Question 1

Explain what the field of astrobiology studies.

Accepted Answer

Astrobiology is the

Question 2

Why is the statement "The Big Bang was caused by a collision between other universes" not scientific?

Accepted Answer

The statement is not

Question 3

Suppose you were writing to a pen pal in another universe.What address would you put on the envelope that included all the major structures in which we reside? (Hint: Your cosmic address should begin with "Earth" and end with "the universe.")

Accepted Answer

The address would be

Question 4

A hypothesis is an idea that is

Accepted Answer

A)  Falsifiable. 
B)  undeniably true. 
C)  not falsifiable. 
D)  always part of a larger theory. 
E)  absolutely untrue. 
A)  Falsifiable. 
B)  undeniably true. 
C)  not falsifiable. 
D)  always part of a larger theory. 
E)  absolutely untrue.

Question 5

When you see a pattern in nature, it is usually evidence of

Accepted Answer

A)  a theory being displayed. 
B)  quantum mechanics in action. 
C)  a breakdown of random clustering. 
D)  an underlying physical law. 
E)  a decrease in entropy. 
A)  a theory being displayed. 
B)  quantum mechanics in action. 
C)  a breakdown of random clustering. 
D)  an underlying physical law. 
E)  a decrease in entropy.

Question 6

The time it takes light to cross Neptune's orbit is closest to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  instantaneous 
B)  a second 
C)  a quick meal 
D)  a night's sleep 
E)  the time between presidential elections 
A)  instantaneous 
B)  a second 
C)  a quick meal 
D)  a night's sleep 
E)  the time between presidential elections

Question 7

Using the method of comparing distances to time intervals to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy, compare the diameter of our Solar System, which is 6 *1012, to the diameter of the galaxy, which is 1.2 *1021, by calculating the time it would take for light to travel these diameters.For reference, the speed of light is 3 *108 m/s.

Accepted Answer

The time it takes light to travel across

Question 8

A light-year is a unit commonly used in astronomy as a measure of

Accepted Answer

A)  time. 
B)  speed. 
C)  mass. 
D)  distance. 
E)  acceleration. 
A)  time. 
B)  speed. 
C)  mass. 
D)  distance. 
E)  acceleration.

Question 9

If the speed of light is 3 * 105 km/s and 1 km = 0.62 mile, what is the speed of light in miles per hour (mph)?

Accepted Answer

A)  670 million mph 
B)  670 thousand mph 
C)  186 mph 
D)  186 thousand mph 
E)  3.2 billion mph 
A)  670 million mph 
B)  670 thousand mph 
C)  186 mph 
D)  186 thousand mph 
E)  3.2 billion mph

Question 10

(1.2* 109) * (4 *10-3) *

Accepted Answer

A)  3 * 106 
B)  3 * 105 
C)  3 * 1010 
D)  3*1011 
E)  3 *1012 
A)  3 * 106 
B)  3 * 105 
C)  3 * 1010 
D)  3*1011 
E)  3 *1012

Question 11

The statement "our universe is but one of a multitude of isolated universes" is best characterized as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  speculative but unscientific idea. 
B)  scientific fact. 
C)  physical law. 
D)  hypothesis that is currently being tested. 
E)  impossible situation. 
A)  speculative but unscientific idea. 
B)  scientific fact. 
C)  physical law. 
D)  hypothesis that is currently being tested. 
E)  impossible situation.

Question 12

The cosmological principle states that

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe is expanding in all directions at the same rate. 
B)  a unique center of the universe exists. 
C)  the universe looks the same everywhere and in all directions as long as you look on large enough spatial scales. 
D)  physical laws change from place to place in the universe. 
E)  the universe is in a "steady state." 
A)  the universe is expanding in all directions at the same rate. 
B)  a unique center of the universe exists. 
C)  the universe looks the same everywhere and in all directions as long as you look on large enough spatial scales. 
D)  physical laws change from place to place in the universe. 
E)  the universe is in a "steady state."

Question 13

It is often said that "mathematics is the language of science." Explain why this is true.

Accepted Answer

Math is a formal system used w

Question 14

In science an idea that cannot be tested is

Accepted Answer

A)  a hypothesis. 
B)  not a scientific idea. 
C)  a theory. 
D)  a principle. 
E)  a law. 
A)  a hypothesis. 
B)  not a scientific idea. 
C)  a theory. 
D)  a principle. 
E)  a law.

Question 15

Approximately how many viruses are there at time step 10 in the figure below?

Accepted Answer

A)  500 
B)  1,000 
C)  1,500 
D)  2,000 
E)  2,500 
A)  500 
B)  1,000 
C)  1,500 
D)  2,000 
E)  2,500

Question 16

What are the units of the vertical axis in the figure below?

Accepted Answer

A)  km 
B)  hours 
C)  km/h 
D)  h/km 
E)  There are no units on this axis. 
A)  km 
B)  hours 
C)  km/h 
D)  h/km 
E)  There are no units on this axis.

Question 17

Describe how we can use travel times as a measure for distances.

Accepted Answer

If speed is constant,a differe

Question 18

The scientific method is a process by which scientists

Accepted Answer

A)  prove theories to be known facts. 
B)  gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong. 
C)  show all theories to be wrong. 
D)  test the ideas of Aristotle. 
E)  survey what the majority of people think about a theory. 
A)  prove theories to be known facts. 
B)  gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong. 
C)  show all theories to be wrong. 
D)  test the ideas of Aristotle. 
E)  survey what the majority of people think about a theory.

Question 19

Describe the main steps involved in the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

First you make a hypothesis and then you

Question 20

The number of planets in our Solar System is

Accepted Answer

A)  six. 
B)  eight. 
C)  nine. 
D)  twelve. 
E)  twenty. 
A)  six. 
B)  eight. 
C)  nine. 
D)  twelve. 
E)  twenty.

Exam 1: Thinking Like an Astronomer

Explain what the field of astrobiology studies.

Why is the statement "The Big Bang was caused by a collision between other universes" not scientific?

Suppose you were writing to a pen pal in another universe.What address would you put on the envelope that included all the major structures in which we reside? (Hint: Your cosmic address should begin with "Earth" and end with "the universe.")

A hypothesis is an idea that is

When you see a pattern in nature, it is usually evidence of

The time it takes light to cross Neptune's orbit is closest to which of the following?

A light-year is a unit commonly used in astronomy as a measure of

If the speed of light is 3 * 105 km/s and 1 km = 0.62 mile, what is the speed of light in miles per hour (mph)?

(1.2* 109) * (4 *10-3) *

The statement "our universe is but one of a multitude of isolated universes" is best characterized as a(n)

The cosmological principle states that

It is often said that "mathematics is the language of science." Explain why this is true.

In science an idea that cannot be tested is

Approximately how many viruses are there at time step 10 in the figure below?

What are the units of the vertical axis in the figure below?

Describe how we can use travel times as a measure for distances.

The scientific method is a process by which scientists

Describe the main steps involved in the scientific method.

The number of planets in our Solar System is

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

If the speed of light is 3 * 10⁵ km/s and 1 km = 0.62 mile, what is the speed of light in miles per hour (mph)?

(1.2* 10⁹) * (4 10^-³)