Question 1

Where in the universe did the Big Bang take place?

Accepted Answer

A)  near the Milky Way Galaxy 
B)  near the Virgo Cluster 
C)  near some unknown location on the other side of the universe 
D)  everywhere in the universe 
A)  near the Milky Way Galaxy 
B)  near the Virgo Cluster 
C)  near some unknown location on the other side of the universe 
D)  everywhere in the universe D

Question 2

Current observations suggest that the density of luminous matter (Wlᵤmᵢnₒᵤs),all matter (Wmₐttₑᵣ),and dark energy (WL)are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Wluminous = 0.1, Wmatter = 0.3, WL = 0.7 
B)  Wluminous = 0.02, Wmatter = 0.5, WL = 0.5 
C)  Wluminous = 0, Wmatter = 0.1, WL = 0.9 
D)  Wluminous = 0.02, Wmatter = 0.3, WL = 0.7 
A)  Wluminous = 0.1, Wmatter = 0.3, WL = 0.7 
B)  Wluminous = 0.02, Wmatter = 0.5, WL = 0.5 
C)  Wluminous = 0, Wmatter = 0.1, WL = 0.9 
D)  Wluminous = 0.02, Wmatter = 0.3, WL = 0.7 D

Question 3

Why does the overall mass and energy density of the universe decide its ultimate fate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The greater the density of the universe, the more black holes will form, which will devour surrounding material more quickly. 
B)  The greater the density of the universe, the more gravitationally bound the universe will be. 
C)  The greater the density of the universe, the more massive stars it will contain, and the faster it will evolve. 
D)  The greater the density of the universe, the more stars it will form over time, and the longer the universe will last. 
A)  The greater the density of the universe, the more black holes will form, which will devour surrounding material more quickly. 
B)  The greater the density of the universe, the more gravitationally bound the universe will be. 
C)  The greater the density of the universe, the more massive stars it will contain, and the faster it will evolve. 
D)  The greater the density of the universe, the more stars it will form over time, and the longer the universe will last. B

Question 4

Why is it NOT possible to look all the way back to the Big Bang itself?

Accepted Answer

A)  Photons are not produced until the stars form. 
B)  At such high redshifts, photons are gravitationally lensed by the dark matter in the universe. 
C)  At such high redshifts, most of the photons are blocked by large amounts of cold gas and dust. 
D)  At such high redshifts, photons are heavily altered because they easily react with individual protons and electrons in the universe. 
A)  Photons are not produced until the stars form. 
B)  At such high redshifts, photons are gravitationally lensed by the dark matter in the universe. 
C)  At such high redshifts, most of the photons are blocked by large amounts of cold gas and dust. 
D)  At such high redshifts, photons are heavily altered because they easily react with individual protons and electrons in the universe.

Question 5

The standard model of particle physics is incomplete because it leaves which question(s)unanswered?

Accepted Answer

A)  Why do neutrinos have mass? 
B)  Why is the strong nuclear force much stronger than the weak nuclear force? 
C)  How is gravity related to the other three fundamental forces? 
D)  all of the above 
A)  Why do neutrinos have mass? 
B)  Why is the strong nuclear force much stronger than the weak nuclear force? 
C)  How is gravity related to the other three fundamental forces? 
D)  all of the above

Question 6

By the time the universe was a few minutes old,the majority of the normal matter in the universe was hydrogen,and the remainder was mostly ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  helium 
B)  neutrons 
C)  neutrinos 
D)  protons 
A)  helium 
B)  neutrons 
C)  neutrinos 
D)  protons

Question 7

What is the difference between a grand unified theory (GUT)and a theory of everything (TOE)?

Accepted Answer

A TOE can link all four fundam

Question 8

What would the universe be like if there were complete symmetry between matter and antimatter?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would look similar to our universe, but half of it would be composed of antimatter. 
B)  We would observe two universes, one an antimatter reflection of the other. 
C)  There would be no universe because all of the matter and antimatter would have been annihilated. 
D)  There would be a universe, but it would be completely composed of energy. 
A)  It would look similar to our universe, but half of it would be composed of antimatter. 
B)  We would observe two universes, one an antimatter reflection of the other. 
C)  There would be no universe because all of the matter and antimatter would have been annihilated. 
D)  There would be a universe, but it would be completely composed of energy.

Question 9

Inflation happened when:

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe was <10-33 seconds old. 
B)  the universe expanded by a factor of approximately 1030. 
C)  the average energy of the vacuum of spacetime changed. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  the universe was <10-33 seconds old. 
B)  the universe expanded by a factor of approximately 1030. 
C)  the average energy of the vacuum of spacetime changed. 
D)  all of the above

Question 10

What can simultaneously solve both the flatness and horizon problems in cosmology?

Accepted Answer

A)  GUTs 
B)  quantum mechanics 
C)  inflation 
D)  dark energy 
A)  GUTs 
B)  quantum mechanics 
C)  inflation 
D)  dark energy

Question 11

The current temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation of 2.73 K means that the peak of its spectrum occurs at a wavelength of:

Accepted Answer

A)  gamma rays. 
B)  infrared. 
C)  microwaves. 
D)  ultraviolet. 
A)  gamma rays. 
B)  infrared. 
C)  microwaves. 
D)  ultraviolet.

Question 12

If Wmₐttₑᵣ + WL = 1 today and dark energy was a cosmological constant,the universe will:

Accepted Answer

A)  expand forever. 
B)  slow its expansion but never reverse it. 
C)  stop expanding and eventually collapse. 
D)  oscillate between expansion and collapse. 
A)  expand forever. 
B)  slow its expansion but never reverse it. 
C)  stop expanding and eventually collapse. 
D)  oscillate between expansion and collapse.

Question 13

How would astronomers describe the antiparticle of an electron?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would have the same mass but opposite charge. 
B)  It would have the same charge but opposite spin. 
C)  It would have the opposite charge and higher mass. 
D)  It would have the opposite spin and higher mass. 
A)  It would have the same mass but opposite charge. 
B)  It would have the same charge but opposite spin. 
C)  It would have the opposite charge and higher mass. 
D)  It would have the opposite spin and higher mass.

Question 14

What is the "flatness problem" in cosmology?

Accepted Answer

If the mass and energy density of the un

Question 15

If Wmₐttₑᵣ = 0.5 today and there were no dark energy,the universe would:

Accepted Answer

A)  expand forever. 
B)  slow its expansion but never reverse it. 
C)  stop expanding and eventually collapse. 
D)  oscillate between expansion and collapse. 
A)  expand forever. 
B)  slow its expansion but never reverse it. 
C)  stop expanding and eventually collapse. 
D)  oscillate between expansion and collapse.

Question 16

The cosmic microwave background radiation has a temperature of approximately 2.7 K and a Planck blackbody spectrum.Calculate the wavelength where the cosmic microwave background radiation spectrum peaks.

Accepted Answer

lpₑₐk = 2,900 µm K/T

Question 17

Because we live in a universe with an accelerating expansion rate,the actual age of the universe is ________ the Hubble time.

Accepted Answer

A)  larger than 
B)  smaller than 
C)  the same as 
D)  independent of 
A)  larger than 
B)  smaller than 
C)  the same as 
D)  independent of

Question 18

Grand unified theories are very attractive because they can explain:

Accepted Answer

A)  why the universe consists mostly of matter. 
B)  why the Big Bang never made any antimatter. 
C)  why we have five fundamental forces in the universe today. 
D)  why the cosmic microwave background radiation is very smooth. 
A)  why the universe consists mostly of matter. 
B)  why the Big Bang never made any antimatter. 
C)  why we have five fundamental forces in the universe today. 
D)  why the cosmic microwave background radiation is very smooth.

Question 19

Why does the sum of Wmₐss and WL determine the shape of our universe?

Accepted Answer

The mass and energy density af

Question 20

Describe the four fundamental forces of nature by listing their names and describing what effect each force has on objects in the universe.

Accepted Answer

The four fundamental forces of nature ar

Where in the universe did the Big Bang take place?

Current observations suggest that the density of luminous matter (Wlᵤmᵢnₒᵤs),all matter (Wmₐttₑᵣ),and dark energy (WL)are:

Why does the overall mass and energy density of the universe decide its ultimate fate?

Why is it NOT possible to look all the way back to the Big Bang itself?

The standard model of particle physics is incomplete because it leaves which question(s)unanswered?

By the time the universe was a few minutes old,the majority of the normal matter in the universe was hydrogen,and the remainder was mostly ________.

What is the difference between a grand unified theory (GUT)and a theory of everything (TOE)?

What would the universe be like if there were complete symmetry between matter and antimatter?

Inflation happened when:

What can simultaneously solve both the flatness and horizon problems in cosmology?

The current temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation of 2.73 K means that the peak of its spectrum occurs at a wavelength of:

If Wmₐttₑᵣ + WL = 1 today and dark energy was a cosmological constant,the universe will:

How would astronomers describe the antiparticle of an electron?

What is the "flatness problem" in cosmology?

If Wmₐttₑᵣ = 0.5 today and there were no dark energy,the universe would:

The cosmic microwave background radiation has a temperature of approximately 2.7 K and a Planck blackbody spectrum.Calculate the wavelength where the cosmic microwave background radiation spectrum peaks.

Because we live in a universe with an accelerating expansion rate,the actual age of the universe is ________ the Hubble time.

Grand unified theories are very attractive because they can explain:

Why does the sum of Wmₐss and WL determine the shape of our universe?

Describe the four fundamental forces of nature by listing their names and describing what effect each force has on objects in the universe.

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: the Sun

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 16: The Evolution of the Universe

Where in the universe did the Big Bang take place?

Current observations suggest that the density of luminous matter (Wlᵤmᵢnₒᵤs),all matter (Wmₐttₑᵣ),and dark energy (WL)are:

Why does the overall mass and energy density of the universe decide its ultimate fate?

Why is it NOT possible to look all the way back to the Big Bang itself?

The standard model of particle physics is incomplete because it leaves which question(s)unanswered?

By the time the universe was a few minutes old,the majority of the normal matter in the universe was hydrogen,and the remainder was mostly ________.

What is the difference between a grand unified theory (GUT)and a theory of everything (TOE)?

What would the universe be like if there were complete symmetry between matter and antimatter?

Inflation happened when:

What can simultaneously solve both the flatness and horizon problems in cosmology?

The current temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation of 2.73 K means that the peak of its spectrum occurs at a wavelength of:

If Wmₐttₑᵣ + WL = 1 today and dark energy was a cosmological constant,the universe will:

How would astronomers describe the antiparticle of an electron?

What is the "flatness problem" in cosmology?

If Wmₐttₑᵣ = 0.5 today and there were no dark energy,the universe would:

The cosmic microwave background radiation has a temperature of approximately 2.7 K and a Planck blackbody spectrum.Calculate the wavelength where the cosmic microwave background radiation spectrum peaks.

Because we live in a universe with an accelerating expansion rate,the actual age of the universe is ________ the Hubble time.

Grand unified theories are very attractive because they can explain:

Why does the sum of Wmₐss and WL determine the shape of our universe?

Describe the four fundamental forces of nature by listing their names and describing what effect each force has on objects in the universe.

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: the Sun

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters