Question 1

The core of the Milky Way,Sagittarius A,is a strong radio source in the sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The location of the Galactic Center was first found by Harlow Shapley with:

Accepted Answer

A)  radio emissions from Sagittarius A. 
B)  Cepheids of Population I in the spiral arms. 
C)  RR Lyrae variables in the globular clusters. 
D)  planetary nebulae in the open clusters. 
E)  infrared observations of the heat from its accretion disk around the black hole. 
A)  radio emissions from Sagittarius A. 
B)  Cepheids of Population I in the spiral arms. 
C)  RR Lyrae variables in the globular clusters. 
D)  planetary nebulae in the open clusters. 
E)  infrared observations of the heat from its accretion disk around the black hole.

Question 3

The RR Lyrae stars all have periods of:

Accepted Answer

A)  less than a second. 
B)  several minutes. 
C)  several hours. 
D)  several days. 
E)  several weeks. 
A)  less than a second. 
B)  several minutes. 
C)  several hours. 
D)  several days. 
E)  several weeks.

Question 4

What two observations allow us to calculate the Galaxy's mass?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun's mass and velocity in orbit of the Galactic Center 
B)  the Sun's age and period of the Galactic Year 
C)  the Sun's orbital velocity and its distance from the Galactic Center 
D)  the Sun's mass and its age 
E)  the Sun's composition and luminosity 
A)  the Sun's mass and velocity in orbit of the Galactic Center 
B)  the Sun's age and period of the Galactic Year 
C)  the Sun's orbital velocity and its distance from the Galactic Center 
D)  the Sun's mass and its age 
E)  the Sun's composition and luminosity

Question 5

William Herschel's original model for our Galaxy was based on counting stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What are the observational pieces of evidence that confirm the existence of a three-part structure (bulge,disk,halo)to the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

The Galactic halo is observed by mapping

Question 7

How are Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars different?

Accepted Answer

Cepheids are large mass variable stars w

Question 8

Shapley found the Sun is located about halfway out the disk from the center of the disk of the Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

All RR Lyrae stars have about the same:

Accepted Answer

A)  period of six hours. 
B)  distance of 32 light years. 
C)  galactic location and speed. 
D)  luminosity of about 100 Suns. 
E)  locations in the centers of globular star clusters. 
A)  period of six hours. 
B)  distance of 32 light years. 
C)  galactic location and speed. 
D)  luminosity of about 100 Suns. 
E)  locations in the centers of globular star clusters.

Question 10

Based on star counts,100 years ago most astronomers thought:

Accepted Answer

A)  we lay about 30,000 ly out from the center of the Galaxy. 
B)  we lay near the center of a disk about 10 kpc wide and 2 kpc thick. 
C)  we lay in a spiral arm of the largest galaxy in the universe. 
D)  we lay near the edge of the only galaxy in the universe. 
E)  we were not a part of any structure larger than the known solar system. 
A)  we lay about 30,000 ly out from the center of the Galaxy. 
B)  we lay near the center of a disk about 10 kpc wide and 2 kpc thick. 
C)  we lay in a spiral arm of the largest galaxy in the universe. 
D)  we lay near the edge of the only galaxy in the universe. 
E)  we were not a part of any structure larger than the known solar system.

Question 11

Detailed measurements of the disk and central bulge region of our Galaxy suggest our Milky Way is a:

Accepted Answer

A)  normal spiral galaxy. 
B)  barred spiral galaxy. 
C)  very flat elliptical galaxy. 
D)  very dusty irregular galaxy. 
E)  quasar. 
A)  normal spiral galaxy. 
B)  barred spiral galaxy. 
C)  very flat elliptical galaxy. 
D)  very dusty irregular galaxy. 
E)  quasar.

Question 12

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Accepted Answer

A)  5 kpc 
B)  8 kpc 
C)  15 kpc 
D)  50 kpc 
E)  200 kpc 
A)  5 kpc 
B)  8 kpc 
C)  15 kpc 
D)  50 kpc 
E)  200 kpc

Question 13

Which of the following is most like the rotation of stars in the disk of the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

A)  a DVD in a player 
B)  the planets in our solar system 
C)  cars moving at a constant speed on a circular race track 
D)  the hands of an analog clock 
E)  the tire of a car moving 
A)  a DVD in a player 
B)  the planets in our solar system 
C)  cars moving at a constant speed on a circular race track 
D)  the hands of an analog clock 
E)  the tire of a car moving

Question 14

The Galactic center in ________ is best studied using radio and infrared observations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Galactic center in ________ is best...

Question 15

Density waves may explain:

Accepted Answer

A)  the lack of blue stars in the halo. 
B)  the random orbits of halo stars. 
C)  the density of red stars in the bulge. 
D)  the spiral arm structure of the Galaxy. 
E)  the large number of open clusters in the halo. 
A)  the lack of blue stars in the halo. 
B)  the random orbits of halo stars. 
C)  the density of red stars in the bulge. 
D)  the spiral arm structure of the Galaxy. 
E)  the large number of open clusters in the halo.

Question 16

Why was Herschel's strategy for mapping our Galaxy flawed?

Accepted Answer

A)  His infrared telescopes couldn't penetrate the dust clouds. 
B)  He used globular clusters, lying above the dust in the disc. 
C)  He relied on visual wavelengths, which are obscured by dust. 
D)  He used radio telescopes that didn't give enough resolution. 
E)  He assumed Earth was at the extreme edge of the Galaxy. 
A)  His infrared telescopes couldn't penetrate the dust clouds. 
B)  He used globular clusters, lying above the dust in the disc. 
C)  He relied on visual wavelengths, which are obscured by dust. 
D)  He used radio telescopes that didn't give enough resolution. 
E)  He assumed Earth was at the extreme edge of the Galaxy.

Question 17

Most of the mass of the Milky Way seems to exist in the form of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Population I stars in the disk. 
B)  Population II stars in the Halo. 
C)  hydrogen gas in the disk and spiral arms. 
D)  dark matter out in the Halo. 
E)  the black hole in the Galactic Center. 
A)  Population I stars in the disk. 
B)  Population II stars in the Halo. 
C)  hydrogen gas in the disk and spiral arms. 
D)  dark matter out in the Halo. 
E)  the black hole in the Galactic Center.

Question 18

Which of the following are most massive and luminous?

Accepted Answer

A)  brown dwarfs 
B)  RR Lyrae variables 
C)  white dwarfs 
D)  T-Tauri variables 
E)  Cepheid variables 
A)  brown dwarfs 
B)  RR Lyrae variables 
C)  white dwarfs 
D)  T-Tauri variables 
E)  Cepheid variables

Question 19

Which two classes of objects were critical to the Shapley-Curtiss Debate of 1920?

Accepted Answer

A)  white dwarfs and red giants 
B)  open clusters and emission nebulae 
C)  globular clusters and spiral nebulae 
D)  emission nebulae and spiral nebulae 
E)  planetary nebulae and white dwarfs 
A)  white dwarfs and red giants 
B)  open clusters and emission nebulae 
C)  globular clusters and spiral nebulae 
D)  emission nebulae and spiral nebulae 
E)  planetary nebulae and white dwarfs

Question 20

It is harder to map the structure of the Milky Way as a whole in visible light than with any other form of electromagnetic radiation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 23: The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space

The core of the Milky Way,Sagittarius A,is a strong radio source in the sky.

The location of the Galactic Center was first found by Harlow Shapley with:

The RR Lyrae stars all have periods of:

What two observations allow us to calculate the Galaxy's mass?

William Herschel's original model for our Galaxy was based on counting stars.

What are the observational pieces of evidence that confirm the existence of a three-part structure (bulge,disk,halo)to the Milky Way Galaxy?

How are Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars different?

Shapley found the Sun is located about halfway out the disk from the center of the disk of the Galaxy.

All RR Lyrae stars have about the same:

Based on star counts,100 years ago most astronomers thought:

Detailed measurements of the disk and central bulge region of our Galaxy suggest our Milky Way is a:

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Which of the following is most like the rotation of stars in the disk of the Milky Way?

The Galactic center in ________ is best studied using radio and infrared observations.

Density waves may explain:

Why was Herschel's strategy for mapping our Galaxy flawed?

Most of the mass of the Milky Way seems to exist in the form of:

Which of the following are most massive and luminous?

Which two classes of objects were critical to the Shapley-Curtiss Debate of 1920?

It is harder to map the structure of the Milky Way as a whole in visible light than with any other form of electromagnetic radiation.

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information from the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: The Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earth's Sister Planet

Mars: A Near Miss for Life?

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants,Dwarfs,and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust among the Stars

Star Formation: A Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae,Supernovae,and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

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