Question 1

Why do the most massive stars leave black hole remnants after they die?

Accepted Answer

Their cores are so m

Question 2

Einstein showed that Newton's physics is:

Accepted Answer

A)  wrong. 
B)  accurate only at low masses. 
C)  accurate only at large distances. 
D)  accurate only at low velocities. 
A)  wrong. 
B)  accurate only at low masses. 
C)  accurate only at large distances. 
D)  accurate only at low velocities.

Question 3

What do astronomers believe exists in the center of nearly every galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a gamma-ray burst 
B)  a massive dust cloud 
C)  a star-forming region 
D)  a black hole 
A)  a gamma-ray burst 
B)  a massive dust cloud 
C)  a star-forming region 
D)  a black hole

Question 4

Why is quantum mechanics necessary for resolving the puzzle of a black hole's singularity?

Accepted Answer

A)  It implies that space is granular on the smallest scales. 
B)  It is necessary for very massive systems. 
C)  It is necessary to explain the gravitational redshift. 
D)  It is a necessary component of stellar collapse. 
A)  It implies that space is granular on the smallest scales. 
B)  It is necessary for very massive systems. 
C)  It is necessary to explain the gravitational redshift. 
D)  It is a necessary component of stellar collapse.

Question 5

A galaxy is positioned precisely behind another,very massive,galaxy on the sky.We would observe the more distant galaxy as a:

Accepted Answer

A)  ring, displaced from the galaxy's true location. 
B)  pair of identical images, displaced from its true location. 
C)  single magnified image, at its true location. 
D)  single magnified image, displaced from its true location. 
A)  ring, displaced from the galaxy's true location. 
B)  pair of identical images, displaced from its true location. 
C)  single magnified image, at its true location. 
D)  single magnified image, displaced from its true location.

Question 6

How do matter-energy and space-time affect each other,according to general relativity?

Accepted Answer

Matter-energy tells

Question 7

What are the two fundamental postulates of special relativity?

Accepted Answer

First,all motion is relative (

Question 8

Why does the existence of a singularity at the center of a black hole challenge the general theory of relativity?

Accepted Answer

The singularity has an infinit

Question 9

Two galaxies are shown in the image below.The central,nearly round object is nearby,while the ring-like object is actually positioned immediately behind the central galaxy.Why do we perceive the latter as a ring?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational lensing by the c

Question 10

A stellar-mass black hole is accreting gas from a nearby O star in an X-ray binary.How does the peak wavelength of the system's X-ray emission change over time as this mass is transferred?

Accepted Answer

A)  It decreases, because the star loses mass. 
B)  It decreases, because the black hole gains mass. 
C)  It increases, because the star loses mass. 
D)  It increases, because the black hole gains mass. 
A)  It decreases, because the star loses mass. 
B)  It decreases, because the black hole gains mass. 
C)  It increases, because the star loses mass. 
D)  It increases, because the black hole gains mass.

Question 11

Light waves emitted from a laser at rest will travel at a speed c relative to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun. 
B)  a laboratory in Paris. 
C)  the cosmic microwave background. 
D)  all of the above. 
A)  the Sun. 
B)  a laboratory in Paris. 
C)  the cosmic microwave background. 
D)  all of the above.

Question 12

What kind of objects exhibit the strongest frame-dragging effects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of objects exhibit the strongest...

Question 13

Muons created by cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere survive much longer than those created in the laboratory.This is because of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the uncertainty principle. 
B)  the randomness of half-lives. 
C)  relativistic time dilation. 
D)  the properties of cosmic rays. 
A)  the uncertainty principle. 
B)  the randomness of half-lives. 
C)  relativistic time dilation. 
D)  the properties of cosmic rays.

Question 14

How would Earth's orbit change if the Sun suddenly collapsed into a black hole (with the same mass as it currently has)?

Accepted Answer

Its orbit would not

Question 15

According to the general theory of relativity,a satellite orbits Earth because:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth has deformed space around it, so the satellite is trapped in a circular well. 
B)  Earth has deformed space-time in such a way that the satellite falls freely through it. 
C)  the spinning Earth's frame of reference drags the satellite with it. 
D)  Earth has deformed space around it, so the satellite's frame of reference rotates. 
A)  Earth has deformed space around it, so the satellite is trapped in a circular well. 
B)  Earth has deformed space-time in such a way that the satellite falls freely through it. 
C)  the spinning Earth's frame of reference drags the satellite with it. 
D)  Earth has deformed space around it, so the satellite's frame of reference rotates.

Question 16

A star sits directly behind a black hole relative to the observer,as shown in the figure below.An observer will perceive it as a ________ the black hole.

Accepted Answer

A)  single point, just behind 
B)  single point, offset from 
C)  pair of points, on either side of 
D)  circle surrounding 
A)  single point, just behind 
B)  single point, offset from 
C)  pair of points, on either side of 
D)  circle surrounding

Question 17

Gravitational waves are:

Accepted Answer

A)  observed during planetary conjunctions. 
B)  responsible for periodic orbits. 
C)  ripples in the fabric of space-time. 
D)  only produced by supermassive black holes. 
A)  observed during planetary conjunctions. 
B)  responsible for periodic orbits. 
C)  ripples in the fabric of space-time. 
D)  only produced by supermassive black holes.

Question 18

A set of stars all initially have the same mass of 20 MSᵤn,but their other properties differ.Which is LEAST likely to form a black hole at the end of its life?

Accepted Answer

A)  the most luminous star 
B)  the star that transfers most of its mass to a binary companion 
C)  the star with the most heavy elements 
D)  the star with the weakest stellar winds 
A)  the most luminous star 
B)  the star that transfers most of its mass to a binary companion 
C)  the star with the most heavy elements 
D)  the star with the weakest stellar winds

Question 19

According to the general theory of relativity,what is the internal structure of a black hole?

Accepted Answer

A)  a constant density inside the event horizon 
B)  nearly empty inside the event horizon, with a singularity at the center 
C)  increasing density inside the event horizon, with a singularity at the center 
D)  a ring of high density material at the event horizon 
A)  a constant density inside the event horizon 
B)  nearly empty inside the event horizon, with a singularity at the center 
C)  increasing density inside the event horizon, with a singularity at the center 
D)  a ring of high density material at the event horizon

Question 20

A laser falls into a black hole,but it continues to emit light directly away from the black hole as it does so.How does the light appear to a distant observer as the laser gets closer to the black hole?

Accepted Answer

A)  The light appears to slow down. 
B)  The light becomes redder. 
C)  The light begins to orbit the black hole. 
D)  The light becomes brighter. 
A)  The light appears to slow down. 
B)  The light becomes redder. 
C)  The light begins to orbit the black hole. 
D)  The light becomes brighter.

Why do the most massive stars leave black hole remnants after they die?

Einstein showed that Newton's physics is:

What do astronomers believe exists in the center of nearly every galaxy?

Why is quantum mechanics necessary for resolving the puzzle of a black hole's singularity?

A galaxy is positioned precisely behind another,very massive,galaxy on the sky.We would observe the more distant galaxy as a:

How do matter-energy and space-time affect each other,according to general relativity?

What are the two fundamental postulates of special relativity?

Why does the existence of a singularity at the center of a black hole challenge the general theory of relativity?

Two galaxies are shown in the image below.The central,nearly round object is nearby,while the ring-like object is actually positioned immediately behind the central galaxy.Why do we perceive the latter as a ring?

A stellar-mass black hole is accreting gas from a nearby O star in an X-ray binary.How does the peak wavelength of the system's X-ray emission change over time as this mass is transferred?

Light waves emitted from a laser at rest will travel at a speed c relative to:

What kind of objects exhibit the strongest frame-dragging effects?

Muons created by cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere survive much longer than those created in the laboratory.This is because of:

How would Earth's orbit change if the Sun suddenly collapsed into a black hole (with the same mass as it currently has)?

According to the general theory of relativity,a satellite orbits Earth because:

A star sits directly behind a black hole relative to the observer,as shown in the figure below.An observer will perceive it as a ________ the black hole.

Gravitational waves are:

A set of stars all initially have the same mass of 20 MSᵤn,but their other properties differ.Which is LEAST likely to form a black hole at the end of its life?

According to the general theory of relativity,what is the internal structure of a black hole?

A laser falls into a black hole,but it continues to emit light directly away from the black hole as it does so.How does the light appear to a distant observer as the laser gets closer to the black hole?

Getting Started: Science, astronomy, and Being Human

A Universe Made, a Universe Discovered

A Universe of Universal Laws

A Universe of Universal Laws

The Architecture and Birth of Planetary Systems

Home Base: Earth and Moon

Sibling Worlds: Mercury, Venus, and Mars

Gas, ice, and Stone: the Outer Planets

Life and the Search for Habitable Worlds

The Sun As a Star

Measuring the Stars: the Main Sequence and Its Meaning

Nursery of the Stars: the Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

To the Graveyard of Stars: the End Points of Stellar Evolution

Our City of Stars: the Milky Way

A Universe of Galaxies

The Cosmic Web: the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

Cosmology

Filters

Exam 14: Down the Rabbit Hole: Relativity and Black Holes

Why do the most massive stars leave black hole remnants after they die?

Einstein showed that Newton's physics is:

What do astronomers believe exists in the center of nearly every galaxy?

Why is quantum mechanics necessary for resolving the puzzle of a black hole's singularity?

A galaxy is positioned precisely behind another,very massive,galaxy on the sky.We would observe the more distant galaxy as a:

How do matter-energy and space-time affect each other,according to general relativity?

What are the two fundamental postulates of special relativity?

Why does the existence of a singularity at the center of a black hole challenge the general theory of relativity?

Two galaxies are shown in the image below.The central,nearly round object is nearby,while the ring-like object is actually positioned immediately behind the central galaxy.Why do we perceive the latter as a ring?

A stellar-mass black hole is accreting gas from a nearby O star in an X-ray binary.How does the peak wavelength of the system's X-ray emission change over time as this mass is transferred?

Light waves emitted from a laser at rest will travel at a speed c relative to:

What kind of objects exhibit the strongest frame-dragging effects?

Muons created by cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere survive much longer than those created in the laboratory.This is because of:

How would Earth's orbit change if the Sun suddenly collapsed into a black hole (with the same mass as it currently has)?

According to the general theory of relativity,a satellite orbits Earth because:

A star sits directly behind a black hole relative to the observer,as shown in the figure below.An observer will perceive it as a ________ the black hole.

Gravitational waves are:

A set of stars all initially have the same mass of 20 MSᵤn,but their other properties differ.Which is LEAST likely to form a black hole at the end of its life?

According to the general theory of relativity,what is the internal structure of a black hole?

A laser falls into a black hole,but it continues to emit light directly away from the black hole as it does so.How does the light appear to a distant observer as the laser gets closer to the black hole?

Getting Started: Science, astronomy, and Being Human

A Universe Made, a Universe Discovered

A Universe of Universal Laws

A Universe of Universal Laws

The Architecture and Birth of Planetary Systems

Home Base: Earth and Moon

Sibling Worlds: Mercury, Venus, and Mars

Gas, ice, and Stone: the Outer Planets

Life and the Search for Habitable Worlds

The Sun As a Star

Measuring the Stars: the Main Sequence and Its Meaning

Nursery of the Stars: the Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

To the Graveyard of Stars: the End Points of Stellar Evolution

Our City of Stars: the Milky Way

A Universe of Galaxies

The Cosmic Web: the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

Cosmology

Filters