion on Earth in July 1945, and we were ready to receive such a message, when would we expect it? (Note to instructors: This question is linked to the previous question.)

Which scientific discipline can be considered as truly universal?

(9.0 × 105)/(1.5 × 103) =

Knowing the Heavens

Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The Nature of Light

Optics and Telescopes

Comparative Planetology I: Our Solar System

Comparative Planetology II: the Origin of Our Solar System

The Living Earth

Our Barren Moon

Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Terrestrial, yet Unique

Jupiter and Saturn: Lords of the Planets

Jupiter and Saturns Satellites of Fire and Ice

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt: Remote Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts

Our Star, the Sun

The Nature of the Stars

The Birth of Stars

Stellar Evolution: on and After the Main Sequence

Stellar Evolution: The Death of Stars

Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Our Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

Exploring the Early Universe

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Filters

The speed of light is approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/sec. This is the same as:

(9.0 × 10⁵)/(1.5 × 10³) =