Question 1

The type of galaxy that consists almost entirely of old stars and is thus less blue (more yellow and reddish) than the other types is:

Accepted Answer

A)  spiral 
B)  elliptical 
C)  irregular 
D)  barred spiral 
E)  all of the above consist almost entirely of old stars 
A)  spiral 
B)  elliptical 
C)  irregular 
D)  barred spiral 
E)  all of the above consist almost entirely of old stars B

Question 2

Why is the use of Hubble's Law to measure distances to galaxies so important to astronomers?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have NO other way of measuring distances to galaxies - absolutely none 
B)  Many galaxies don't move away from us, so when we find one that does, it's really a big deal 
C)  Most galaxies are so far away, the only way to get distances to them is to use Hubble's Law 
D)  The other ways of getting distances only work for really far away galaxies; so the Hubble Law is the only way to measure distances to nearby galaxies 
E)  It's stretching the truth to say that Hubble's Law is a really important way to get distances to galaxies; really, it's no more important than any other method 
A)  They have NO other way of measuring distances to galaxies - absolutely none 
B)  Many galaxies don't move away from us, so when we find one that does, it's really a big deal 
C)  Most galaxies are so far away, the only way to get distances to them is to use Hubble's Law 
D)  The other ways of getting distances only work for really far away galaxies; so the Hubble Law is the only way to measure distances to nearby galaxies 
E)  It's stretching the truth to say that Hubble's Law is a really important way to get distances to galaxies; really, it's no more important than any other method C

Question 3

Which of the following objects is considered useful to astronomers as a "standard bulb" for determining distances?

Accepted Answer

A)  type Ia supernovae 
B)  planets that resemble Earth 
C)  K-type stars 
D)  the brightness of the bulge in a galaxy's center 
E)  the size of the largest diameter open cluster in a galaxy 
A)  type Ia supernovae 
B)  planets that resemble Earth 
C)  K-type stars 
D)  the brightness of the bulge in a galaxy's center 
E)  the size of the largest diameter open cluster in a galaxy A

Question 4

Edwin Hubble was able to show that (with the exception of our nearest neighbors) the farther a galaxy is from us, the

Accepted Answer

A)  brighter it looks 
B)  bluer its color 
C)  the later in its life we are seeing it 
D)  the larger its halo is 
E)  the faster it is moving away from us 
A)  brighter it looks 
B)  bluer its color 
C)  the later in its life we are seeing it 
D)  the larger its halo is 
E)  the faster it is moving away from us

Question 5

Among irregular galaxies, what makes the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud especially useful for astronomers?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are (for galaxies) very close to us, so they are easy to study 
B)  they are among the biggest irregular galaxies ever found 
C)  they have a regular shape, but it is so complicated it was hard to figure out 
D)  they do not contain any young stars at all, only really old ones 
E)  their shape resembles a map of Bayonne, New Jersey 
A)  they are (for galaxies) very close to us, so they are easy to study 
B)  they are among the biggest irregular galaxies ever found 
C)  they have a regular shape, but it is so complicated it was hard to figure out 
D)  they do not contain any young stars at all, only really old ones 
E)  their shape resembles a map of Bayonne, New Jersey

Question 6

Which of the following was not done by Edwin Hubble?

Accepted Answer

A)  measuring the distance to the Andromeda "nebula" 
B)  classifying the galaxies by their shapes 
C)  establishing the expansion of the universe 
D)  discovering the law that the motion of the galaxies away from us follows 
E)  discovering the relationship between period and luminosity of a cepheid variable 
A)  measuring the distance to the Andromeda "nebula" 
B)  classifying the galaxies by their shapes 
C)  establishing the expansion of the universe 
D)  discovering the law that the motion of the galaxies away from us follows 
E)  discovering the relationship between period and luminosity of a cepheid variable

Question 7

If a galaxy contains a great deal of dark matter, then, compared to the mass-to-light ratio of the inner part, the mass-to-light ratio of the whole galaxy will be

Accepted Answer

A)  less 
B)  more 
C)  the same 
D)  it depends on the type of galaxy 
E)  it depends on the galaxy's red-shift
Section 26.4: The Extragalactic Distance Scale 
A)  less 
B)  more 
C)  the same 
D)  it depends on the type of galaxy 
E)  it depends on the galaxy's red-shift
Section 26.4: The Extragalactic Distance Scale

Question 8

Compared to the mass of our own Milky Way Galaxy, the total mass we estimate for the Andromeda Galaxy is

Accepted Answer

A)  a lot smaller 
B)  a little bit smaller 
C)  exactly the same 
D)  somewhat bigger 
E)  not something we can measure 
A)  a lot smaller 
B)  a little bit smaller 
C)  exactly the same 
D)  somewhat bigger 
E)  not something we can measure

Question 9

The type of galaxy that sometimes has a distinct bar of stars running across the central region is

Accepted Answer

A)  spiral 
B)  elliptical 
C)  dwarf elliptical 
D)  irregular 
E)  all of the above can have clear, distinct central bars 
A)  spiral 
B)  elliptical 
C)  dwarf elliptical 
D)  irregular 
E)  all of the above can have clear, distinct central bars

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a spiral galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  most of its material is in the shape of a flattened disk 
B)  it has quite a bit of gas and dust in it 
C)  it has young stars and bright emission nebulae 
D)  when we take spectra of its stars, they have far less of the heavier elements than the Sun 
E)  the bright stars in it can be seen organized into distinct spiral arms 
A)  most of its material is in the shape of a flattened disk 
B)  it has quite a bit of gas and dust in it 
C)  it has young stars and bright emission nebulae 
D)  when we take spectra of its stars, they have far less of the heavier elements than the Sun 
E)  the bright stars in it can be seen organized into distinct spiral arms

Question 11

Which type of galaxy is very difficult to see, but (astronomers recently realized) may be very common?

Accepted Answer

A)  spiral 
B)  elliptical 
C)  dwarf elliptical 
D)  irregular 
E)  none of the above 
A)  spiral 
B)  elliptical 
C)  dwarf elliptical 
D)  irregular 
E)  none of the above

Question 12

The Andromeda Galaxy (our nearest spiral neighbor) has spect?ral lines that show a blue shift. From this we may conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe is no longer expanding 
B)  this particular nearby galaxy is moving toward us 
C)  this galaxy has merged with the Milky Way and is now part of it 
D)  this particular nearby galaxy is moving away from us 
E)  this galaxy has an unusual number of very bright and hot O-type stars in it 
A)  the universe is no longer expanding 
B)  this particular nearby galaxy is moving toward us 
C)  this galaxy has merged with the Milky Way and is now part of it 
D)  this particular nearby galaxy is moving away from us 
E)  this galaxy has an unusual number of very bright and hot O-type stars in it

Question 13

The astronomer who assisted Edwin Hubble at the Mount Wilson Observatory and helped him establish the expansion of the universe was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Vesto Slipher 
B)  Harlow Shapley 
C)  Milton Humason 
D)  Immanuel Kant 
E)  James Kirk 
A)  Vesto Slipher 
B)  Harlow Shapley 
C)  Milton Humason 
D)  Immanuel Kant 
E)  James Kirk

Question 14

One of the most important observations in the history of astronomy was the one by Edwin Hubble that established that there are other galaxies, quite removed from the Milky Way. How did Hubble show this?

Accepted Answer

A)  by debating with Harlow Shapley and being more eloquent 
B)  by observing a supernova explosion in a nearby galaxy, using it as a "standard bulb" 
C)  by observing a Cepheid variable in a nearby galaxy and using it to get the distance 
D)  by measuring the distances to many globular clusters using parallax 
E)  by going to see Einstein, who knew the answers to these kinds of questions 
A)  by debating with Harlow Shapley and being more eloquent 
B)  by observing a supernova explosion in a nearby galaxy, using it as a "standard bulb" 
C)  by observing a Cepheid variable in a nearby galaxy and using it to get the distance 
D)  by measuring the distances to many globular clusters using parallax 
E)  by going to see Einstein, who knew the answers to these kinds of questions

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the implications of Hubble's Law is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  the law implies that the whole universe must be expanding 
B)  the law can be used to measure distances to remote galaxies for which we can measure a Doppler shift 
C)  the law does NOT require us to be at the center of the expanding universe 
D)  if you were observing the universe from a distant galaxy, you would NOT see all the galaxies (except those in your own group) moving away from YOU 
E)  although galaxies move away from each other, they themselves are not expanding in size 
A)  the law implies that the whole universe must be expanding 
B)  the law can be used to measure distances to remote galaxies for which we can measure a Doppler shift 
C)  the law does NOT require us to be at the center of the expanding universe 
D)  if you were observing the universe from a distant galaxy, you would NOT see all the galaxies (except those in your own group) moving away from YOU 
E)  although galaxies move away from each other, they themselves are not expanding in size

Question 16

The reason type Ia supernovae are useful to astronomers for determining distances to other galaxies is that

Accepted Answer

A)  they only occur in spiral galaxies, for which no other way of getting distances is available 
B)  it is easy to measure the blueshift produced by such explosions 
C)  they are much larger than many other objects that can be seen in galaxies 
D)  they are very bright, and generally reach the same peak luminosity 
E)  they produce very energetic pulsars whose radio radiation can be detected across vast distances 
A)  they only occur in spiral galaxies, for which no other way of getting distances is available 
B)  it is easy to measure the blueshift produced by such explosions 
C)  they are much larger than many other objects that can be seen in galaxies 
D)  they are very bright, and generally reach the same peak luminosity 
E)  they produce very energetic pulsars whose radio radiation can be detected across vast distances

Question 17

About two thirds of the nearby spiral galaxies (which we can study in more detail) don't have a round central bulge, but instead show

Accepted Answer

A)  no central bulge at all, just a uniform galaxy 
B)  a central bulge with a bar of stars in the middle 
C)  a central bulge with a completely irregular and unsymmetric shape 
D)  a central bulge with 2 giant jets coming out larger than the galaxy 
E)  you can't fool me; all spirals have a round central bulge 
A)  no central bulge at all, just a uniform galaxy 
B)  a central bulge with a bar of stars in the middle 
C)  a central bulge with a completely irregular and unsymmetric shape 
D)  a central bulge with 2 giant jets coming out larger than the galaxy 
E)  you can't fool me; all spirals have a round central bulge

Question 18

According to Hubble's Law, if two galaxies are not part of our Local Group, and galaxy B is three times farther away from us as Galaxy A, then Galaxy B will

Accepted Answer

A)  move toward us three times faster than A 
B)  move away from us nine times faster than A 
C)  move away from us three times faster than A 
D)  move toward us nine times faster than A 
E)  move away from us at about the same speed as A 
A)  move toward us three times faster than A 
B)  move away from us nine times faster than A 
C)  move away from us three times faster than A 
D)  move toward us nine times faster than A 
E)  move away from us at about the same speed as A

Question 19

In a distant galaxy, whose light is just arriving from 10 billion light years away, our spectroscope should reveal that the most common element is

Accepted Answer

A)  helium 
B)  carbon 
C)  hydrogen 
D)  iron 
E)  Einsteinium 
A)  helium 
B)  carbon 
C)  hydrogen 
D)  iron 
E)  Einsteinium

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the different types (shapes) of galaxies is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  whatever type a galaxy is at its birth, that's what it will be for all time 
B)  all galaxies start out as ellipticals, but some later evolve to be spirals and irregulars 
C)  90% of all galaxies are spirals (including our Milky Way); the other two types are very unusual 
D)  collisions and mergers between galaxies can sometimes change a galaxy's type (shape) 
E)  what type we see a galaxy to be just depends on the angle at which we happen to see it; all galaxies look roughly the same in shape
Section 26.3: Properties of Galaxies 
A)  whatever type a galaxy is at its birth, that's what it will be for all time 
B)  all galaxies start out as ellipticals, but some later evolve to be spirals and irregulars 
C)  90% of all galaxies are spirals (including our Milky Way); the other two types are very unusual 
D)  collisions and mergers between galaxies can sometimes change a galaxy's type (shape) 
E)  what type we see a galaxy to be just depends on the angle at which we happen to see it; all galaxies look roughly the same in shape
Section 26.3: Properties of Galaxies

Exam 26: Galaxies

The type of galaxy that consists almost entirely of old stars and is thus less blue (more yellow and reddish) than the other types is:

Why is the use of Hubble's Law to measure distances to galaxies so important to astronomers?

Which of the following objects is considered useful to astronomers as a "standard bulb" for determining distances?

Edwin Hubble was able to show that (with the exception of our nearest neighbors) the farther a galaxy is from us, the

Among irregular galaxies, what makes the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud especially useful for astronomers?

Which of the following was not done by Edwin Hubble?

If a galaxy contains a great deal of dark matter, then, compared to the mass-to-light ratio of the inner part, the mass-to-light ratio of the whole galaxy will be

Compared to the mass of our own Milky Way Galaxy, the total mass we estimate for the Andromeda Galaxy is

The type of galaxy that sometimes has a distinct bar of stars running across the central region is

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a spiral galaxy?

Which type of galaxy is very difficult to see, but (astronomers recently realized) may be very common?

The Andromeda Galaxy (our nearest spiral neighbor) has spect?ral lines that show a blue shift. From this we may conclude that:

The astronomer who assisted Edwin Hubble at the Mount Wilson Observatory and helped him establish the expansion of the universe was:

One of the most important observations in the history of astronomy was the one by Edwin Hubble that established that there are other galaxies, quite removed from the Milky Way. How did Hubble show this?

Which of the following statements about the implications of Hubble's Law is FALSE?

The reason type Ia supernovae are useful to astronomers for determining distances to other galaxies is that

About two thirds of the nearby spiral galaxies (which we can study in more detail) don't have a round central bulge, but instead show

According to Hubble's Law, if two galaxies are not part of our Local Group, and galaxy B is three times farther away from us as Galaxy A, then Galaxy B will

In a distant galaxy, whose light is just arriving from 10 billion light years away, our spectroscope should reveal that the most common element is

Which of the following statements about the different types (shapes) of galaxies is correct?

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

Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes

The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies

The Big Bang

Life in the Universe

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