Question 1

The study of whether or not life exists elsewhere in the Solar System and beyond is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  origins 
B)  biochemistry 
C)  cosmology 
D)  astrobiology 
E)  exoplanetology 
A)  origins 
B)  biochemistry 
C)  cosmology 
D)  astrobiology 
E)  exoplanetology D

Question 2

A crucial component of a scientific theory is that it is able to be tested by observations and thus proven true or false.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the center of the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

After the Sun, the next nearest star to us is approximately _________ away.

Accepted Answer

A)  8 light-seconds 
B)  80 light-minutes 
C)  40 light-hours 
D)  4 light-years 
E)  200 light-years 
A)  8 light-seconds 
B)  80 light-minutes 
C)  40 light-hours 
D)  4 light-years 
E)  200 light-years

Question 5

The type of mathematics that deals with infinitesimal changes is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  algebra 
B)  calculus 
C)  arithmetic 
D)  geometry 
E)  topology 
A)  algebra 
B)  calculus 
C)  arithmetic 
D)  geometry 
E)  topology

Question 6

The majority of the energy in our universe is:

Accepted Answer

A)  radiated by stars from the nuclear fusion going on in their cores 
B)  the kinetic energy found in the collisions of galaxies 
C)  the gravitational potential energy of superclusters 
D)  emitted in radioactive decays of unstable elements 
E)  made up of dark energy that permeates space 
A)  radiated by stars from the nuclear fusion going on in their cores 
B)  the kinetic energy found in the collisions of galaxies 
C)  the gravitational potential energy of superclusters 
D)  emitted in radioactive decays of unstable elements 
E)  made up of dark energy that permeates space

Question 7

Describe the main steps involved in the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

First you make a hypothesis and then you

Question 8

Describe two ways in which Einstein's new theories changed commonly accepted scientific views of his time.

Accepted Answer

Mass and energy are manifestations of th

Question 9

Scientific notation is used in astronomy primarily because it allows us to:

Accepted Answer

A)  write very large and very small numbers in a convenient way 
B)  talk about science in an easy way 
C)  change easy calculations into hard calculations 
D)  change hard calculations into easy calculations 
E)  explain science to engineers 
A)  write very large and very small numbers in a convenient way 
B)  talk about science in an easy way 
C)  change easy calculations into hard calculations 
D)  change hard calculations into easy calculations 
E)  explain science to engineers

Question 10

Describe two important technological developments in the last 100 years that have greatly increased our ability to study the universe and describe how each did so.

Accepted Answer

The invention of spacecraft allowed us t

Question 11

The orbital period of Mercury is 1.9 years. What is its orbital period in units of seconds?

Accepted Answer

A)  60,000 seconds 
B)  6 million seconds 
C)  6 billion seconds 
D)  600 billion seconds 
E)  60 million seconds 
A)  60,000 seconds 
B)  6 million seconds 
C)  6 billion seconds 
D)  600 billion seconds 
E)  60 million seconds

Question 12

The most massive elements such as those that make up terrestrial planets like Earth were formed:

Accepted Answer

A)  in the early universe 
B)  inside stars and supernovae 
C)  through meteor collisions 
D)  in the core of Earth 
E)  during the formation of the Solar System 
A)  in the early universe 
B)  inside stars and supernovae 
C)  through meteor collisions 
D)  in the core of Earth 
E)  during the formation of the Solar System

Question 13

One consequence of the principle of universality is that gravity works the same here on Earth as it does on the planet Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The distance to the nearest large spiral galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy, is 2.4 *1022 m. How long does it take light to travel from Andromeda to us?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.4 years 
B)  360 years 
C)  1.2 thousand years 
D)  2.5 million years 
E)  4.5 billion years 
A)  4.4 years 
B)  360 years 
C)  1.2 thousand years 
D)  2.5 million years 
E)  4.5 billion years

Question 15

Once a scientific theory is declared to be true, it is believed from that time onward.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The decision to classify Pluto as a dwarf planet was made by:

Accepted Answer

A)  its discoverer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 
B)  the president of the U.S. Naval Observatory in 2001 
C)  the International Astronomical Union in 2006 
D)  the Secretary General of the United Nations in 2001 
E)  a vote of the majority of Americans in 2006 
A)  its discoverer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 
B)  the president of the U.S. Naval Observatory in 2001 
C)  the International Astronomical Union in 2006 
D)  the Secretary General of the United Nations in 2001 
E)  a vote of the majority of Americans in 2006

Question 17

Using the method of comparing times to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy, compare the size of Earth to the size of the visible universe. Start by making the size of the Earth comparable to a snap of your fingers, which lasts about 1/7 seconds. Show your computation.

Accepted Answer

If the size of Earth is like a

Question 18

A great majority of the matter in our universe is not visible.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

According to the figure below, if you were to specify your address in the universe, listing your membership from the smallest to largest physical structures, it would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth, Local Group, Solar System, Andromeda, the universe 
B)  Earth, Solar System, Local Group, Milky Way, the universe 
C)  Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster, the universe 
D)  Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Fornax Supercluster, the universe 
E)  Earth, Fornax Supercluster, Milky Way, Solar System, the universe 
A)  Earth, Local Group, Solar System, Andromeda, the universe 
B)  Earth, Solar System, Local Group, Milky Way, the universe 
C)  Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster, the universe 
D)  Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Fornax Supercluster, the universe 
E)  Earth, Fornax Supercluster, Milky Way, Solar System, the universe

Question 20

Which presently observed element or isotope was NOT produced in appreciable amounts in the very early universe shortly after the Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  helium-4 
C)  deuterium 
D)  carbon 
E)  helium-3 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  helium-4 
C)  deuterium 
D)  carbon 
E)  helium-3

Exam 1: Why Learn Astronomy

The study of whether or not life exists elsewhere in the Solar System and beyond is called:

A crucial component of a scientific theory is that it is able to be tested by observations and thus proven true or false.

The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the center of the Sun.

After the Sun, the next nearest star to us is approximately _________ away.

The type of mathematics that deals with infinitesimal changes is called:

The majority of the energy in our universe is:

Describe the main steps involved in the scientific method.

Describe two ways in which Einstein's new theories changed commonly accepted scientific views of his time.

Scientific notation is used in astronomy primarily because it allows us to:

Describe two important technological developments in the last 100 years that have greatly increased our ability to study the universe and describe how each did so.

The orbital period of Mercury is 1.9 years. What is its orbital period in units of seconds?

The most massive elements such as those that make up terrestrial planets like Earth were formed:

One consequence of the principle of universality is that gravity works the same here on Earth as it does on the planet Jupiter.

The distance to the nearest large spiral galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy, is 2.4 *1022 m. How long does it take light to travel from Andromeda to us?

Once a scientific theory is declared to be true, it is believed from that time onward.

The decision to classify Pluto as a dwarf planet was made by:

Using the method of comparing times to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy, compare the size of Earth to the size of the visible universe. Start by making the size of the Earth comparable to a snap of your fingers, which lasts about 1/7 seconds. Show your computation.

A great majority of the matter in our universe is not visible.

According to the figure below, if you were to specify your address in the universe, listing your membership from the smallest to largest physical structures, it would be:

Which presently observed element or isotope was NOT produced in appreciable amounts in the very early universe shortly after the Big Bang?

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquid the Giant Planets

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

The distance to the nearest large spiral galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy, is 2.4 *10²² m. How long does it take light to travel from Andromeda to us?