Term
If a planet is seeing its Moon in the New Phase right now, in what phase would the planet
appear to be when viewed from its Moon? |
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Definition
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Term
As compared to a cool star, a hotter star emits:
a) shorter wavelength, lower frequency, redder color
b) shorter wavelength, higher frequency, redder color
c) shorter wavelength, lower frequency, bluer color
d) shorter wavelength, higher frequency, bluer color
e) longer wavelength, higher frequency, bluer color |
|
Definition
| shorter wavelength, higher frequency, bluer color |
|
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Term
At approximately what time does the third quarter Moon rise?
a) 9pm
b) 6pm
c) noon
d) 6am
e) midnight |
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Definition
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Term
The electrons in a cloud of hydrogen gas are making the transition from excited states to
the ground state. What does the spectrum of this cloud of gas look like |
|
Definition
| It will consist of a few bright emission lines at very specific wavelengths. |
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Term
I detect a star giving off more ultraviolet light than green light. What property of the
star can I estimate with this information
a) Its chemical composition
b) Its temperature
c) Its density
d) Its age
e) Its distance from Earth |
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Definition
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Term
What do you expect the spectrum of an object that is 1,000,000 Kelvin to be like?
a) It should give off less total light than the Sun.
b) It should peak at violet wavelengths.
c) It should peak at X-ray wavelengths.
d) It should give off about 10 times more total light than the Sun.
e) It should peak at radio wavelengths. |
|
Definition
| It should peak at X-ray wavelengths. |
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Term
The planets are seen in the Zodiac constellations because:
a) they reach the zenith at noon during the fall equinox
b) they orbit the Earth just like the Sun does
c) they orbit the Sun in the same plane as the Earth does
d) they reach the meridian at noon during the summer solstice
e) they reach the zenith at noon during the summer solstice |
|
Definition
| they orbit the Sun in the same plane as the Earth does |
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Term
What makes a transition from a higher energy state to a lower energy state when a
photon is emitted by an atom?
a) electron
b) proton
c) photon
d) graviton
e) neutron |
|
Definition
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Term
Which of the following is FALSE?
a) Light, radio, ultraviolet, and gamma rays are all forms of electromagnetic radiation.
b) Emission spectra are characterized by narrow, bright lines of different colors.
c) An absorption spectrum appears as a continuous spectrum interrupted by a series of
dark lines.
d) The energy of a photon is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the radiation.
e) The wavelengths of the emission lines produced by an element are different from the
wavelengths of an absorption line produced by the same element. |
|
Definition
The wavelengths of the emission lines produced by an element are different from the
wavelengths of an absorption line produced by the same element. |
|
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Term
One of the lines of Hydrogen has a wavelength of 121.6 nm. If a cloud of Hydrogen gas
is moving TOWARDS us at 200km/s, what will we detect?
a) An emission line in the cloud’s spectrum with a wavelength shorter than 121.6 nm.
b) An emission line in the cloud’s spectrum with a wavelength longer than 121.6 nm.
c) An emission line in the cloud’s spectrum with a wavelength of exactly 121.6 nm.
d) This cloud will not emit a spectrum at all.
e) A continuous spectrum with an absorption line at exactly 121.6 nm. |
|
Definition
| An emission line in the cloud’s spectrum with a wavelength shorter than 121.6 nm. |
|
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Term
| What kind of a telescope would have to be put in space to be effective? |
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Definition
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Term
Dark lines in an absorption spectrum represent:
a) particular energies of light coming from a distant object that are absorbed by material
in between.
b) flaws in the telescopes and spectroscopes that astronomers use to measure spectra.
c) hotter regions in the object that is emitting the spectrum.
d) regions where light travels more slowly and is not able to reach us.
e) photons emitted when an electron jumps from a higher to a lower energy level. |
|
Definition
particular energies of light coming from a distant object that are absorbed by material
in between |
|
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Term
If the mass of the Sun were cut in half, how would the force between the Sun and the
Earth change?
a) it would quadruple
b) it would double
c) it would remain unchanged
d) it would decrease by a factor of four
e) it would decrease by a factor of two |
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Definition
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Term
In what way does a 30 meter telescope outperform a 10 meter telescope?
a) The images of the 30 meter are 9 times brighter than those of a 10 meter.
b) The images of the 30 meter are 3 times brighter than those of a 10 meter.
c) All objects observed by the 30 meter telescope will appear larger than those of the
10 meter.
d) The 30 meter can observe light with a wavelength 3 times longer than that of the 10
meter.
e) The images of the 30 meter are 1/3rd as large as those of a 10 meter.5 |
|
Definition
| The images of the 30 meter are 1/3rd as large as those of a 10 meter.5 |
|
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Term
Say that our Moon was Full on May 1, 2007. When was the next First Quarter phase
after that Full Moon?
a) May 15
b) June 1
c) May 22
d) May 8 |
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Definition
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Term
Why does a neon light appear red?
a) It produces ultraviolet light, which to our eyes appears red.
b) The atoms of neon have electrons that are primarily red.
c) It gives off an emission spectrum with mostly red spectral lines.
d) The metal filament inside is heated to 1000 Kelvin.
e) The gas in the bulb absorbers every other color besides red. |
|
Definition
| It gives off an emission spectrum with mostly red spectral lines. |
|
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Term
From Earth, in which type of constellation might you find the planet Saturn?
a) Only in a constellation near the South polar axis of Earth
b) Only in a Zodiac constellation
c) Only in the same constellation as the Moon.
d) Only in a constellation near the North polar axis of Earth
e) Only in the same constellation as the Sun.6 |
|
Definition
| only in a zodiac constellation |
|
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Term
What is the main constituent of the atmosphere of Venus?
a) helium
b) hydrogen
c) oxygen
d) carbon dioxide
e) nitrogen |
|
Definition
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Term
The planets of the solar system were formed:
a) by the collapse of a single higher mass star into a black hole
b) by a near collision between the Sun and a nearby star
c) as condensations/accretions of hot gases ejected from the Sun
d) by the accumulation of many comets
e) as individual condensation/accretion centers in a rotating solar nebula |
|
Definition
| as individual condensation/accretion centers in a rotating solar nebula |
|
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Term
Which of the following is true about Neptune?
a) Its atmospheric composition and rings are most like Saturn’s.
b) Its atmospheric composition is most like Saturn’s, but its rings are more like those
of Uranus and Jupiter.
c) Its atmospheric composition is most like Uranus and its rings are like those of Uranus
and Jupiter.
d) Its atmospheric composition and its rings are most like Jupiter’s.
e) It is more like the Earth than it is like any of the other giant planets. |
|
Definition
Its atmospheric composition is most like Uranus and its rings are like those of Uranus
and Jupiter. |
|
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Term
Venus is visible to us:
a) only during its new phase.
b) only near sunrise or sunset.
c) only in the summer.
d) only in the winter.
e) only during the several hours around midnight. |
|
Definition
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Term
How does Pluto’s mass compare with that of Earth’s Moon?
a) The Moon is roughly 7 times more massive than Pluto.
b) Pluto is roughly 7 times more massive that the Moon.
c) They both have the same mass.
d) Pluto’s mass is roughly 1/20th the mass of the Moon.
e) The Moon’s mass is roughly 1/20th the mass of Pluto. |
|
Definition
| the moon is 7x more massive |
|
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Term
How was Earth’s Moon formed, according to the currently most-accepted theory?
a) It formed from the collapsing protoplanetary disk at the same time as Earth.
b) It was a passing body captured by Earth’s gravity.
c) It formed from debris produced by the collision of a Mars-sized object with the Earth.
d) A gigantic volcano on Earth threw out the material that became the Moon.
e) No one really knows.8 |
|
Definition
| collision with mars sized object |
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Term
38. The process of formation of the Solar System
a) involved the Sun forming from the collapse of a large planet.
b) began about 10 million years ago.
c) led to the formation of the most massive planets closest to the Sun and the least massive
farthest away.
d) involved a spinning cloud of gas that remained spherical until after the planets and
Sun formed.
e) took only a small fraction of the age of the Solar System. |
|
Definition
| took only a small fraction of the age of the Solar System. |
|
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Term
Which is smallest?
a) Saturn’s moon Encledus
b) Saturn’s moon Titan
c) Mercury
d) Earth
e) Jupiter’s moon Ganymede |
|
Definition
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|
Term
Which of the following is typical of a Terrestrial planet?
a) evidence for volcanic activity
b) a hydrogen-rich composition |
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Definition
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Term
What are the most abundant gases in Jupiter’s atmosphere?
a) methane and ammonia
b) methane and hydrogen
c) hydrogen and ammonia
d) hydrogen and helium
e) water vapor and ozone |
|
Definition
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Term
Which has the lowest average density?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Uranus
d) Mars
e) the Moon |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
which fact about Mars is NOT true?
a) There are giant volcanoes on Mars, larger than any on Earth.
b) There was once water on the surface of Mars.
c) The Viking spacecraft landed on Mars in 1976.
d) It is always colder than freezing on Mars surface.
e) Mars has a thicker atmosphere than Earth does. |
|
Definition
| mars has a thicker atmoshphere than earth |
|
|
Term
Which of the following are the jovian planets?
a) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
b) Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
c) Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
d) Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn
e) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars |
|
Definition
| JSUN, jupiter saturn unranus neptoon |
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Term
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
a) Jupiter’s solid surface lies just below the cloud layers visible from Earth.
b) The Great Red Spot is a dust storm near the South polar cap of Mars.
c) There is no evidence to suggest that either Jupiter or Saturn has a rocky core.
d) Neither Uranus or Neptune have ring systems.
e) The planet Uranus is blue-green and virtually featureless. |
|
Definition
| The planet Uranus is blue-green and virtually featureless. |
|
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Term
9. The surface of Venus is hotter than the surface of Mercury because:
a) Venus is smaller than Mercury so it does not require so much energy to heat it.
b) of the volcanic activity that occurs on Venus.
c) Mercury’s atmosphere prevents radiation from penetrating through to its surface.
d) Venus is closer to the Sun than Mercury.
e) Venus is more massive and is able to retain a thick atmosphere |
|
Definition
| venus is more massive and got a thicker atmoshpehe |
|
|
Term
What fraction of the solar system’s mass is in the Sun?
a) About 50%
b) About 99%
c) About 10%
d) Less than 1%
e) About 75% |
|
Definition
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Term
How do astronomers measure the temperature of stars?
a) The inverse square law is used.
b) Temperature is determined from the radius of the star that is measured by radar.
c) By looking at which absorption lines are present in the star’s spectrum.
d) The rate of change of the color of the star is measured.
e) By comparing the star’s absolute and apparent brightness |
|
Definition
| By looking at which absorption lines are present in the star’s spectrum. |
|
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Term
How do we determine the age of a star cluster?
a) by identifying the type of stars that have just turned off the main sequence
b) spectroscopic parallax
c) by determining the spectral types of the faintest stars in the cluster
d) radioactive dating
e) by comparing the ages of white dwarfs and red giants |
|
Definition
| by identifying the type of stars that have just turned off the main sequence |
|
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Term
A 10 solar mass star:
a) will eventually develop an Iron core
b) can never produce a supernova
c) will end its life as a white dwarf
d) will live longer than the Sun on the Main Sequence
e) can never become a neutron star |
|
Definition
| will eventually develop an Iron core |
|
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Term
A star that is twice the mass of our Sun would have a habitable zone that:
a) includes Mars but not the Earth
b) includes Venus but not the Earth
c) includes Neptune only
d) includes both Venus and the Earth
e) includes Mercury only |
|
Definition
| includes Mars but not the Earth |
|
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Term
The largest fraction of nearby stars (e.g. within 100 light years) are:
a) neutron stars
b) Sun-like stars
c) blue Main Sequence stars
d) red dwarfs
e) blue supergiants |
|
Definition
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Term
What happens when a planet passes in front of its star (i.e. between the star and us)?
a) The star increases in brightness and the star moves away from us
b) The star increases in brightness and the star moves towards us
c) The star decreases in brightness and the star moves towards us
d) The star does not change in brightness or move relative to us
e) The star decreases in brightness and the star moves away from us12 |
|
Definition
| The star decreases in brightness and the star moves towards us |
|
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Term
A 16 solar mass main sequence star is at a smaller distance than a 1 solar mass main
sequence star. Which star appears brighter?
a) cannot tell with the information given
b) stars are approximately the same brightness
c) the 16 solar mass main sequence star
d) depends on the phase of the Moon
e) the 1 solar mass main sequence star |
|
Definition
| the 16 solar mass main sequence star |
|
|
Term
A cold, irregularly shaped region in the interstellar medium that diminishes or completely
obscures the light from background stars is called a//an:
a) irregular galaxy
b) dark dust cloud
c) emission nebula
d) reflection nebula
e) planetary nebula |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
In nuclear fusion, energy is produced because:
a) Hydrogen is not stable.
b) gravity leads to collapse.
c) the mass of the reacting chemicals is larger than that of the products.
d) positrons are produced.
e) of the energetic impact of collisions. |
|
Definition
| the mass of the reacting chemicals is larger than that of the products. |
|
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Term
Is the Milky Way Galaxy currently participating in Galactic cannibalism, and if so what
is it devouring?
a) The Milky Way is not participating in Galactic cannibalism at this time, but did billions
of years ago.
b) It is currently pulling apart and ”eating” the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy.
c) The Milky Way has never participated in Galactic cannibalism at any time.
d) It is presently in the final stages of merger with the Andromeda Galaxy.
e) It is eating the globular star clusters that are in a spherical distribution in its
halo |
|
Definition
| It is currently pulling apart and ”eating” the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. |
|
|
Term
Fill in the blank in the following chemical reaction that occurs in the Sun: Deuterium+
proton = ?? + energy:
a) hydrogen-1
b) helium-3
c) deuterium-2
d) carbon-12
e) helium-4 |
|
Definition
|
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Term
What happens when you drop a clock into a black hole?
a) The clock appears to be advancing at its normal rate both from the point of view of
an outside observer and from the point of view of an observer falling with the clock.
b) The clock appears to be advancing slowly from the point of view of an outside observer,
but normally for an observer falling with the clock.
c) The clock appears to be advancing rapidly both from the point of view of an outside
observer and from the point of view of an observer falling with the clock.
d) The clock appears to be advancing rapidly from the point of view of an outside observer,
but normally for an observer falling with the clock.
e) The clock appears to be advancing slowly both from the point of view of an outside
observer and from the point of view of an observer falling with the clock. |
|
Definition
The clock appears to be advancing slowly from the point of view of an outside observer,
but normally for an observer falling with the clock. |
|
|
Term
In which part of the Sun are gamma rays produced?
a) corona
b) core
c) chromosphere
d) convection zone
e) photosphere |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
In which part of the Sun are gamma rays produced?
a) corona
b) core
c) chromosphere
d) convection zone
e) photosphere |
|
Definition
| the time it takes for a photon to pass through the radiative zone of the Sun |
|
|
Term
Which star is the closest if all have the same apparent brightness?
a) a main sequence star with a luminosity 100 times that of the Sun
b) a temperature 6000 K main sequence star
c) a temperature 10000 K main sequence star
d) white dwarf
e) a red giant14 |
|
Definition
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|
Term
If two stars are the same temperature, how can one be more luminous than the other?
a) It can have a larger reaction rate in the core.
b) It can be a different spectral type.
c) It can have stronger magnetic fields.
d) It can be closer.
e) It can have a larger radius. |
|
Definition
| it can have a larger radius |
|
|
Term
A planetary nebula:
a) is the ejected envelope of a low to intermediate mass star
b) is what stars and planets are made of
c) contains a black hole at the center
d) lasts very long in the life of every star
e) is a fuzzy planet |
|
Definition
| is the ejected envelope of a low to intermediate mass star |
|
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Term
A supernova can occur when:
a) a massive star is on the Main Sequence
b) the center of a 1 solar mass star stops burning Hydrogen in its core
c) material from a companion star falls onto a white dwarf
d) material from a red supergiant falls into a black hole
e) a low mass star is on the Main Sequence |
|
Definition
| material from a companion star falls onto a white dwarf |
|
|
Term
Which of the following is TRUE?
a) The Eagle nebula is an example of a planetary nebula.
b) A brown dwarf is a case where the temperature of a protostar did not grow enough to
burn Hydrogen.
c) Bok globules are very luminous regions in the interstellar medium.
d) All Messier objects are actually comets.
e) A supernova explosion occurs just before a massive star forms. |
|
Definition
A brown dwarf is a case where the temperature of a protostar did not grow enough to
burn Hydrogen. |
|
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Term
the stars in the halo of our galaxy are:
a) never in globular clusters.
b) in a very flat distribution.
c) older and redder than those in the disk.
d) not affected by reddening and extinction.
e) older and bluer than those in the disk. |
|
Definition
| older and redder than those in the disk. |
|
|
Term
How can we see through the dusty plane of the Milky Way disk in order to study star
formation?
a) Use the radial velocity technique.
b) Look at visible radiation from space with the Hubble Space Telescope.
c) Use an optical telescope from the ground with a higher angular resolution.
d) Look at infrared radiation with the Spitzer Space Telescope.
e) Obtain a rotation curve using the gas in the Milky Way disk |
|
Definition
| Look at infrared radiation with the Spitzer Space Telescope. |
|
|
Term
Which of the following is FALSE?
a) A star with spectral type of B is sometimes hotter than a star with spectral type A,
and sometimes colder.
b) The lifetimes of stars range from a few million years for the most massive to much
more than 14 billion years for less massive stars.
c) Parallax can be used to measure the distances to the nearest stars.
d) The H-R diagram can be used to find the luminosity of a main sequence star, given its
spectral type.
e) Transits and radar represent the bottom rung of the distance ladder. |
|
Definition
A star with spectral type of B is sometimes hotter than a star with spectral type A,
and sometimes colder. |
|
|
Term
What element is only produced in a supernova explosion?
a) oxygen
b) carbon
c) hydrogen
d) gold
e) iron |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Which is true about cold dark matter?
a) Cold dark matter interacts strongly with ordinary baryonic matter via the strong force.
b) Cold dark matter particles travel faster than the speed of light.
c) Cold dark matter particles travel more slowly than hot dark matter particles.
d) Cold dark matter exists only within planets and stars but not in other parts of galaxies
or intergalactic space.
e) Cold dark matter emits X-rays, but no other forms of radiation. |
|
Definition
| it is slower than hot dark matter |
|
|
Term
Which source is the most luminous (or would be, if all its energy were output in visible
light)?
a) The Sun.
b) A quasar.
c) A nuclear power plant.
d) A gamma-ray burst.
e) A supernova. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Which force holds the quarks together within a proton?
a) Gravity, through exchange of gravitons.
b) Proton/neutron mutual attraction forces.
c) The ’strong’ force, through exchange of gluons.
d) Electromagnetic, through exchange of photons.
e) The ’weak’ force, through nuclear decay. |
|
Definition
| The ’strong’ force, through exchange of gluons. |
|
|
Term
Which is a reason that we know dark energy is a major component of the universe?
a) The universe would not be 2.7 degrees Kelvin today without dark energy.
b) The gravity due to regular matter in the universe would have started it contracting
again by now without dark energy.
c) Supernovae would not occur without dark energy.
d) Dark energy is needed in order that light can escape from supermassive black holes.
e) The universe is flat and regular matter doesn’t contribute enough energy density. |
|
Definition
| The universe is flat and regular matter doesn’t contribute enough energy density. |
|
|
Term
When examining a spectrum of a particular galaxy, an astronomer notices that the
spectral lines are shifted toward shorter wavelengths. What does this mean?
a) the element Helium is present in that galaxy
b) the galaxy is moving away from us
c) the galaxy is very likely to be one of the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way
d) the entire Universe is contracting
e) the galaxy is rotating very rapidly |
|
Definition
| the galaxy is very likely to be one of the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way |
|
|
Term
Why can’t we see back the whole way to the Big Bang?
a) Radiation is blueshifted out of the visible range.
b) It would take too long for light to travel that far.
c) Our telescopes could never be powerful enough.
d) The radiation scatters off matter frequently so the Universe is opaque.
e) Not enough photons were produced. |
|
Definition
| The radiation scatters off matter frequently so the Universe is opaque. |
|
|
Term
What type of boson is responsible for the electromagnetic force?
a) gluon
b) photon
c) electron
d) graviton
e) W boson |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Among these choices, which is the first thing that happens in the history of the universe?
a) formation of nuclei of helium
b) binding of electrons to nuclei
c) first stars form
d) universe becomes transparent
e) first supernova explosions occur |
|
Definition
| fomration of nuclei of helium |
|
|
Term
Which of the following statements is definitely FALSE?
a) String theory suggests that extra dimensions may exist beyond our three known spatial
dimensions and time.
b) There is an absence of space beyond the boundaries of our observable universe.
c) There is a theory of quantum mechanics in which new universes split from ours at every
random event.
d) New universes may break off from ours as it expands.
e) Universes with the largest number of black holes are favored in the theory of natural
selection of universes. |
|
Definition
| There is an absence of space beyond the boundaries of our observable universe. |
|
|
Term
What do quasars look like?
a) Fuzzy, extended patches of light.
b) Large concentrations of dark matter.
c) Individual stars in the Milky Way.
d) Glowing gas clouds.
e) Planetary nebulae18 |
|
Definition
| Individual stars in the Milky Way. |
|
|
Term
Does the existence of quasars imply that radiation can escape a black hole?
a) No, the emission of radiation occurs before material falls in through the event horizon.
b) Yes, the laws of physics break down so that material travels faster than the speed
of light near quasars.
c) Yes, radiation can escape because the mass of a photon is zero.
d) Quasars have nothing to do with black holes.
e) Quasars do not produce radiation of any sort, so there is no contradiction. |
|
Definition
| No, the emission of radiation occurs before material falls in through the event horizon. |
|
|
Term
Which of the following makes a meson?
a) a photon and a graviton
b) an up quark and an anti-down quark
c) three up quarks
d) a charm quark and a strange quark
e) two down quarks and an anti-up quark |
|
Definition
| an up quark and an anti-down quark |
|
|
Term
What property of dark matter leads to it keeping galaxy clusters together?
a) It produces gravity due to its mass.
b) It contains a cosmological constant.
c) It produces the electromagnetic force due to its charge.
d) It carries the strong force.
e) It has high adhesion so galaxies stick to it. |
|
Definition
| carries gravity due to mass |
|
|
Term
What property of dark matter leads to it keeping galaxy clusters together?
a) It produces gravity due to its mass.
b) It contains a cosmological constant.
c) It produces the electromagnetic force due to its charge.
d) It carries the strong force.
e) It has high adhesion so galaxies stick to it. |
|
Definition
differences in the temperature of radiation coming from the Big Bang from different
directions |
|
|
Term
What fraction of the energy density of the universe consists of dark matter?
a) 75 percent
b) 1 percent
c) 99 percent
d) 21 percent
e) 4 percent |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Compared to spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies have...
a) ...less gas, more dust, and more new star formation.
b) ...more gas, more dust, and less new star formation.
c) ...more gas, more dust, and more new star formation.
d) ...less gas, less dust, and less new star formation.
e) ...less gas, less dust, and more new star formation |
|
Definition
| ...less gas, less dust, and less new star formation. |
|
|
Term
What produces the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst?
a) Collisions between planets and stars.
b) Repeated explosions of the central star.
c) Gradual escape of particles from a central black hole.
d) X-rays travel more slowly through space than other types of radiation so they produce
an afterglow.
e) Collision of expanding stellar material with gas and dust in the interstellar medium. |
|
Definition
| Collision of expanding stellar material with gas and dust in the interstellar medium. |
|
|
Term
Which is the longest time?
a) the time it takes for a photon to pass through the radiative zone of the Sun
b) the time it takes a photon to pass through the corona of the Sun
c) one hour
d) the time it takes a photon to pass from the photosphere of the Sun to the Earth
e) the time it take light to traverse the convective zone of the Sun |
|
Definition
| the time it takes for a photon to pass through the radiative zone of the Sun |
|
|
