Question 1

Milky Way is the name of

Accepted Answer

A)  our Solar System. 
B)  the galaxy in which we live. 
C)  the local group of galaxies we are in. 
D)  the supercluster of galaxies we are in. 
E)  the entire universe.

Question 2

When two explanations describe something equally well, ________ says that we should assume the simpler one.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

What is required for an idea to be a scientific hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is required for an idea to...

Question 4

A scientific theory can be shown to be wrong if

Accepted Answer

A)  cultural beliefs evolve to contradict it. 
B)  scientists gather new data that contradict its predictions. 
C)  it cannot explain all phenomena in the universe. 
D)  it was first proposed as conjecture. 
E)  a majority of people do not accept it.

Question 5

What is the approximate number of stars in the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 million 
B)  300 million 
C)  10 billion 
D)  300 billion 
E)  1 trillion

Question 6

Why does a theory that continues to be supported by the results of experimental tests need further tests?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does a theory that continues to...

Question 7

Before you can scientifically test a hypothesis, you must use the hypothesis to develop a

Accepted Answer

A)  scientific theory. 
B)  claim that cannot be falsified. 
C)  prediction to test. 
D)  computer model. 
E)  new fact.

Question 8

An observation does not support your hypothesis.What do you do next?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observation does not support your hypothesis.What...

Question 9

Which of the following is true?

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 never have one or more testable predictions. 
D)  A scientific theory must not be able to be proven wrong when scientists acquire new data. 
E)  A hypothesis can become a theory without it being tested.

Question 10

What is a theoretical model?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a theoretical model?...

Question 11

The diameter of the Moon is

Accepted Answer

A)  larger than the distance across the continental United States. 
B)  roughly equal to the longest distance across Texas. 
C)  more than half the distance across the continental United States. 
D)  less than half the distance across the continental United States. 
E)  None of these choices is correct.

Question 12

When you let go of an apple, you expect it to fall to the ground.This is because

Accepted Answer

A)  down is the only direction it can go in. 
B)  apples always move directly toward the largest object. 
C)  your science teacher has told you that is the only possibility. 
D)  red colors are attracted to green colors. 
E)  there has been a past pattern of objects always falling toward the Earth.

Question 13

What is the slope of line in the figure below?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 km/h 
B)  6 km/h 
C)  6 h/km 
D)  60 km/h 
E)  60 h/km

Question 14

(6 * 105) * (3 *10-2) =

Accepted Answer

A)  1.8 * 103 
B)  1.8 * 104 
C)  1.8 *106 
D)  1.8 * 108 
E)  1.8*10-3

Question 15

Our universe is approximately 13.7 ________ years old.

Accepted Answer

A)  hundred 
B)  thousand 
C)  million 
D)  billion 
E)  trillion

Question 16

What is the Local Group?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the Local Group?...

Question 17

The Andromeda Galaxy is also part of the Local Group, so it is also part of

Accepted Answer

A)  the Solar System. 
B)  the Milky Way. 
C)  the Moon. 
D)  the Virgo Supercluster. 
E)  dark energy.

Question 18

The two panels in the figure below display the same data.Explain why the trends look different between the two graphs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The two panels in the figure below...

Question 19

Describe the two main aspects of the cosmological principle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the two main aspects of the...

Question 20

If nature behaves according to a certain physical law, then that law should result in

Accepted Answer

A)  random behavior. 
B)  repeating patterns. 
C)  Occam's razor. 
D)  quantum mechanics. 
E)  the Big Bang.

Exam 1: Thinking Like an Astronomer