Question 1

The night sky is dark because the Universe is not infinitely old.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Observations of type Ia supernovae reveal that the expansion of the universe is speeding up because of the presence of ___________ in empty space.

Accepted Answer

dark energy

Question 3

During the first moments of the big bang when elements could be created, nuclear fusion reactions made few heavy elements because

Accepted Answer

A)  all heavy nuclei are unstable. 
B)  no stable nuclei exist with masses of 5 or 8 hydrogen masses. 
C)  the helium nucleus is unstable. 
D)  the temperature and density were too low. 
E)  no nuclei heavier than helium could form since there weren't any electrons formed. 
A)  all heavy nuclei are unstable. 
B)  no stable nuclei exist with masses of 5 or 8 hydrogen masses. 
C)  the helium nucleus is unstable. 
D)  the temperature and density were too low. 
E)  no nuclei heavier than helium could form since there weren't any electrons formed. B

Question 4

If matter and antimatter combine, the result is energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Describe how we know that the expansion rate of the Universe is currently accelerating.

Accepted Answer

​ 
A study of type Ia supernovae showed

Question 6

Dark matter is known to be the source to dark energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What is the difference between homogeneity and isotropy?

Accepted Answer

Think of a dart board. Isotropy is radia

Question 8

Which of the following simulated curvatures best matches the above observations of non-uniformity (i.e., irregularities) in the CMB?

Accepted Answer

A)    
B)    
C)    
D)  All of the other choices are correct. 
A)    
B)    
C)    
D)  All of the other choices are correct.

Question 9

If the Universe were infinitely large, infinitely old, and static, then the CMB would appear uniform (i.e., homogenous and isotropic).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

How is Olbers's paradox explained?

Accepted Answer

​ 
The Universe may be  infinite in size

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT true about the above graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  Helium was formed early in the universe but the universe became too cool for the fusion to continue. 
B)  Recombination occurs at a lower temperature than electron-positron annihilation. 
C)  A time existed where neither radiation nor matter dominated in the universe. 
D)  Temperature increases with time. 
A)  Helium was formed early in the universe but the universe became too cool for the fusion to continue. 
B)  Recombination occurs at a lower temperature than electron-positron annihilation. 
C)  A time existed where neither radiation nor matter dominated in the universe. 
D)  Temperature increases with time.

Question 12

Why is the primordial background radiation visible in all directions?

Accepted Answer

​ According to the inflationary universe

Question 13

Which of the following agrees with a no-center, no-edge Universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  a flat geometry 
B)  a positive-curved geometry 
C)  a negative-curved geometry 
D)  All of the other choices are correct. 
A)  a flat geometry 
B)  a positive-curved geometry 
C)  a negative-curved geometry 
D)  All of the other choices are correct.

Question 14

Prior to 10-36 seconds, the Universe existed as one unified force.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The above cartoon shows the present Universe as it appears from the vantage point of our solar system, which is in the upper left corner of the figure. According to the cosmological principle, how will the view change if we turned around 180 degrees and looked in the other direction? How do you know?

Accepted Answer

​ 
The same view, be

Question 16

The sum of the baryonic and non-baryonic matter is 27.9% and thus equal to the critical density.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What do the size and distribution of small scale temperature variations suggest about the geometry of the Universe?

Accepted Answer

Theory predicts that most of the irregul

Question 18

The Hubble time is

Accepted Answer

A)  the time it takes a galaxy moving at 1000 km/s to move 1 Mpc. 
B)  the time it takes the galaxy to double its size. 
C)  the time since recombination occurred. 
D)  the time remaining before the Universe stops expanding and begins to contract. 
E)  an estimate of the age of the Universe based on the Hubble constant. 
A)  the time it takes a galaxy moving at 1000 km/s to move 1 Mpc. 
B)  the time it takes the galaxy to double its size. 
C)  the time since recombination occurred. 
D)  the time remaining before the Universe stops expanding and begins to contract. 
E)  an estimate of the age of the Universe based on the Hubble constant.

Question 19

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 20

Cosmology is the study of the structure, history, and evolution of the observable Universe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The night sky is dark because the Universe is not infinitely old.

Observations of type Ia supernovae reveal that the expansion of the universe is speeding up because of the presence of ___________ in empty space.

During the first moments of the big bang when elements could be created, nuclear fusion reactions made few heavy elements because

If matter and antimatter combine, the result is energy.

Describe how we know that the expansion rate of the Universe is currently accelerating.

Dark matter is known to be the source to dark energy.

What is the difference between homogeneity and isotropy?

Which of the following simulated curvatures best matches the above observations of non-uniformity (i.e., irregularities) in the CMB?

If the Universe were infinitely large, infinitely old, and static, then the CMB would appear uniform (i.e., homogenous and isotropic).

How is Olbers's paradox explained?

Which of the following is NOT true about the above graph?

Why is the primordial background radiation visible in all directions?

Which of the following agrees with a no-center, no-edge Universe?

Prior to 10^-36 seconds, the Universe existed as one unified force.

The sum of the baryonic and non-baryonic matter is 27.9% and thus equal to the critical density.

What do the size and distribution of small scale temperature variations suggest about the geometry of the Universe?

The Hubble time is

Most of the elements heavier than helium were made during the first few minutes after the big bang.

Cosmology is the study of the structure, history, and evolution of the observable Universe.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 14: Modern Cosmology

The night sky is dark because the Universe is not infinitely old.

Observations of type Ia supernovae reveal that the expansion of the universe is speeding up because of the presence of ___________ in empty space.

During the first moments of the big bang when elements could be created, nuclear fusion reactions made few heavy elements because

If matter and antimatter combine, the result is energy.

Describe how we know that the expansion rate of the Universe is currently accelerating.

Dark matter is known to be the source to dark energy.

What is the difference between homogeneity and isotropy?

Which of the following simulated curvatures best matches the above observations of non-uniformity (i.e., irregularities) in the CMB?

If the Universe were infinitely large, infinitely old, and static, then the CMB would appear uniform (i.e., homogenous and isotropic).

How is Olbers's paradox explained?

Which of the following is NOT true about the above graph?

Why is the primordial background radiation visible in all directions?

Which of the following agrees with a no-center, no-edge Universe?

Prior to 10-36 seconds, the Universe existed as one unified force.

The sum of the baryonic and non-baryonic matter is 27.9% and thus equal to the critical density.

What do the size and distribution of small scale temperature variations suggest about the geometry of the Universe?

The Hubble time is

Most of the elements heavier than helium were made during the first few minutes after the big bang.

Cosmology is the study of the structure, history, and evolution of the observable Universe.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Prior to 10^-36 seconds, the Universe existed as one unified force.