Question 1

The disk of the Milky Way appears bluish because of the light from the many O- and B-type stars found there. What color tint would you expect globular clusters to take on?

Accepted Answer

A) white-that is, a random mixture of all the visible colors 
B) red 
C) green 
D) blue 
A) white-that is, a random mixture of all the visible colors 
B) red 
C) green 
D) blue

Question 2

If you were to view our galaxy from outside, you would find that the spiral arms:

Accepted Answer

A) stand out because they have many times the density of stars as the region between the stars. 
B) stand out because the bright O and B stars are there. 
C) are hard to detect because the density of stars is almost uniform across the galaxy. 
D) stand out because the red giants are there. 
A) stand out because they have many times the density of stars as the region between the stars. 
B) stand out because the bright O and B stars are there. 
C) are hard to detect because the density of stars is almost uniform across the galaxy. 
D) stand out because the red giants are there.

Question 3

The most important electromagnetic bands for studying the galactic center do NOT include which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) infrared 
B) visible 
C) radio 
D) x ray 
A) infrared 
B) visible 
C) radio 
D) x ray

Question 4

What is the Local Bubble?

Accepted Answer

A) a region near the Sun devoid of interstellar gas and dust 
B) a region of neutral hydrogen centered on the Sun 
C) a region of ionized hydrogen centered on the Sun 
D) a region near the Sun of very rarified but high-temperature gas 
A) a region near the Sun devoid of interstellar gas and dust 
B) a region of neutral hydrogen centered on the Sun 
C) a region of ionized hydrogen centered on the Sun 
D) a region near the Sun of very rarified but high-temperature gas

Question 5

Assuming an absolutely flat rotation curve, what would be the orbital speed of a star on the outer edge of the disk of the observable galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) 160 km/s 
B) 220 km/s 
C) 510 km/s 
D) 680 km/s 
A) 160 km/s 
B) 220 km/s 
C) 510 km/s 
D) 680 km/s

Question 6

The center of the Milky Way Galaxy is characterized by each of the following EXCEPT ONE. Which is the EXCEPTION?

Accepted Answer

A) synchrotron (nonthermal) radiation produced by electrons spiraling in a powerful magnetic field 
B) huge filaments of gas similar in structure to solar prominences 
C) continuous bursts of powerful x-ray radiation 
D) a halo of lobes of hot, ionized x-ray-emitting gas 
A) synchrotron (nonthermal) radiation produced by electrons spiraling in a powerful magnetic field 
B) huge filaments of gas similar in structure to solar prominences 
C) continuous bursts of powerful x-ray radiation 
D) a halo of lobes of hot, ionized x-ray-emitting gas

Question 7

The dimensions of our galaxy are not precisely known. For example, our distance to the galactic center is known only to 8 ± 1 kpc. One fundamental reason for this lack of further knowledge is that:

Accepted Answer

A) the Milky Way Galaxy is an irregular galaxy without much uniformity. 
B) the whole system rotates rapidly, making measurements difficult. 
C) our detection systems are not powerful enough to see across the entire galaxy. 
D) we are inside the galaxy. 
A) the Milky Way Galaxy is an irregular galaxy without much uniformity. 
B) the whole system rotates rapidly, making measurements difficult. 
C) our detection systems are not powerful enough to see across the entire galaxy. 
D) we are inside the galaxy.

Question 8

Three of the following are reasons why visible emissions from neutral hydrogen in the far regions of the Milky Way Galaxy would be difficult at best to detect on Earth. Which is NOT a correct explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) Neutral hydrogen does not emit visible light unless it receives an input of energy, which is unlikely in the cold regions of interstellar space. 
B) The density of neutral hydrogen is too low to emit enough visible light to be detected. 
C) Interstellar extinction would delete visible light before it crossed the galaxy. 
D) At these cold temperatures, Wien's law gives an emission intensity that is essentially zero. 
A) Neutral hydrogen does not emit visible light unless it receives an input of energy, which is unlikely in the cold regions of interstellar space. 
B) The density of neutral hydrogen is too low to emit enough visible light to be detected. 
C) Interstellar extinction would delete visible light before it crossed the galaxy. 
D) At these cold temperatures, Wien's law gives an emission intensity that is essentially zero.

The disk of the Milky Way appears bluish because of the light from the many O- and B-type stars found there. What color tint would you expect globular clusters to take on?

If you were to view our galaxy from outside, you would find that the spiral arms:

The most important electromagnetic bands for studying the galactic center do NOT include which one of the following?

What is the Local Bubble?

Assuming an absolutely flat rotation curve, what would be the orbital speed of a star on the outer edge of the disk of the observable galaxy?

The center of the Milky Way Galaxy is characterized by each of the following EXCEPT ONE. Which is the EXCEPTION?

The dimensions of our galaxy are not precisely known. For example, our distance to the galactic center is known only to 8 ± 1 kpc. One fundamental reason for this lack of further knowledge is that:

Three of the following are reasons why visible emissions from neutral hydrogen in the far regions of the Milky Way Galaxy would be difficult at best to detect on Earth. Which is NOT a correct explanation?

Astronomy and the Universe

Knowing the Heavens

Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The Nature of Light

Optics and Telescopes

Comparative Planetology I: Our Solar System

Comparative Planetology II: the Origin of Our Solar System

The Living Earth

Our Barren Moon

Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Terrestrial, yet Unique

Jupiter and Saturn: Lords of the Planets

Jupiter and Saturns Satellites of Fire and Ice

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt: Remote Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts

Our Star, the Sun

The Nature of the Stars

The Birth of Stars

Stellar Evolution: on and After the Main Sequence

Stellar Evolution: The Death of Stars

Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Galaxies

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

Exploring the Early Universe

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Filters

Exam 22: Our Galaxy

The disk of the Milky Way appears bluish because of the light from the many O- and B-type stars found there. What color tint would you expect globular clusters to take on?

If you were to view our galaxy from outside, you would find that the spiral arms:

The most important electromagnetic bands for studying the galactic center do NOT include which one of the following?

What is the Local Bubble?

Assuming an absolutely flat rotation curve, what would be the orbital speed of a star on the outer edge of the disk of the observable galaxy?

The center of the Milky Way Galaxy is characterized by each of the following EXCEPT ONE. Which is the EXCEPTION?

The dimensions of our galaxy are not precisely known. For example, our distance to the galactic center is known only to 8 ± 1 kpc. One fundamental reason for this lack of further knowledge is that:

Three of the following are reasons why visible emissions from neutral hydrogen in the far regions of the Milky Way Galaxy would be difficult at best to detect on Earth. Which is NOT a correct explanation?

Astronomy and the Universe

Knowing the Heavens

Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The Nature of Light

Optics and Telescopes

Comparative Planetology I: Our Solar System

Comparative Planetology II: the Origin of Our Solar System

The Living Earth

Our Barren Moon

Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Terrestrial, yet Unique

Jupiter and Saturn: Lords of the Planets

Jupiter and Saturns Satellites of Fire and Ice

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt: Remote Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts

Our Star, the Sun

The Nature of the Stars

The Birth of Stars

Stellar Evolution: on and After the Main Sequence

Stellar Evolution: The Death of Stars

Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Galaxies

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

Exploring the Early Universe

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Filters