Question 1

Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason discovered that there was a linear relationship between a galaxy's ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  rotation curve and distance 
B)  mass and luminosity 
C)  age and distance 
D)  apparent recession velocity and distance 
E)  mass and recession velocity 
A)  rotation curve and distance 
B)  mass and luminosity 
C)  age and distance 
D)  apparent recession velocity and distance 
E)  mass and recession velocity

Question 2

Elliptical galaxies contain a mix of old and young stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Compared to other spiral galaxies, the Milky Way is ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  comparable to the smallest and dimmest spirals known 
B)  smaller and dimmer than most spirals 
C)  very average in size and luminosity 
D)  larger and brighter than most spirals 
E)  comparable to the largest and brightest spirals known 
A)  comparable to the smallest and dimmest spirals known 
B)  smaller and dimmer than most spirals 
C)  very average in size and luminosity 
D)  larger and brighter than most spirals 
E)  comparable to the largest and brightest spirals known

Question 4

The velocity dispersion method can be used to find the _______________ of a galaxy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The velocity dispersion method can be used...

Question 5

The diameter and luminosity of a galaxy do not determine its type.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A key piece of evidence that leads astronomers to conclude that most galaxies include a supermassive black hole in the center is that ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  high-speed disks of gas are observed in the central parsecs of other galaxies 
B)  streamers of gas from stars that have been torn apart are detected in most galactic centers 
C)  stars near the center of other galaxies are orbiting more rapidly than expected 
D)  the mass of all galaxies is much more than expected based on the visible material in the galaxy 
E)  the disks of all spiral galaxies rotate more quickly than Kepler's laws predict 
A)  high-speed disks of gas are observed in the central parsecs of other galaxies 
B)  streamers of gas from stars that have been torn apart are detected in most galactic centers 
C)  stars near the center of other galaxies are orbiting more rapidly than expected 
D)  the mass of all galaxies is much more than expected based on the visible material in the galaxy 
E)  the disks of all spiral galaxies rotate more quickly than Kepler's laws predict

Question 7

In general, ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  spiral galaxies are the most common galaxies, and are make up most of the cataloged galaxies 
B)  elliptical galaxies are the most common galaxies, and are make up most of the cataloged galaxies 
C)  most cataloged galaxies are spiral, but dwarf galaxies are the most common 
D)  most cataloged galaxies are elliptical, but spiral galaxies are the most common 
E)  most cataloged galaxies are spiral, but elliptical galaxies are the most common. 
A)  spiral galaxies are the most common galaxies, and are make up most of the cataloged galaxies 
B)  elliptical galaxies are the most common galaxies, and are make up most of the cataloged galaxies 
C)  most cataloged galaxies are spiral, but dwarf galaxies are the most common 
D)  most cataloged galaxies are elliptical, but spiral galaxies are the most common 
E)  most cataloged galaxies are spiral, but elliptical galaxies are the most common.

Question 8

What direct evidence is there for galactic collisions? Discuss examples of directly observable phenomena linked to collisions.

Accepted Answer

The gravitational field of one galaxy ca

Question 9

The farthest galaxies that astronomers have seen are all elliptical galaxies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

An astronomer would find a type Ia supernova in a distant galaxy useful as a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  spiral tracer 
B)  gravitational lens 
C)  age calibration 
D)  rotation curve 
E)  standard candle 
A)  spiral tracer 
B)  gravitational lens 
C)  age calibration 
D)  rotation curve 
E)  standard candle

Question 11

Gentle gravitational tidal forces appear to be necessary to create spiral arms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The identification of "spiral nebulae" as large groupings of stars outside of our own galaxy was proven by ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  photographic plates made by Edwin Hubble showing stars and Cepheid variables 
B)  the results of the Shapley-Curtis debate 
C)  Immanual Kant's "island universe" theory 
D)  William Parsons' observation and description of their spiral structure 
E)  Harlow Shapley's observations of their radio spectrum 
A)  photographic plates made by Edwin Hubble showing stars and Cepheid variables 
B)  the results of the Shapley-Curtis debate 
C)  Immanual Kant's "island universe" theory 
D)  William Parsons' observation and description of their spiral structure 
E)  Harlow Shapley's observations of their radio spectrum

Question 13

All of the farthest detectable galaxies are _______________ galaxies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the farthest detectable galaxies are...

Question 14

Hot, low-density gas can be detected in galactic clusters through X-ray emission. The gas is important in understanding dark matter because ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  dark matter is responsible for heating the gas 
B)  dark matter must make the cluster massive enough to hold on to the hot gas 
C)  the gas may be the source of dark matter 
D)  the gas is clumped in empty places between galaxies where there is more dark matter 
E)  the gas is produced by dark matter 
A)  dark matter is responsible for heating the gas 
B)  dark matter must make the cluster massive enough to hold on to the hot gas 
C)  the gas may be the source of dark matter 
D)  the gas is clumped in empty places between galaxies where there is more dark matter 
E)  the gas is produced by dark matter

Question 15

In which of the following types of galaxies would you expect to find active star formation?

Accepted Answer

A)  elliptical galaxies only 
B)  elliptical and spiral galaxies 
C)  spiral galaxies only 
D)  elliptical and irregular galaxies 
E)  spiral and irregular galaxies 
A)  elliptical galaxies only 
B)  elliptical and spiral galaxies 
C)  spiral galaxies only 
D)  elliptical and irregular galaxies 
E)  spiral and irregular galaxies

Question 16

Why are methods to determine the distances to galaxies termed the "distance ladder"? Explain the term with examples.

Accepted Answer

Distances in space are difficult to meas

Question 17

Galactic collisions ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  are very rare, since few galaxies are in clusters 
B)  will cause stars in each galaxy to collide and trigger supernova events 
C)  often trigger bursts of star formation 
D)  only happen in poor clusters 
E)  usually break large galaxy into several small ones 
A)  are very rare, since few galaxies are in clusters 
B)  will cause stars in each galaxy to collide and trigger supernova events 
C)  often trigger bursts of star formation 
D)  only happen in poor clusters 
E)  usually break large galaxy into several small ones

Question 18

What is galactic cannibalism?

Accepted Answer

A large galaxy can pull materi

Question 19

Dark matter is detectable in the coronae of ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  elliptical galaxies only 
B)  spiral galaxies only 
C)  irregular galaxies only 
D)  spiral and elliptical galaxies only 
E)  all galaxies 
A)  elliptical galaxies only 
B)  spiral galaxies only 
C)  irregular galaxies only 
D)  spiral and elliptical galaxies only 
E)  all galaxies

Question 20

Gravitational lensing is caused by ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  refraction of light through hot intracluster gas 
B)  stimulated emission of light passing through dark matter 
C)  acceleration of photons by supermassive black holes 
D)  scattering of photons off of thin intergalactic dust 
E)  bending of light rays due to the curvature of space-time around a mass 
A)  refraction of light through hot intracluster gas 
B)  stimulated emission of light passing through dark matter 
C)  acceleration of photons by supermassive black holes 
D)  scattering of photons off of thin intergalactic dust 
E)  bending of light rays due to the curvature of space-time around a mass

Exam 16: Galaxies

Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason discovered that there was a linear relationship between a galaxy's ____.

Elliptical galaxies contain a mix of old and young stars.

Compared to other spiral galaxies, the Milky Way is ____.

The velocity dispersion method can be used to find the _______________ of a galaxy.

The diameter and luminosity of a galaxy do not determine its type.

A key piece of evidence that leads astronomers to conclude that most galaxies include a supermassive black hole in the center is that ____.

In general, ____.

What direct evidence is there for galactic collisions? Discuss examples of directly observable phenomena linked to collisions.

The farthest galaxies that astronomers have seen are all elliptical galaxies.

An astronomer would find a type Ia supernova in a distant galaxy useful as a(n) ____.

Gentle gravitational tidal forces appear to be necessary to create spiral arms.

The identification of "spiral nebulae" as large groupings of stars outside of our own galaxy was proven by ____.

All of the farthest detectable galaxies are _______________ galaxies.

Hot, low-density gas can be detected in galactic clusters through X-ray emission. The gas is important in understanding dark matter because ____.

In which of the following types of galaxies would you expect to find active star formation?

Why are methods to determine the distances to galaxies termed the "distance ladder"? Explain the term with examples.

Galactic collisions ____.

What is galactic cannibalism?

Dark matter is detectable in the coronae of ____.

Gravitational lensing is caused by ____.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Interstellar Medium

Formation and Structure of Stars

Stellar Evolution

Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Supermassive Black Holes and Active Galaxies

Modern Cosmology

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth the Active Planet

The Moon and Mercury

Venus and Mars

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Uranus Neptune Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

Meteorites Asteroids and Comets

Astrobiology

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