Question 1

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 2

If the radius of sphere B is 5 times the radius of sphere A,then the ratio of the volume of sphere B to the volume of sphere A is:

Accepted Answer

A) 0.008 
B) 0.2 
C) 5 
D) 25 
E) 125 
A) 0.008 
B) 0.2 
C) 5 
D) 25 
E) 125

Question 3

Suppose you were writing to a pen pal in another universe.What address would you put on the envelope that included all the major structures in which we reside? (Hint: Your cosmic address should begin with "Earth" and end with "the universe.")

Accepted Answer

The address would be: Earth,th

Question 4

Using the method of comparing distances to time intervals to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy,compare the diameter of our Solar System,which is 6 × 1012 to the diameter of the Galaxy,which is 1.2 × 1021 by calculating the time it would take for light to travel these diameters.For reference,the speed of light is 3 × 108 m/s.

Accepted Answer

The time it takes light to travel across

Question 5

(6 × 105)× (3 × 10−2)=

Accepted Answer

A) 1.8 × 103 
B) 1.8 × 104 
C) 1.8 × 106 
D) 1.80 × 103 
E) 1.8 × 10−3 
A) 1.8 × 103 
B) 1.8 × 104 
C) 1.8 × 106 
D) 1.80 × 103 
E) 1.8 × 10−3

Question 6

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 7

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the graphs shown below illustrates a linear relationship between the variables x and y?

Accepted Answer

A) (a) 
B) (b) 
C) Both (a)and (b)show linear relationships. 
D) Neither (a)nor (b)show linear relationships. 
A) (a) 
B) (b) 
C) Both (a)and (b)show linear relationships. 
D) Neither (a)nor (b)show linear relationships.

Question 10

The language of science is:

Accepted Answer

A) Greek 
B) mathematics 
C) calculus 
D) Java 
E) Latin 
A) Greek 
B) mathematics 
C) calculus 
D) Java 
E) Latin

Question 11

How would you respond to someone who stated that "Evolution is not proven;it is just a theory"?

Accepted Answer

You would need to explain that in scienc

Question 12

Describe the two main aspects of the cosmological principle.

Accepted Answer

(1)What we see around us is re

Question 13

Describe the scientific reasons why astronomers reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006.

Accepted Answer

The reason is similar to why the first "

Question 14

Albert Einstein is best known for his revolutionary theory of:

Accepted Answer

A) relativity 
B) quantum mechanics 
C) astronomy 
D) electricity 
E) mathematics 
A) relativity 
B) quantum mechanics 
C) astronomy 
D) electricity 
E) mathematics

Question 15

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 ∝ 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 16

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 17

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 18

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 19

_________ is the idea that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is usually the correct one.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

The Local Group is the environment around:

Accepted Answer

A) the Earth-Moon system 
B) the Sun that contains about a dozen stars 
C) the Sun that contains over a million stars 
D) the Milky Way that contains a few dozen galaxies 
E) the Milky Way that contains a few thousand galaxies 
A) the Earth-Moon system 
B) the Sun that contains about a dozen stars 
C) the Sun that contains over a million stars 
D) the Milky Way that contains a few dozen galaxies 
E) the Milky Way that contains a few thousand galaxies

Exam 1: Why Learn Astronomy

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

If the radius of sphere B is 5 times the radius of sphere A,then the ratio of the volume of sphere B to the volume of sphere A is:

Suppose you were writing to a pen pal in another universe.What address would you put on the envelope that included all the major structures in which we reside? (Hint: Your cosmic address should begin with "Earth" and end with "the universe.")

(6 × 105)× (3 × 10−2)=

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

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

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

Which of the graphs shown below illustrates a linear relationship between the variables x and y?

The language of science is:

How would you respond to someone who stated that "Evolution is not proven;it is just a theory"?

Describe the two main aspects of the cosmological principle.

Describe the scientific reasons why astronomers reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006.

Albert Einstein is best known for his revolutionary theory of:

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 ∝ r2),then the ratio of the area of circle B to that of circle A is:

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

Which of the following is FALSE?

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?

_________ is the idea that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is usually the correct one.

The Local Group is the environment around:

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 Adornments Moons 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

(6 × 10⁵)× (3 × 10⁻²)=

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 ∝ r²),then the ratio of the area of circle B to that of circle A is:

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?