Question 1

The Big Bang

Accepted Answer

A) took place within space. 
B) marked the beginning of space and time. 
C) occurred as a result of disturbances within the Large Magellenic cloud. 
D) took place within time. 
A) took place within space. 
B) marked the beginning of space and time. 
C) occurred as a result of disturbances within the Large Magellenic cloud. 
D) took place within time.

Question 2

Suppose at the surface of the Earth a person can do 20 pushups. In a spaceship far away from any gravitational influence, accelerating at g, the same person could do

Accepted Answer

A) less than 20 pushups. 
B) 20 pushups. 
C) more than 20 pushups. 
A) less than 20 pushups. 
B) 20 pushups. 
C) more than 20 pushups.

Question 3

The universe as a whole is

Accepted Answer

A) curved. 
B) flat. 
C) the shape of a saddle. 
D) has yet to be determined, although most astrophysical data points to a flat universe. 
A) curved. 
B) flat. 
C) the shape of a saddle. 
D) has yet to be determined, although most astrophysical data points to a flat universe.

Question 4

Technically, its not mass that causes the curvature of spacetime, but

Accepted Answer

A) mass density. 
B) energy density. 
C) thermal mass. 
D) thermal mass fluctuations. 
A) mass density. 
B) energy density. 
C) thermal mass. 
D) thermal mass fluctuations.

Question 5

Cosmic Inflation refers to

Accepted Answer

A) an extremely rapid expansion of the early universe that occurred in an extremely brief period of time. 
B) the fact that there is an ever increasing energy cost in order for fusion within stars to occur. 
C) the phenomenon of matter within the universe is becoming increasingly disordered. 
D) is another way of referring to the Big Bang itself. 
A) an extremely rapid expansion of the early universe that occurred in an extremely brief period of time. 
B) the fact that there is an ever increasing energy cost in order for fusion within stars to occur. 
C) the phenomenon of matter within the universe is becoming increasingly disordered. 
D) is another way of referring to the Big Bang itself.

Question 6

How did Mr. Hubble calculate the age of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A) By measuring the rate of expansion of the universe 
B) By looking at the age of the oldest stars 
C) By measuring the redshift of stars within 360 degrees of the center of our galaxy 
D) By measuring the rate of radioactive decay within the farthest galaxies 
A) By measuring the rate of expansion of the universe 
B) By looking at the age of the oldest stars 
C) By measuring the redshift of stars within 360 degrees of the center of our galaxy 
D) By measuring the rate of radioactive decay within the farthest galaxies

Question 7

The Big Bang is regarded as the expansion of

Accepted Answer

A) space. 
B) energy. 
C) time. 
D) matter. 
A) space. 
B) energy. 
C) time. 
D) matter.

Question 8

The Big Rip refers to the

Accepted Answer

A) accelerating influence of dark energy, causing all matter to become completely ripped apart. 
B) phenomenon of dark energy causing the universe to rip into multiple spacetimes. 
C) possibility that galactic centers may suddenly implode causing galactic disintegration. 
D) phenomenon of dark energy decelerating, causing all matter to disintegrate. 
A) accelerating influence of dark energy, causing all matter to become completely ripped apart. 
B) phenomenon of dark energy causing the universe to rip into multiple spacetimes. 
C) possibility that galactic centers may suddenly implode causing galactic disintegration. 
D) phenomenon of dark energy decelerating, causing all matter to disintegrate.

Question 9

Compared to a clock at the bottom of a very tall skyscraper, a clock at the top of this skyscraper will appear to run

Accepted Answer

A) slower. 
B) faster. 
C) the same. 
A) slower. 
B) faster. 
C) the same.

Question 10

Distant galaxies are

Accepted Answer

A) growing closer to each other as they encounter the curvature of the universe. 
B) accelerating away from each other. 
C) slowing in their dispersal due to the effects of gravity. 
D) connected to each other by dark energy. 
A) growing closer to each other as they encounter the curvature of the universe. 
B) accelerating away from each other. 
C) slowing in their dispersal due to the effects of gravity. 
D) connected to each other by dark energy.

Question 11

According to inflation theory, parallel lines appear to remain parallel because

Accepted Answer

A) the universe is so unbelievably large. 
B) mass has the effect of balancing the natural curvature of space-time. 
C) space is inherently flat. 
D) the universe is so very old. 
A) the universe is so unbelievably large. 
B) mass has the effect of balancing the natural curvature of space-time. 
C) space is inherently flat. 
D) the universe is so very old.

Question 12

Dark energy bends the curvature of spacetime

Accepted Answer

A) in the exact same fashion as gravity. 
B) in the opposite manner of gravity. 
C) by absorbing all lightwaves that pass through it. 
D) Dark energy does not bend the curvature of spacetime. 
A) in the exact same fashion as gravity. 
B) in the opposite manner of gravity. 
C) by absorbing all lightwaves that pass through it. 
D) Dark energy does not bend the curvature of spacetime.

Question 13

The "Big Bang" refers to the

Accepted Answer

A) point in time in which the known (and perhaps knowable)universe came into being. 
B) phenomenon of rapid chain reaction supernovae during the first 100 seconds of the universe. 
C) time when our Sun will become a nova, rendering Earth into molten lava. 
D) end of the universe when simultaneous supernovae will transform the universe into a supergiant black hole. 
A) point in time in which the known (and perhaps knowable)universe came into being. 
B) phenomenon of rapid chain reaction supernovae during the first 100 seconds of the universe. 
C) time when our Sun will become a nova, rendering Earth into molten lava. 
D) end of the universe when simultaneous supernovae will transform the universe into a supergiant black hole.

Question 14

Cosmology is the study of the overall structure and evolution of

Accepted Answer

A) the universe. 
B) stars. 
C) beauty. 
D) galaxies. 
A) the universe. 
B) stars. 
C) beauty. 
D) galaxies.

Question 15

Dark Matter is matter that

Accepted Answer

A) cannot be seen, felt, or measured. 
B) cannot be seen or felt, but can be measured through its gravitational effects. 
C) is Dark Energy's complement. 
D) is found within a black hole. 
A) cannot be seen, felt, or measured. 
B) cannot be seen or felt, but can be measured through its gravitational effects. 
C) is Dark Energy's complement. 
D) is found within a black hole.

Question 16

General relativity is most concerned with

Accepted Answer

A) acceleration. 
B) gravitation. 
C) space-time geometry. 
D) all of these 
E) none of these 
A) acceleration. 
B) gravitation. 
C) space-time geometry. 
D) all of these 
E) none of these

Question 17

Dark energy

Accepted Answer

A) is the phenomenon responsible for the acceleration of the universe. 
B) would be considered to be the opposite of gravity. 
C) is energy that exerts an outward pressure, causing spacetime to expand. 
D) All of the above 
A) is the phenomenon responsible for the acceleration of the universe. 
B) would be considered to be the opposite of gravity. 
C) is energy that exerts an outward pressure, causing spacetime to expand. 
D) All of the above

Question 18

The currently accepted reasoning for why the cosmic background radiation is so uniform in temperature is because

Accepted Answer

A) this temperature uniformity was achieved in the moments before cosmic inflation. 
B) as the universe has had time to cool, the hotter parts transferred their heat to the cooler regions. 
C) microwaves can only function at a certain very limited range of temperature. 
D) space is a vacuum and thus cannot retain heat very well. 
A) this temperature uniformity was achieved in the moments before cosmic inflation. 
B) as the universe has had time to cool, the hotter parts transferred their heat to the cooler regions. 
C) microwaves can only function at a certain very limited range of temperature. 
D) space is a vacuum and thus cannot retain heat very well.

Question 19

Light is without mass, so how can gravity have an effect on light?

Accepted Answer

A) The space through which the light passes is curved. 
B) Photons actually have a very small mass, so gravity does have an effect on them. 
C) When light interacts with particles, it loses some energy, and thus takes on some mass. 
D) Gravity has no effect on light. 
A) The space through which the light passes is curved. 
B) Photons actually have a very small mass, so gravity does have an effect on them. 
C) When light interacts with particles, it loses some energy, and thus takes on some mass. 
D) Gravity has no effect on light.

Question 20

A clock on the surface of a shrinking star will run progressively

Accepted Answer

A) slower. 
B) faster. 
C) no difference 
A) slower. 
B) faster. 
C) no difference

Exam 28: The Structure of Space and Time

The Big Bang

Suppose at the surface of the Earth a person can do 20 pushups. In a spaceship far away from any gravitational influence, accelerating at g, the same person could do

The universe as a whole is

Technically, its not mass that causes the curvature of spacetime, but

Cosmic Inflation refers to

How did Mr. Hubble calculate the age of the universe?

The Big Bang is regarded as the expansion of

The Big Rip refers to the

Compared to a clock at the bottom of a very tall skyscraper, a clock at the top of this skyscraper will appear to run

Distant galaxies are

According to inflation theory, parallel lines appear to remain parallel because

Dark energy bends the curvature of spacetime

The "Big Bang" refers to the

Cosmology is the study of the overall structure and evolution of

Dark Matter is matter that

General relativity is most concerned with

Dark energy

The currently accepted reasoning for why the cosmic background radiation is so uniform in temperature is because

Light is without mass, so how can gravity have an effect on light?

A clock on the surface of a shrinking star will run progressively

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

Prologue: the Nature of Science

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