Question 1

Which of the following best describes the predominant scientific view of the origin of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Life probably migrated to Earth from some other world. 
B) We may never know precisely how life arose,but current evidence suggests that life probably can arise naturally under the conditions that prevailed on the early Earth. 
C) Life arose through a series of extremely unlikely chemical coincidences,making it seem almost miraculous that life ever came to exist at all. 
D) We can describe with great certainty the precise steps by which life arose on Earth. 
A) Life probably migrated to Earth from some other world. 
B) We may never know precisely how life arose,but current evidence suggests that life probably can arise naturally under the conditions that prevailed on the early Earth. 
C) Life arose through a series of extremely unlikely chemical coincidences,making it seem almost miraculous that life ever came to exist at all. 
D) We can describe with great certainty the precise steps by which life arose on Earth.

Question 2

Briefly explain the paradox of the question "Where are the aliens?"

Accepted Answer

If we survive and decide to become inter

Question 3

Suppose a future telescope is able to take a spectrum of a terrestrial planet around another star and reveals the presence of significant amounts of ozone.What would this mean,and why?

Accepted Answer

The presence of abundant ozone

Question 4

At about what fraction of the speed of light do today's spacecraft travel?

Accepted Answer

A) 1/2 
B) 1/10 
C) 1/100 
D) 1/1,000 
E) 1/10,000 
A) 1/2 
B) 1/10 
C) 1/100 
D) 1/1,000 
E) 1/10,000

Question 5

Which of the following places is not generally considered a potential home for life in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars 
B) Jupiter's atmosphere 
C) Europa 
D) Titan 
A) Mars 
B) Jupiter's atmosphere 
C) Europa 
D) Titan

Question 6

During the 1960s and 1970s,scientists designed a spacecraft based on nuclear propulsion,but it was never built.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What is absolutely necessary for living organisms to survive?

Accepted Answer

A) energy 
B) sunlight 
C) oxygen 
D) food in the form of other organisms 
E) all of the above 
A) energy 
B) sunlight 
C) oxygen 
D) food in the form of other organisms 
E) all of the above

Question 8

Genetic studies indicate that every living organism on Earth today shares a common ancestor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The two Voyager spacecraft carry a message from Earth,just in case an alien civilization ever runs across them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following gases,which we might be able to detect in infrared spectra,would be a strong indicator of life on another planet?

Accepted Answer

A) carbon dioxide 
B) ozone 
C) methane 
D) water vapor 
E) sulfuric acid 
A) carbon dioxide 
B) ozone 
C) methane 
D) water vapor 
E) sulfuric acid

Question 11

The habitable zone around a star refers to the places where living organisms are found.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

In general,how does the size and location of a star's habitable zone depend on the star's mass?

Accepted Answer

A) The smaller (less massive)the star,the larger and the closer-in the habitable zone. 
B) The smaller (less massive)the star,the smaller and the closer-in the habitable zone. 
C) The smaller (less massive)the star,the larger and the farther-out the habitable zone. 
D) The habitable zone is always about the same size,but its location moves inward for smaller stars. 
A) The smaller (less massive)the star,the larger and the closer-in the habitable zone. 
B) The smaller (less massive)the star,the smaller and the closer-in the habitable zone. 
C) The smaller (less massive)the star,the larger and the farther-out the habitable zone. 
D) The habitable zone is always about the same size,but its location moves inward for smaller stars.

Question 13

Which of the following is not considered crucial for life to exist on some world?

Accepted Answer

A) liquid water 
B) a source of energy that can be used by life 
C) a source of nutrients 
D) an atmosphere 
A) liquid water 
B) a source of energy that can be used by life 
C) a source of nutrients 
D) an atmosphere

Question 14

If the Space Shuttle were given a much larger fuel tank,it could achieve speeds of about 90 percent of the speed of light.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The abundance of oxygen and ozone in Earth's atmosphere can be explained only through biology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What is the evidence that suggests planetary systems are common in the universe?

Accepted Answer

We know that stars form surrounded by di

Question 17

Which of the following is not key evidence in support of the idea that all life today shares a common ancestor?

Accepted Answer

A) We have identified fossils of the first life forms that ever existed on Earth. 
B) All life uses DNA and the same genetic code. 
C) Mapping of gene sequences shows how life is all related. 
D) All life builds proteins from the same amino acids and uses ATP to store energy in cells. 
A) We have identified fossils of the first life forms that ever existed on Earth. 
B) All life uses DNA and the same genetic code. 
C) Mapping of gene sequences shows how life is all related. 
D) All life builds proteins from the same amino acids and uses ATP to store energy in cells.

Question 18

What type of rocket engine is used by the Space Shuttle?

Accepted Answer

A) chemical rocket 
B) nuclear rocket 
C) matter-antimatter rocket 
D) ramjet 
E) beamed energy propulsion 
A) chemical rocket 
B) nuclear rocket 
C) matter-antimatter rocket 
D) ramjet 
E) beamed energy propulsion

Question 19

When we analyze whether a world is a possible home to life,the key thing we look for is

Accepted Answer

A) the past or present existence of liquid water. 
B) evidence of atmospheric oxygen. 
C) the presence of organic molecules such as amino acids. 
D) surface coloration changes that could indicate vegetative growth. 
A) the past or present existence of liquid water. 
B) evidence of atmospheric oxygen. 
C) the presence of organic molecules such as amino acids. 
D) surface coloration changes that could indicate vegetative growth.

Question 20

The only place outside of Earth where there is irrefutable evidence for (ancient,microbial)life is

Accepted Answer

A) the Moon. 
B) Mars. 
C) Europa. 
D) Titan. 
E) None of the above-there is no irrefutable evidence for life beyond Earth. 
A) the Moon. 
B) Mars. 
C) Europa. 
D) Titan. 
E) None of the above-there is no irrefutable evidence for life beyond Earth.

Exam 24: Life in the Universe

Which of the following best describes the predominant scientific view of the origin of life on Earth?

Briefly explain the paradox of the question "Where are the aliens?"

Suppose a future telescope is able to take a spectrum of a terrestrial planet around another star and reveals the presence of significant amounts of ozone.What would this mean,and why?

At about what fraction of the speed of light do today's spacecraft travel?

Which of the following places is not generally considered a potential home for life in our solar system?

During the 1960s and 1970s,scientists designed a spacecraft based on nuclear propulsion,but it was never built.

What is absolutely necessary for living organisms to survive?

Genetic studies indicate that every living organism on Earth today shares a common ancestor.

The two Voyager spacecraft carry a message from Earth,just in case an alien civilization ever runs across them.

Which of the following gases,which we might be able to detect in infrared spectra,would be a strong indicator of life on another planet?

The habitable zone around a star refers to the places where living organisms are found.

In general,how does the size and location of a star's habitable zone depend on the star's mass?

Which of the following is not considered crucial for life to exist on some world?

If the Space Shuttle were given a much larger fuel tank,it could achieve speeds of about 90 percent of the speed of light.

The abundance of oxygen and ozone in Earth's atmosphere can be explained only through biology.

What is the evidence that suggests planetary systems are common in the universe?

Which of the following is not key evidence in support of the idea that all life today shares a common ancestor?

What type of rocket engine is used by the Space Shuttle?

When we analyze whether a world is a possible home to life,the key thing we look for is

The only place outside of Earth where there is irrefutable evidence for (ancient,microbial)life is

A Modern View of the Universe

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

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

Filters