Question 1

An observed pattern in nature is usually a sign of some underlying physical reason. Give an example of this in astronomy, citing the pattern and the reason behind it.

Accepted Answer

The Sun rises and sets each day. This pa

Question 2

On which objects in our solar system, other than Earth, have humans actually landed? On which objects have unmanned robot spacecraft landed?

Accepted Answer

Humans have landed only on the

Question 3

The number of classical planets in our Solar System is:

Accepted Answer

A)  eight 
B)  nine 
C)  twelve 
D)  six 
E)  four 
A)  eight 
B)  nine 
C)  twelve 
D)  six 
E)  four

Question 4

An unmanned robotic spacecraft has NOT landed on:

Accepted Answer

A)  an asteroid 
B)  Mars 
C)  Venus 
D)  Pluto 
E)  Titan, Saturn's largest moon 
A)  an asteroid 
B)  Mars 
C)  Venus 
D)  Pluto 
E)  Titan, Saturn's largest moon

Question 5

Human beings are composed almost entirely of elements that were created in the Big Bang.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The early universe was composed mainly of which two elements?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen and helium 
B)  carbon and oxygen 
C)  hydrogen and oxygen 
D)  carbon and iron 
E)  nitrogen and oxygen 
A)  hydrogen and helium 
B)  carbon and oxygen 
C)  hydrogen and oxygen 
D)  carbon and iron 
E)  nitrogen and oxygen

Question 7

The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The distance to the center of the Virgo cluster of galaxies is 5 * 1023 m. How long does it take light to travel from these galaxies to us?

Accepted Answer

A)  7,000 years 
B)  54,000 years 
C)  120,000 years 
D)  12 million years 
E)  54 million years 
A)  7,000 years 
B)  54,000 years 
C)  120,000 years 
D)  12 million years 
E)  54 million years

Question 9

If the radius of circle B is twice the radius of circle A, and the area of a circle is proportional to the radius squared (A $\infty$ r2), then the ratio of the area of circle B to that of circle A is:

Accepted Answer

A)  4 
B)  0.5 
C)  0.25 
D)  2 
E)  1.414 
A)  4 
B)  0.5 
C)  0.25 
D)  2 
E)  1.414

Question 10

Which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  A scientific theory is an undisputed fact. 
B)  If continual testing of a hypothesis shows it to be valid, it may become an accepted theory. 
C)  A hypothesis must always have one or more testable predictions. 
D)  A scientific theory may eventually be proven wrong when scientists acquire new data. 
E)  Scientific observations are used to test a hypothesis. 
A)  A scientific theory is an undisputed fact. 
B)  If continual testing of a hypothesis shows it to be valid, it may become an accepted theory. 
C)  A hypothesis must always have one or more testable predictions. 
D)  A scientific theory may eventually be proven wrong when scientists acquire new data. 
E)  Scientific observations are used to test a hypothesis.

Question 11

What two pre-Renaissance beliefs are contradicted by the cosmological principle?

Accepted Answer

(1) Earth is at the center of

Question 12

Describe two important reasons why the ability to put telescopes in space dramatically affected the science of astronomy.

Accepted Answer

Images taken from telescopes in space do

Question 13

Which is an important element in the composition of your body that was produced by nuclear fusion inside a star or an explosion of a star?

Accepted Answer

A)  iron 
B)  calcium 
C)  oxygen 
D)  carbon 
E)  all of the above 
A)  iron 
B)  calcium 
C)  oxygen 
D)  carbon 
E)  all of the above

Question 14

Pluto is classified as a:

Accepted Answer

A)  planet 
B)  dwarf planet 
C)  asteroid 
D)  comet 
E)  meteroid 
A)  planet 
B)  dwarf planet 
C)  asteroid 
D)  comet 
E)  meteroid

Question 15

According to the figure below, the Earth is located approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  at the center of the Milky Way 
B)  near the center of the Milky Way 
C)  about halfway out from the center of the Milky Way 
D)  at the farthest outskirts of the Milky Way 
E)  outside the Milky Way, which is why we can see it as a band across the night sky 
A)  at the center of the Milky Way 
B)  near the center of the Milky Way 
C)  about halfway out from the center of the Milky Way 
D)  at the farthest outskirts of the Milky Way 
E)  outside the Milky Way, which is why we can see it as a band across the night sky

Question 16

Because of _____________, we can conclude that gravity works the same way on Earth as it does on Mars.

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's theory of relativity 
B)  Einstein's special theory of relativity 
C)  Sagan's planetary principle 
D)  the principle of universality 
E)  the hypothetical statute 
A)  Newton's theory of relativity 
B)  Einstein's special theory of relativity 
C)  Sagan's planetary principle 
D)  the principle of universality 
E)  the hypothetical statute

Question 17

It is often said that "mathematics is the language of science." Explain why this is true.

Accepted Answer

Math is a formal system used w

Question 18

If a scientific theory cannot be tested, it is assumed to be true.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

When you see a pattern in nature, it is usually evidence of:

Accepted Answer

A)  a theory being displayed 
B)  quantum mechanics in action 
C)  a breakdown of random clustering 
D)  an underlying physical law 
E)  A decrease in entropy 
A)  a theory being displayed 
B)  quantum mechanics in action 
C)  a breakdown of random clustering 
D)  an underlying physical law 
E)  A decrease in entropy

Question 20

If you have a stuffy nose, a fever, chills, and body aches and a doctor treats you for the flu rather than four separate diseases that account for each of your symptoms, this is an application of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's hypothesis 
B)  Occam's razor 
C)  Aristotle's test 
D)  Einstein's relativity 
E)  Copernican principle 
A)  Newton's hypothesis 
B)  Occam's razor 
C)  Aristotle's test 
D)  Einstein's relativity 
E)  Copernican principle

Exam 1: Why Learn Astronomy

An observed pattern in nature is usually a sign of some underlying physical reason. Give an example of this in astronomy, citing the pattern and the reason behind it.

On which objects in our solar system, other than Earth, have humans actually landed? On which objects have unmanned robot spacecraft landed?

The number of classical planets in our Solar System is:

An unmanned robotic spacecraft has NOT landed on:

Human beings are composed almost entirely of elements that were created in the Big Bang.

The early universe was composed mainly of which two elements?

The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.

The distance to the center of the Virgo cluster of galaxies is 5 * 1023 m. How long does it take light to travel from these galaxies to us?

If the radius of circle B is twice the radius of circle A, and the area of a circle is proportional to the radius squared (A ∞\infty∞ r2), then the ratio of the area of circle B to that of circle A is:

Which of the following is FALSE?

What two pre-Renaissance beliefs are contradicted by the cosmological principle?

Describe two important reasons why the ability to put telescopes in space dramatically affected the science of astronomy.

Which is an important element in the composition of your body that was produced by nuclear fusion inside a star or an explosion of a star?

Pluto is classified as a:

According to the figure below, the Earth is located approximately:

Because of _____________, we can conclude that gravity works the same way on Earth as it does on Mars.

It is often said that "mathematics is the language of science." Explain why this is true.

If a scientific theory cannot be tested, it is assumed to be true.

When you see a pattern in nature, it is usually evidence of:

If you have a stuffy nose, a fever, chills, and body aches and a doctor treats you for the flu rather than four separate diseases that account for each of your symptoms, this is an application of:

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 center of the Virgo cluster of galaxies is 5 * 10²³ m. How long does it take light to travel from these galaxies to us?

If the radius of circle B is twice the radius of circle A, and the area of a circle is proportional to the radius squared (A $\infty$ r²), then the ratio of the area of circle B to that of circle A is: