Question 1

How long would it take to count all the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy at a rate of one star per second?

Accepted Answer

A) several days 
B) several weeks 
C) several years 
D) several thousand years 
E) hundreds of thousands of years 
A) several days 
B) several weeks 
C) several years 
D) several thousand years 
E) hundreds of thousands of years

Question 2

If you represented each star by a grain of sand,how much sand would it take to represent all the stars in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A) all the sand in a typical playground sandlot 
B) all the sand on Miami Beach 
C) all the sand on the beaches of California 
D) all the sand on the beaches in the United States 
E) more than all the sand on all the beaches on Earth 
A) all the sand in a typical playground sandlot 
B) all the sand on Miami Beach 
C) all the sand on the beaches of California 
D) all the sand on the beaches in the United States 
E) more than all the sand on all the beaches on Earth

Question 3

Our solar system consists of

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun and all the objects that orbit it. 
B) the Sun and the planets,and nothing else. 
C) a few hundred billion stars,bound together by gravity. 
D) the Sun and several nearby stars,as well as the planets and other objects that orbit these stars. 
A) the Sun and all the objects that orbit it. 
B) the Sun and the planets,and nothing else. 
C) a few hundred billion stars,bound together by gravity. 
D) the Sun and several nearby stars,as well as the planets and other objects that orbit these stars.

Question 4

Earth is made mostly of metals and rocks.Where did this material come from?

Accepted Answer

A) It was produced in the Big Bang. 
B) It was created by chemical reactions in interstellar space. 
C) It was produced by the nuclear fusion in stars that made the heavy elements. 
D) It was made by our Sun. 
E) It was made by nuclear fission of uranium and other radioactive materials. 
A) It was produced in the Big Bang. 
B) It was created by chemical reactions in interstellar space. 
C) It was produced by the nuclear fusion in stars that made the heavy elements. 
D) It was made by our Sun. 
E) It was made by nuclear fission of uranium and other radioactive materials.

Question 5

The term observable universe refers to

Accepted Answer

A) that portion of the universe that we have so far photographed through telescopes. 
B) the portion of the universe that can be seen by the naked eye. 
C) the portion of the universe that is not hidden from view by,for example,being below the horizon. 
D) that portion of the universe that we can see in principle,given the current age of the universe. 
A) that portion of the universe that we have so far photographed through telescopes. 
B) the portion of the universe that can be seen by the naked eye. 
C) the portion of the universe that is not hidden from view by,for example,being below the horizon. 
D) that portion of the universe that we can see in principle,given the current age of the universe.

Question 6

Using the ideas discussed in your textbook,in what sense are we "star stuff"?

Accepted Answer

A) The overall chemical composition of our bodies is about the same as that of stars. 
B) Movie stars and other people are all made of the same stuff,so we all have the potential to be famous. 
C) Nearly every atom from which we are made was once inside of a star. 
D) We could not survive without light from our star,the Sun. 
A) The overall chemical composition of our bodies is about the same as that of stars. 
B) Movie stars and other people are all made of the same stuff,so we all have the potential to be famous. 
C) Nearly every atom from which we are made was once inside of a star. 
D) We could not survive without light from our star,the Sun.

Question 7

Explain why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

Accepted Answer

Although it orbits a star and

Question 8

Suppose we imagine the Sun to be about the size of a grapefruit.How big an area would the orbits of the eight planets of the solar system cover?

Accepted Answer

A) the size of a typical dorm room 
B) the size of a typical campus building 
C) the size of a typical campus 
D) the size of a small city 
E) the size of a western state (e.g. ,Colorado) 
A) the size of a typical dorm room 
B) the size of a typical campus building 
C) the size of a typical campus 
D) the size of a small city 
E) the size of a western state (e.g. ,Colorado)

Question 9

When we look at an object that is 1,000 light-years away we see it

Accepted Answer

A) as it was 1,000 years ago. 
B) as it was 1,000 light-years ago. 
C) as it is right now,but it appears 1,000 times dimmer. 
D) looking just the same as our ancestors would have seen it 1,000 years ago. 
A) as it was 1,000 years ago. 
B) as it was 1,000 light-years ago. 
C) as it is right now,but it appears 1,000 times dimmer. 
D) looking just the same as our ancestors would have seen it 1,000 years ago.

Question 10

How do the speeds at which we are moving with Earth's rotation and orbit compare to the speeds of more familiar objects?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis faster than a commercial jet travels,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun faster than the Space Shuttle orbits Earth. 
B) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a commercial jet,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at a higher speed. 
C) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a car on the freeway,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a commercial jet. 
D) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed at which the Space Shuttle orbits Earth,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at nearly the speed of light. 
A) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis faster than a commercial jet travels,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun faster than the Space Shuttle orbits Earth. 
B) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a commercial jet,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at a higher speed. 
C) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a car on the freeway,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a commercial jet. 
D) Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed at which the Space Shuttle orbits Earth,and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at nearly the speed of light.

Question 11

How are galaxies important to our existence?

Accepted Answer

A) Without galaxies,there could not have been a Big Bang. 
B) Without galaxies,the universe could not be expanding. 
C) Galaxies prevent planets from leaving their orbits around stars;e.g. ,our galaxy prevents Earth from leaving its orbit of the Sun. 
D) Galaxies recycle heavy elements produced in stars into future generations of stars. 
E) Galaxies provide the gravity that prevents us from falling off Earth. 
A) Without galaxies,there could not have been a Big Bang. 
B) Without galaxies,the universe could not be expanding. 
C) Galaxies prevent planets from leaving their orbits around stars;e.g. ,our galaxy prevents Earth from leaving its orbit of the Sun. 
D) Galaxies recycle heavy elements produced in stars into future generations of stars. 
E) Galaxies provide the gravity that prevents us from falling off Earth.

Question 12

What do astronomers mean by the Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

A) the event that marked the beginning of the expansion of the universe 
B) a gigantic explosion that blew all the galaxies in the universe to smithereens 
C) the explosion of a massive star at the end of its life 
D) the event that marked the birth of our solar system 
A) the event that marked the beginning of the expansion of the universe 
B) a gigantic explosion that blew all the galaxies in the universe to smithereens 
C) the explosion of a massive star at the end of its life 
D) the event that marked the birth of our solar system

Question 13

What do we mean when we say that the universe is expanding?

Accepted Answer

A) Everything in the universe is gradually growing in size. 
B) Within galaxies,average distances between star systems are increasing with time. 
C) The statement is not meant to be literal;rather,it means that our knowledge of the universe is growing. 
D) Average distances between galaxies are increasing with time. 
A) Everything in the universe is gradually growing in size. 
B) Within galaxies,average distances between star systems are increasing with time. 
C) The statement is not meant to be literal;rather,it means that our knowledge of the universe is growing. 
D) Average distances between galaxies are increasing with time.

Question 14

Roughly how many stars are in the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 billion 
B) 100 billion 
C) 10 billion 
D) 100 million 
E) 100 trillion 
A) 1 billion 
B) 100 billion 
C) 10 billion 
D) 100 million 
E) 100 trillion

Question 15

How long does it take our solar system to complete one orbit around the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) 10 thousand years 
B) 230 thousand years 
C) 1 million years 
D) 100 million years 
E) 230 million years 
A) 10 thousand years 
B) 230 thousand years 
C) 1 million years 
D) 100 million years 
E) 230 million years

Question 16

Relative to the age of the universe,how old is our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) It is about 1% as old as the universe. 
B) It is between about 5% and 10% as old as the universe. 
C) It is about one-third the age of the universe. 
D) It is nearly the same age as the universe. 
A) It is about 1% as old as the universe. 
B) It is between about 5% and 10% as old as the universe. 
C) It is about one-third the age of the universe. 
D) It is nearly the same age as the universe.

Question 17

What is the ecliptic plane?

Accepted Answer

A) the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun 
B) the plane of Earth's equator 
C) the plane of the Sun's equator 
D) the plane of the Milky Way Galaxy 
A) the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun 
B) the plane of Earth's equator 
C) the plane of the Sun's equator 
D) the plane of the Milky Way Galaxy

Question 18

When did humans learn that the Earth is not the center of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A) within the past 500 years 
B) about 2,500 years ago 
C) about 1,000 years ago 
D) We haven't;there is still considerable scientific debate about whether Earth is the center of the universe. 
A) within the past 500 years 
B) about 2,500 years ago 
C) about 1,000 years ago 
D) We haven't;there is still considerable scientific debate about whether Earth is the center of the universe.

Question 19

Starting from the Big Bang,briefly explain how our solar system came to contain the chemical elements necessary to make Earth and living organisms.

Accepted Answer

The Big Bang produced hydrogen and heliu

Question 20

Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star?

Accepted Answer

A) Planets are smaller than stars. 
B) Planets are dimmer than stars. 
C) All planets are made of rock and all stars are made of gas. 
D) Planets orbit stars,while stars orbit the center of the galaxy. 
A) Planets are smaller than stars. 
B) Planets are dimmer than stars. 
C) All planets are made of rock and all stars are made of gas. 
D) Planets orbit stars,while stars orbit the center of the galaxy.

Exam 1: A Modern View of the Universe

How long would it take to count all the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy at a rate of one star per second?

If you represented each star by a grain of sand,how much sand would it take to represent all the stars in the universe?

Our solar system consists of

Earth is made mostly of metals and rocks.Where did this material come from?

The term observable universe refers to

Using the ideas discussed in your textbook,in what sense are we "star stuff"?

Explain why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

Suppose we imagine the Sun to be about the size of a grapefruit.How big an area would the orbits of the eight planets of the solar system cover?

When we look at an object that is 1,000 light-years away we see it

How do the speeds at which we are moving with Earth's rotation and orbit compare to the speeds of more familiar objects?

How are galaxies important to our existence?

What do astronomers mean by the Big Bang?

What do we mean when we say that the universe is expanding?

Roughly how many stars are in the Milky Way Galaxy?

How long does it take our solar system to complete one orbit around the Milky Way Galaxy?

Relative to the age of the universe,how old is our solar system?

What is the ecliptic plane?

When did humans learn that the Earth is not the center of the universe?

Starting from the Big Bang,briefly explain how our solar system came to contain the chemical elements necessary to make Earth and living organisms.

Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star?

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

Filters