Question 1

Which of the following does current evidence suggest about the universe?

Accepted Answer

A) It is flat, infinite, and neither expanding nor contracting. 
B) It is closed, finite, and its expansion is slowing. 
C) It is open, infinite, and its expansion is slowing. 
D) It is flat, infinite, and its expansion is accelerating. 
A) It is flat, infinite, and neither expanding nor contracting. 
B) It is closed, finite, and its expansion is slowing. 
C) It is open, infinite, and its expansion is slowing. 
D) It is flat, infinite, and its expansion is accelerating.

Question 2

During its early history,matter dominated the universe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

A(n)____________________ universe is infinite and would have a density equal to the critical density.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)____________________ universe is infinite and would have...

Question 4

What is dark energy?

Accepted Answer

A) the energy associated with dark matter 
B) the energy associated with the cosmic microwave background 
C) the energy causing the universe to expand 
D) the energy causing the universe's expansion to accelerate 
A) the energy associated with dark matter 
B) the energy associated with the cosmic microwave background 
C) the energy causing the universe to expand 
D) the energy causing the universe's expansion to accelerate

Question 5

What elements would you measure the abundance of,if you wanted to infer the amount of normal ("baryonic")matter in the early universe?

Accepted Answer

A) lithium and boron 
B) carbon and oxygen 
C) lithium and deuterium 
D) hydrogen and helium 
A) lithium and boron 
B) carbon and oxygen 
C) lithium and deuterium 
D) hydrogen and helium

Question 6

The measured temperature of the cosmic background radiation is ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The measured temperature of the cosmic background...

Question 7

Upon what false assumption is Olbers' paradox based?

Accepted Answer

Olbers' Paradox is a famous argument in

Question 8

What is the current best determination of the Hubble constant?

Accepted Answer

A) about 0.07 km/sec/Mpc 
B) about 7 km/sec/Mpc 
C) 70 km/sec/Mpc 
D) 700 km/sec/Mpc 
A) about 0.07 km/sec/Mpc 
B) about 7 km/sec/Mpc 
C) 70 km/sec/Mpc 
D) 700 km/sec/Mpc

Question 9

Imagine three universes that have the same expansion rate and contain no dark energy: an open universe,a closed universe,and a flat universe.The open universe has its expansion slowed down less by the effects of matter than the closed universe or the flat universe does.Based on this,what can you say about the age of the open universe compared to the other two?

Accepted Answer

A) The open universe will be older than both the flat and closed universes. 
B) The open universe will be younger than both the flat and closed universes. 
C) All three universes will be the same age. 
A) The open universe will be older than both the flat and closed universes. 
B) The open universe will be younger than both the flat and closed universes. 
C) All three universes will be the same age.

Question 10

Suppose you found a gas cloud,the atoms of which had never been part of a star.What would you expect its composition to be?

Accepted Answer

A) 100% hydrogen 
B) 75% hydrogen and 25% helium 
C) 70% hydrogen, 25% helium, and 5% other elements (carbon, oxygen, etc.) 
D) 50% hydrogen and 50% helium 
A) 100% hydrogen 
B) 75% hydrogen and 25% helium 
C) 70% hydrogen, 25% helium, and 5% other elements (carbon, oxygen, etc.) 
D) 50% hydrogen and 50% helium

Question 11

What property of the universe includes filaments,walls,and voids?

Accepted Answer

A) quantum fluctuations 
B) large-scale structure 
C) homogeneity 
D) isotropy 
A) quantum fluctuations 
B) large-scale structure 
C) homogeneity 
D) isotropy

Question 12

Why did Einstein say that the cosmological constant was his "biggest blunder"?

Accepted Answer

A) It made his equations unable to describe the universe. 
B) When he introduced it, he didn't know about the expanding universe. 
C) When he introduced it, he didn't know about the accelerating universe. 
D) When he introduced it, he didn't know about the existence of galaxies. 
A) It made his equations unable to describe the universe. 
B) When he introduced it, he didn't know about the expanding universe. 
C) When he introduced it, he didn't know about the accelerating universe. 
D) When he introduced it, he didn't know about the existence of galaxies.

Question 13

If the average density of the universe is less than the critical density,the universe is open.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

What observation has prompted astronomers to ponder the possible existence of dark energy?

Accepted Answer

A) discovery of quasars 
B) discovery of superclusters 
C) supernovae appearing fainter than expected at large redshifts 
D) uniform nature of the cosmic microwave background (CM
B)  
A) discovery of quasars 
B) discovery of superclusters 
C) supernovae appearing fainter than expected at large redshifts 
D) uniform nature of the cosmic microwave background (CM
B)

Question 15

What does the Large Hadron Collider have to do with cosmology?

Accepted Answer

A) It is accelerating electrons so that they can travel across the universe. 
B) It is accelerating protons to energies like those in the very early universe. 
C) Its superconducting magnets are the same temperature as most of the universe. 
D) It will produce deuterium and helium by fusion, as in the very early universe. 
A) It is accelerating electrons so that they can travel across the universe. 
B) It is accelerating protons to energies like those in the very early universe. 
C) Its superconducting magnets are the same temperature as most of the universe. 
D) It will produce deuterium and helium by fusion, as in the very early universe.

Question 16

The rate of expansion of the universe is currently increasing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Most of the elements heavier than helium were made during the first few minutes after the Big Bang.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is the fate of an open universe that has no dark energy?

Accepted Answer

A) expansion forever 
B) eventual collapse 
C) gradual halt to the expansion 
D) can't be known without density information 
A) expansion forever 
B) eventual collapse 
C) gradual halt to the expansion 
D) can't be known without density information

Question 19

The inflationary theory of the universe may explain why the background radiation is so isotropic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How might we tell whether the universe is open or closed?

Accepted Answer

To determine whether the universe is ope

Which of the following does current evidence suggest about the universe?

During its early history,matter dominated the universe.

A(n)____________________ universe is infinite and would have a density equal to the critical density.

What is dark energy?

What elements would you measure the abundance of,if you wanted to infer the amount of normal ("baryonic")matter in the early universe?

The measured temperature of the cosmic background radiation is ____________________.

Upon what false assumption is Olbers' paradox based?

What is the current best determination of the Hubble constant?

Suppose you found a gas cloud,the atoms of which had never been part of a star.What would you expect its composition to be?

What property of the universe includes filaments,walls,and voids?

Why did Einstein say that the cosmological constant was his "biggest blunder"?

If the average density of the universe is less than the critical density,the universe is open.

What observation has prompted astronomers to ponder the possible existence of dark energy?

What does the Large Hadron Collider have to do with cosmology?

The rate of expansion of the universe is currently increasing.

Most of the elements heavier than helium were made during the first few minutes after the Big Bang.

What is the fate of an open universe that has no dark energy?

The inflationary theory of the universe may explain why the background radiation is so isotropic.

How might we tell whether the universe is open or closed?

The Scale of the Cosmos

User's Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments

Sun Light and Sun Atoms

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

The Origin of the Solar System

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

Comparative Planetology of the Jovian Planets

Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 11: Cosmology in the 21st Century

Which of the following does current evidence suggest about the universe?

During its early history,matter dominated the universe.

A(n)____________________ universe is infinite and would have a density equal to the critical density.

What is dark energy?

What elements would you measure the abundance of,if you wanted to infer the amount of normal ("baryonic")matter in the early universe?

The measured temperature of the cosmic background radiation is ____________________.

Upon what false assumption is Olbers' paradox based?

What is the current best determination of the Hubble constant?

Suppose you found a gas cloud,the atoms of which had never been part of a star.What would you expect its composition to be?

What property of the universe includes filaments,walls,and voids?

Why did Einstein say that the cosmological constant was his "biggest blunder"?

If the average density of the universe is less than the critical density,the universe is open.

What observation has prompted astronomers to ponder the possible existence of dark energy?

What does the Large Hadron Collider have to do with cosmology?

The rate of expansion of the universe is currently increasing.

Most of the elements heavier than helium were made during the first few minutes after the Big Bang.

What is the fate of an open universe that has no dark energy?

The inflationary theory of the universe may explain why the background radiation is so isotropic.

How might we tell whether the universe is open or closed?

The Scale of the Cosmos

User's Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments

Sun Light and Sun Atoms

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

The Origin of the Solar System

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

Comparative Planetology of the Jovian Planets

Life on Other Worlds

Filters