Question 1

The speed of light is approximately:

Accepted Answer

A) 3,000 km/s 
B) 30,000 km/s 
C) 300,000 km/s 
D) 3 million km/s 
E) 3 billion km/s 
A) 3,000 km/s 
B) 30,000 km/s 
C) 300,000 km/s 
D) 3 million km/s 
E) 3 billion km/s

Question 2

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 3

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 4

The scientific method is a process by which scientists:

Accepted Answer

A) prove theories to be known facts 
B) gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong 
C) show all theories to be wrong 
D) test the ideas of Aristotle 
E) survey what the majority of people think about a theory 
A) prove theories to be known facts 
B) gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong 
C) show all theories to be wrong 
D) test the ideas of Aristotle 
E) survey what the majority of people think about a theory

Question 5

What is the primary concern of the subfield of astronomy known as astrobiology?

Accepted Answer

Astrobiology is the investigat

Question 6

The majority of the mass in our universe is made up of:

Accepted Answer

A) planets 
B) stars 
C) galaxies 
D) dust 
E) dark matter 
A) planets 
B) stars 
C) galaxies 
D) dust 
E) dark matter

Question 7

Our Sun is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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

Question 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

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 13

A light-year is a unit commonly used in astronomy as a measure of:

Accepted Answer

A) time 
B) speed 
C) mass 
D) distance 
E) acceleration 
A) time 
B) speed 
C) mass 
D) distance 
E) acceleration

Question 14

The average distance between the Earth and Sun is 1.5 × 1011 m,and light from the Sun takes approximately _________ to reach Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) 8 seconds 
B) 8 minutes 
C) 8 hours 
D) 8 days 
E) 8 years 
A) 8 seconds 
B) 8 minutes 
C) 8 hours 
D) 8 days 
E) 8 years

Question 15

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 16

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

Question 17

Science proceeds by presuming that observed patterns in nature can be attributed to an underlying physical explanation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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 19

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 20

The number 123,000 written in scientific notation is:

Accepted Answer

A) 1.23 × 106 
B) 1.23 × 105 
C) 1.23 × 10−3 
D) 1.23 × 10−6 
E) 1.23 × 103 
A) 1.23 × 106 
B) 1.23 × 105 
C) 1.23 × 10−3 
D) 1.23 × 10−6 
E) 1.23 × 103

Exam 1: Why Learn Astronomy

The speed of light is approximately:

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

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

The scientific method is a process by which scientists:

What is the primary concern of the subfield of astronomy known as astrobiology?

The majority of the mass in our universe is made up of:

Our Sun is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way.

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

Pluto is classified as a:

The early universe was composed mainly of which two elements?

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

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

A light-year is a unit commonly used in astronomy as a measure of:

The average distance between the Earth and Sun is 1.5 × 1011 m,and light from the Sun takes approximately _________ to reach Earth.

The majority of the energy in our universe is:

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

Science proceeds by presuming that observed patterns in nature can be attributed to an underlying physical explanation.

The number of classical planets in our Solar System is:

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

The number 123,000 written in scientific notation is:

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

The average distance between the Earth and Sun is 1.5 × 10¹¹ m,and light from the Sun takes approximately _________ to reach Earth.