Question 1

The volume of a sphere is related to its radius by the formula   .Using algebra to solve for R, we get

Accepted Answer

A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
E)    
A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
E)

Question 2

One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri, whose distance from Earth is 4.2 * 1016 m.How long does it take light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us?

Accepted Answer

A)  1.25 seconds 
B)  8.3 minutes 
C)  4.4 years 
D)  560 years 
E)  6,200 years 
A)  1.25 seconds 
B)  8.3 minutes 
C)  4.4 years 
D)  560 years 
E)  6,200 years

Question 3

One of the nearest stars, Alpha Centauri, is 4.4 light-years from Earth.The time it takes light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us is

Accepted Answer

A)  1.25 seconds. 
B)  8.3 minutes. 
C)  4.4 years. 
D)  600 years. 
E)  2.2 million years. 
A)  1.25 seconds. 
B)  8.3 minutes. 
C)  4.4 years. 
D)  600 years. 
E)  2.2 million years.

Question 4

The average distance between Earth and the 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 5

How long does it take light to travel from the center of the Laniakea Supercluster (5 *1023 m away) to us?

Accepted Answer

A)  7,000 years 
B)  54,000 years 
C)  120,000 years 
D)  12 million years 
E)  54 million years 
A)  7,000 years 
B)  54,000 years 
C)  120,000 years 
D)  12 million years 
E)  54 million years

Question 6

When we look at distant objects, we see them as they were in the past.Why is this?

Accepted Answer

The finite speed of light mean

Question 7

Because of ________, we can conclude that gravity works the same way on Earth as it does on Mars.

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's theory of relativity 
B)  Einstein's special theory of relativity 
C)  Sagan's planetary principle 
D)  the cosmological principle 
E)  the hypothetical statute 
A)  Newton's theory of relativity 
B)  Einstein's special theory of relativity 
C)  Sagan's planetary principle 
D)  the cosmological principle 
E)  the hypothetical statute

Question 8

The first event in the history of the universe is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  Great Beginning. 
B)  Manhattan Project. 
C)  Universal Spring. 
D)  Big Bang. 
E)  None of these are correct, as the universe had no beginning. 
A)  Great Beginning. 
B)  Manhattan Project. 
C)  Universal Spring. 
D)  Big Bang. 
E)  None of these are correct, as the universe had no beginning.

Question 9

What implication does the finite speed of light have on what we observe in the universe?

Accepted Answer

It means we see objects as the

Question 10

How many times larger is our galaxy (100,000 light-years across) than our Solar System (11 light-hours across)?

Accepted Answer

A)  100 
B)  1,000 
C)  10,000 
D)  106 
E)  108 
A)  100 
B)  1,000 
C)  10,000 
D)  106 
E)  108

Question 11

There are many different areas of science, but a common factor in each is the evaluation and analysis of patterns.What patterns does astronomy deal with? Describe them in general and give at least one specific example.

Accepted Answer

Astronomy deals with patterns related to

Question 12

How would you respond to someone who stated that "Evolution is not proven; it is just a theory"?

Accepted Answer

You would need to explain that in scienc

Question 13

Describe two ways in which Einstein's new theories changed commonly accepted scientific views of his time.

Accepted Answer

Mass and energy are manifestations of th

Question 14

An observed pattern in nature is usually a sign of some underlying physical reason.Give an example of this in astronomy, citing the pattern and the reason behind it.

Accepted Answer

The Sun rises and sets each day.This pat

Question 15

What would you say to someone who said, "It would take light-years to get to the Andromeda Galaxy"?

Accepted Answer

You would tell them

Question 16

Our galaxy and the few dozen nearest galaxies are known as the

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar System. 
B)  Milky Way. 
C)  Local Group. 
D)  Virgo Supercluster. 
E)  Laniakea Supercluster. 
A)  Solar System. 
B)  Milky Way. 
C)  Local Group. 
D)  Virgo Supercluster. 
E)  Laniakea Supercluster.

Question 17

One of the central assumptions in astronomy is that the physical laws of nature

Accepted Answer

A)  change when objects move at high speed. 
B)  change throughout the age of the universe. 
C)  depend on the mass of the objects involved. 
D)  are the same everywhere in the universe. 
E)  change noticeably from place to place. 
A)  change when objects move at high speed. 
B)  change throughout the age of the universe. 
C)  depend on the mass of the objects involved. 
D)  are the same everywhere in the universe. 
E)  change noticeably from place to place.

Question 18

A theoretical model is

Accepted Answer

A)  a made-up explanation. 
B)  a detailed description in terms of known physical laws or theories. 
C)  a testable assumption. 
D)  a scientific law. 
E)  a detailed computer simulation. 
A)  a made-up explanation. 
B)  a detailed description in terms of known physical laws or theories. 
C)  a testable assumption. 
D)  a scientific law. 
E)  a detailed computer simulation.

Question 19

The figure below shows the night sky as it appears to an observer in the United States at the same time of the night but at four different seasons of the year.A reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from these images is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the stars move about the sky randomly. 
B)  the stars appear to rotate over the course of a year. 
C)  the night sky is always the same. 
D)  there are only four possible configurations of stars in the sky. 
E)  the position of the stars changes the temperature of the Earth. 
A)  the stars move about the sky randomly. 
B)  the stars appear to rotate over the course of a year. 
C)  the night sky is always the same. 
D)  there are only four possible configurations of stars in the sky. 
E)  the position of the stars changes the temperature of the Earth.

Question 20

In pre-Renaissance times, it was believed that celestial objects were made of a different substance from that of Earth and obeyed different rules.Which modern scientific principle is a better description of the universe?

Accepted Answer

The cosmol

Exam 1: Thinking Like an Astronomer

The volume of a sphere is related to its radius by the formula .Using algebra to solve for R, we get

One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri, whose distance from Earth is 4.2 * 1016 m.How long does it take light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us?

One of the nearest stars, Alpha Centauri, is 4.4 light-years from Earth.The time it takes light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us is

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

How long does it take light to travel from the center of the Laniakea Supercluster (5 *1023 m away) to us?

When we look at distant objects, we see them as they were in the past.Why is this?

Because of ________, we can conclude that gravity works the same way on Earth as it does on Mars.

The first event in the history of the universe is called the

What implication does the finite speed of light have on what we observe in the universe?

How many times larger is our galaxy (100,000 light-years across) than our Solar System (11 light-hours across)?

There are many different areas of science, but a common factor in each is the evaluation and analysis of patterns.What patterns does astronomy deal with? Describe them in general and give at least one specific example.

How would you respond to someone who stated that "Evolution is not proven; it is just a theory"?

Describe two ways in which Einstein's new theories changed commonly accepted scientific views of his time.

An observed pattern in nature is usually a sign of some underlying physical reason.Give an example of this in astronomy, citing the pattern and the reason behind it.

What would you say to someone who said, "It would take light-years to get to the Andromeda Galaxy"?

Our galaxy and the few dozen nearest galaxies are known as the

One of the central assumptions in astronomy is that the physical laws of nature

A theoretical model is

The figure below shows the night sky as it appears to an observer in the United States at the same time of the night but at four different seasons of the year.A reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from these images is that

In pre-Renaissance times, it was believed that celestial objects were made of a different substance from that of Earth and obeyed different rules.Which modern scientific principle is a better description of the universe?

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri, whose distance from Earth is 4.2 * 10¹⁶ m.How long does it take light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us?

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

How long does it take light to travel from the center of the Laniakea Supercluster (5 *10²³ m away) to us?