Question 1

Where in space did the expansion of the universe begin?

Accepted Answer

A)  at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy; that's why all the other galaxies are moving away from us 
B)  near the center of the Virgo Supercluster of Galaxies 
C)  at a point so far away that only our largest telescopes can show us glimpses of it 
D)  everywhere at once 
E)  nowhere at all; new observations show that the universe is not expanding after all 
A)  at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy; that's why all the other galaxies are moving away from us 
B)  near the center of the Virgo Supercluster of Galaxies 
C)  at a point so far away that only our largest telescopes can show us glimpses of it 
D)  everywhere at once 
E)  nowhere at all; new observations show that the universe is not expanding after all

Question 2

Which of the following is pretty good evidence that the universe began with a Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that galaxies collide 
B)  the fact that stars explode 
C)  the fact that all the galaxies are moving toward us 
D)  the existence of a double star system like Cygnus X-1 
E)  the 3-degree cosmic microwave background radiation 
A)  the fact that galaxies collide 
B)  the fact that stars explode 
C)  the fact that all the galaxies are moving toward us 
D)  the existence of a double star system like Cygnus X-1 
E)  the 3-degree cosmic microwave background radiation

Question 3

If you want to check on what conditions were like in the universe a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang, what sort of instrument would it be best to use:

Accepted Answer

A)  a gamma-ray or high-energy x-ray telescope in orbit 
B)  a tank of chlorine deep inside the Earth 
C)  a small refractor (which gathers visible light) on a college campus, but pointed in just the right direction 
D)  an ultra-violet telescope in orbit around Jupiter 
E)  a satellite with infrared and microwave telescopes on board 
A)  a gamma-ray or high-energy x-ray telescope in orbit 
B)  a tank of chlorine deep inside the Earth 
C)  a small refractor (which gathers visible light) on a college campus, but pointed in just the right direction 
D)  an ultra-violet telescope in orbit around Jupiter 
E)  a satellite with infrared and microwave telescopes on board

Question 4

Scientists speculate that the properties (laws) of the universe must be the way they are because if they were significantly different, we would not be here to think about them. This idea is called

Accepted Answer

A)  the cosmological principle 
B)  the Hubble law 
C)  the narcissus conjecture 
D)  the anthropic principle 
E)  the inflationary self-image hypothesis 
A)  the cosmological principle 
B)  the Hubble law 
C)  the narcissus conjecture 
D)  the anthropic principle 
E)  the inflationary self-image hypothesis

Question 5

When we determine the age of the universe using the Hubble Time, what important simplifying assumption goes into our calculations?

Accepted Answer

A)  that the expansion of the universe has been happening at the same rate - neither speeding up or slowing down 
B)  that all the galaxies are moving away from us at exactly the same speed, no matter how far away they are 
C)  that the cosmological principle doesn't hold: the universe is not isotropic and homogeneous 
D)  that we have accounted correctly for the effects of dark energy 
E)  that the universe is actually contracting instead of expanding 
A)  that the expansion of the universe has been happening at the same rate - neither speeding up or slowing down 
B)  that all the galaxies are moving away from us at exactly the same speed, no matter how far away they are 
C)  that the cosmological principle doesn't hold: the universe is not isotropic and homogeneous 
D)  that we have accounted correctly for the effects of dark energy 
E)  that the universe is actually contracting instead of expanding

Question 6

According to our modern theories, the geometry of the entire universe (all of space-time) may be curved or warped. This is a pretty bizarre notion; what other discovery in astronomy has helped us believe that space may be able to curve or warp?

Accepted Answer

A)  supernova explosions and the elements they produce 
B)  how the light output of cepheid variables changes with time 
C)  the existence of dwarf elliptical galaxies 
D)  the properties of black holes 
E)  the error in the shape of the mirror on the Hubble Space Telescope 
A)  supernova explosions and the elements they produce 
B)  how the light output of cepheid variables changes with time 
C)  the existence of dwarf elliptical galaxies 
D)  the properties of black holes 
E)  the error in the shape of the mirror on the Hubble Space Telescope

Question 7

Recent observations indicate that the universe is expanding faster today than it was a few billion years ago (that, in other words, the expansion of the universe is accelerating.) What kind of observations have led astronomers to this surprising conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  the measurements of cepheid variables in the galaxies of the Local Group 
B)  the measurement of galaxy distances using Type Ia supernovae 
C)  the discovery of large amounts of dark matter in the halo of the Milky Way 
D)  the measurements of the amount of deuterium in the universe 
E)  the fact that galaxies today are getting a lot more speeding tickets than they used to
Section 29.3: The Beginning of the Universe 
A)  the measurements of cepheid variables in the galaxies of the Local Group 
B)  the measurement of galaxy distances using Type Ia supernovae 
C)  the discovery of large amounts of dark matter in the halo of the Milky Way 
D)  the measurements of the amount of deuterium in the universe 
E)  the fact that galaxies today are getting a lot more speeding tickets than they used to
Section 29.3: The Beginning of the Universe

Question 8

One of the things that our current "standard model" of the Big Bang Theory doesn't explain is

Accepted Answer

A)  why the universe is expanding 
B)  why there is a cosmic microwave background filling all of space 
C)  why the temperature of the cosmic microwave background is so uniform throughout all of space 
D)  why there is more helium in the universe than stars could have produced in 13.8 billion years 
E)  why the galaxies show a red shift 
A)  why the universe is expanding 
B)  why there is a cosmic microwave background filling all of space 
C)  why the temperature of the cosmic microwave background is so uniform throughout all of space 
D)  why there is more helium in the universe than stars could have produced in 13.8 billion years 
E)  why the galaxies show a red shift

Question 9

According to the models of the universe we discussed in this course, why do the galaxies move apart (why do we have Hubble's law)?

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity is a repulsive force, once you get outside the Milky Way Galaxy 
B)  each galaxy has net charge on it, and they repel by the laws of electricity 
C)  supernova explosions happen more frequently on one side of each galaxy, giving the entire galaxy a push that moves it away from its neighbors 
D)  as a result of the Big Bang, space itself is stretching, and this stretching carries the galaxies away from each other 
E)  strong political and religious disagreements among the galaxies
Section 29.5: What is the Universe Really Made of? 
A)  gravity is a repulsive force, once you get outside the Milky Way Galaxy 
B)  each galaxy has net charge on it, and they repel by the laws of electricity 
C)  supernova explosions happen more frequently on one side of each galaxy, giving the entire galaxy a push that moves it away from its neighbors 
D)  as a result of the Big Bang, space itself is stretching, and this stretching carries the galaxies away from each other 
E)  strong political and religious disagreements among the galaxies
Section 29.5: What is the Universe Really Made of?

Question 10

Which of the following is the Earth not located in?

Accepted Answer

A)  the solar system 
B)  the universe 
C)  globular cluster M-13 
D)  the Milky Way Galaxy 
E)  the Earth is located in all of the above 
A)  the solar system 
B)  the universe 
C)  globular cluster M-13 
D)  the Milky Way Galaxy 
E)  the Earth is located in all of the above

Question 11

When do astronomers now think that the "dark energy" began to accelerate the expansion of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  right after the Big Bang (after the first three minutes or so) 
B)  a few million years after the Big Bang 
C)  several billion years after the Big Bang 
D)  about ten million years ago 
E)  when the city of Bayonne, New Jersey was founded 
A)  right after the Big Bang (after the first three minutes or so) 
B)  a few million years after the Big Bang 
C)  several billion years after the Big Bang 
D)  about ten million years ago 
E)  when the city of Bayonne, New Jersey was founded

Question 12

Astronomers have measured that there is more helium in the universe than can be explained by the fusion in stars over the last 13 billion years. How do they think the extra helium got into the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  the extra helium was produced in the accretion disks of supermassive black holes 
B)  the extra helium was made during the first few minutes of the Big Bang, when the entire universe was hot enough for fusion to occur briefly 
C)  the extra helium was produced by the interaction of dark matter with the material at the edges of all galaxies 
D)  the extra helium was produced recently during Type Ia supernova explosions 
E)  the idea that there is extra helium has been shown to be in error; we were confused by the high red shifts of distant galaxies distorting their spectra
Section 29.4: The Cosmic Microwave Background 
A)  the extra helium was produced in the accretion disks of supermassive black holes 
B)  the extra helium was made during the first few minutes of the Big Bang, when the entire universe was hot enough for fusion to occur briefly 
C)  the extra helium was produced by the interaction of dark matter with the material at the edges of all galaxies 
D)  the extra helium was produced recently during Type Ia supernova explosions 
E)  the idea that there is extra helium has been shown to be in error; we were confused by the high red shifts of distant galaxies distorting their spectra
Section 29.4: The Cosmic Microwave Background

Question 13

The two scientists who first discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation were:

Accepted Answer

A)  Hubble and Humason 
B)  Einstein and Friedmann 
C)  Gamow and Alpher 
D)  Penzias and Wilson 
E)  Kirk and Spock 
A)  Hubble and Humason 
B)  Einstein and Friedmann 
C)  Gamow and Alpher 
D)  Penzias and Wilson 
E)  Kirk and Spock

Question 14

Some scientists speculate that our universe is not the only universe that exists, but the only one we can gather evidence about. This idea is called

Accepted Answer

A)  the Big Bang theory 
B)  the cosmological principle 
C)  the multiverse theory 
D)  Hubble's Law 
E)  the accretion disk hypothesis 
A)  the Big Bang theory 
B)  the cosmological principle 
C)  the multiverse theory 
D)  Hubble's Law 
E)  the accretion disk hypothesis

Question 15

What is the strongest known force in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity 
B)  the electromagnetic force 
C)  the weak nuclear force 
D)  the strong nuclear force 
E)  The Dallas Cowboys [put in your favorite local sports team here] 
A)  gravity 
B)  the electromagnetic force 
C)  the weak nuclear force 
D)  the strong nuclear force 
E)  The Dallas Cowboys [put in your favorite local sports team here]

Question 16

If we include the effects of deceleration in our calculations of the age of the universe, the age we get is:

Accepted Answer

A)  greater than the Hubble time 
B)  less than the Hubble time 
C)  equal to the Hubble time 
D)  either greater or less depending on the amount of deceleration 
E)  you can't fool me; this question cannot be answered without knowing the exact value of the Hubble constant.
Section 29.2: A Model of the Universe 
A)  greater than the Hubble time 
B)  less than the Hubble time 
C)  equal to the Hubble time 
D)  either greater or less depending on the amount of deceleration 
E)  you can't fool me; this question cannot be answered without knowing the exact value of the Hubble constant.
Section 29.2: A Model of the Universe

Question 17

The first scientist to propose a specific model (the primeval atom model) for the big bang was

Accepted Answer

A)  Lemaitre 
B)  Hubble 
C)  Sandage 
D)  Peebles 
E)  Nobel 
A)  Lemaitre 
B)  Hubble 
C)  Sandage 
D)  Peebles 
E)  Nobel

Question 18

In the very distant future, given our best model of the accelerating universe, what will the universe look like?

Accepted Answer

A)  all the galaxies will start showing blue-shifts 
B)  the universe will look pretty much the same as it does today 
C)  the entire universe will become one huge black hole 
D)  all the stars will die and the galaxies will be dark 
E)  galaxies will shine even more brightly than today from all the dark energy 
A)  all the galaxies will start showing blue-shifts 
B)  the universe will look pretty much the same as it does today 
C)  the entire universe will become one huge black hole 
D)  all the stars will die and the galaxies will be dark 
E)  galaxies will shine even more brightly than today from all the dark energy

Question 19

The satellite that has given us the most precise measurements of the characteristics of the cosmic background radiation is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Planck 
B)  Einstein 
C)  the Hubble Space Telescope 
D)  BeppoSAX 
E)  Io 
A)  Planck 
B)  Einstein 
C)  the Hubble Space Telescope 
D)  BeppoSAX 
E)  Io

Exam 29: The Big Bang

Where in space did the expansion of the universe begin?

Which of the following is pretty good evidence that the universe began with a Big Bang?

If you want to check on what conditions were like in the universe a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang, what sort of instrument would it be best to use:

Scientists speculate that the properties (laws) of the universe must be the way they are because if they were significantly different, we would not be here to think about them. This idea is called

When we determine the age of the universe using the Hubble Time, what important simplifying assumption goes into our calculations?

According to our modern theories, the geometry of the entire universe (all of space-time) may be curved or warped. This is a pretty bizarre notion; what other discovery in astronomy has helped us believe that space may be able to curve or warp?

Recent observations indicate that the universe is expanding faster today than it was a few billion years ago (that, in other words, the expansion of the universe is accelerating.) What kind of observations have led astronomers to this surprising conclusion?

One of the things that our current "standard model" of the Big Bang Theory doesn't explain is

According to the models of the universe we discussed in this course, why do the galaxies move apart (why do we have Hubble's law)?

Which of the following is the Earth not located in?

When do astronomers now think that the "dark energy" began to accelerate the expansion of the universe?

Astronomers have measured that there is more helium in the universe than can be explained by the fusion in stars over the last 13 billion years. How do they think the extra helium got into the universe?

The two scientists who first discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation were:

Some scientists speculate that our universe is not the only universe that exists, but the only one we can gather evidence about. This idea is called

What is the strongest known force in the universe?

If we include the effects of deceleration in our calculations of the age of the universe, the age we get is:

The first scientist to propose a specific model (the primeval atom model) for the big bang was

In the very distant future, given our best model of the accelerating universe, what will the universe look like?

The satellite that has given us the most precise measurements of the characteristics of the cosmic background radiation is:

Science and the Universe: a Brief Tour

Observing the Sky: the Birth of Astronomy

Orbits and Gravity

Earth, Moon, and Sky

Radiation and Spectra

Astronomical Instruments

Other Worlds: an Introduction to the Solar System

Earth As a Planet

Cratered Worlds: the Moon and Mercury

Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars

The Giant Planets

Rings, Moons, and Pluto

Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System

Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System

The Sun: a Garden-Variety Star

The Sun: a Nuclear Powerhouse

Analyzing Starlight

The Stars: a Celestial Census

Celestial Distances

Between the Stars

The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets Outside the Solar System

Stars From Adolescence to Old Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes and Curved Space-Time

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes

The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies

Life in the Universe

Filters