Question 1

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.

Question 2

If a region of the universe during the big bang is the pink/black colors and a region of the universe today shows the sky-blue galaxies and stars, what are the yellow squiggly lines and when did they occur

Accepted Answer

A) photons, matter-antimatter annihilation 
B) photons, CMB 
C) hydrogen fusion to helium, era when neither matter nor radiation dominates 
D) gamma rays, dark age 
A) photons, matter-antimatter annihilation 
B) photons, CMB 
C) hydrogen fusion to helium, era when neither matter nor radiation dominates 
D) gamma rays, dark age

Question 3

Space-time will be flat if

Accepted Answer

A) the Universe is expanding. 
B) the Universe is accelerating. 
C) the average density of the Universe is equal to the critical density. 
D) the Universe is finite. 
E) the Universe is homogeneous and isotropic. 
A) the Universe is expanding. 
B) the Universe is accelerating. 
C) the average density of the Universe is equal to the critical density. 
D) the Universe is finite. 
E) the Universe is homogeneous and isotropic.

Question 4

Observations of Type Ia supernova indicate that the universe is static.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The longer straight line in the following cartoon should be colored violet as it represents photons traveling from a more distant galaxy through an accelerating Universe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

If galaxy A is four times more distant than galaxy B, then according to the Hubble law, galaxy A will recede ___________ than galaxy B.

Accepted Answer

A) 16 times faster 
B) 4 times faster 
C) 2 times faster 
D) 1.2 times faster 
E) 0.25 times faster 
A) 16 times faster 
B) 4 times faster 
C) 2 times faster 
D) 1.2 times faster 
E) 0.25 times faster

Question 7

Why is the cosmic microwave background (CMB) so cold if the early Universe was so hot

Accepted Answer

A) Enough time has passed for matter in the universe to release enough heat to cool down. 
B) The CMB constantly interacts with atoms, which effectively cool down the photons. 
C) The expansion of the Universe has redshifted those photons to an effectively cooler temperature. 
D) Misleading; The big bang was initially hot but the CMB was released from cold material much later on. 
A) Enough time has passed for matter in the universe to release enough heat to cool down. 
B) The CMB constantly interacts with atoms, which effectively cool down the photons. 
C) The expansion of the Universe has redshifted those photons to an effectively cooler temperature. 
D) Misleading; The big bang was initially hot but the CMB was released from cold material much later on.

Question 8

The flatness problem states that

Accepted Answer

A) the density of the Universe is very close to the critical density. 
B) the density of the Universe is much larger than the critical density. 
C) the density of the Universe is much less than the critical density. 
D) the Universe is two-dimensional. 
E) the Universe is one-dimensional. 
A) the density of the Universe is very close to the critical density. 
B) the density of the Universe is much larger than the critical density. 
C) the density of the Universe is much less than the critical density. 
D) the Universe is two-dimensional. 
E) the Universe is one-dimensional.

Question 9

If the Universe is truly flat, then what is the curvature and type of Universe

Accepted Answer

A) positive, open 
B) zero, flat 
C) negative, closed 
D) None of the other choices are correct. 
A) positive, open 
B) zero, flat 
C) negative, closed 
D) None of the other choices are correct.

Question 10

The shape shown in the following cartoon represents a closed Universe with geometry having a positive curvature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

What was the temperature of the Universe when the recombination took place that produced the cosmic background radiation we observe today

Accepted Answer

A) about 2.7 K 
B) about 300 K 
C) about 3000 K 
D) about 3 million K 
E) about 3 billion K 
A) about 2.7 K 
B) about 300 K 
C) about 3000 K 
D) about 3 million K 
E) about 3 billion K

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The cosmological principle states that the Universe is 
I.expanding.
II.accelerating.
III.homogeneous
IV.isotropic.

Accepted Answer

A) I and II 
B) III and IV 
C) I and III 
D) II and IV 
E) I, II, III, and IV 
A) I and II 
B) III and IV 
C) I and III 
D) II and IV 
E) I, II, III, and IV

Question 14

A(n) ___________ Universe is infinite and would have a density equal to the critical density.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) ___________ Universe is infinite and would...

Question 15

If the density of the universe is equal to the critical density, and H equals 50 km/s/Mpc, then the true age of the Universe is 13.3 billion years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What observation has prompted astronomers to ponder the possible existence of dark energy

Accepted Answer

A) discovery of quasars 
B) discovery of superclusters 
C) supernovae appear fainter than expected at large redshifts 
D) uniform nature of the cosmic microwave background (CM
B)  
A) discovery of quasars 
B) discovery of superclusters 
C) supernovae appear fainter than expected at large redshifts 
D) uniform nature of the cosmic microwave background (CM
B)

Question 17

How is Olbers's paradox explained

Accepted Answer

The Universe may be infinite in size, bu

Question 18

Even if the Universe has no edge, it has a center.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Why is the primordial background radiation visible in all directions

Accepted Answer

According to the inflationary universe h

Question 20

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.

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

If a region of the universe during the big bang is the pink/black colors and a region of the universe today shows the sky-blue galaxies and stars, what are the yellow squiggly lines and when did they occur

Space-time will be flat if

Observations of Type Ia supernova indicate that the universe is static.

The longer straight line in the following cartoon should be colored violet as it represents photons traveling from a more distant galaxy through an accelerating Universe.

If galaxy A is four times more distant than galaxy B, then according to the Hubble law, galaxy A will recede ___________ than galaxy B.

Why is the cosmic microwave background (CMB) so cold if the early Universe was so hot

The flatness problem states that

If the Universe is truly flat, then what is the curvature and type of Universe

The shape shown in the following cartoon represents a closed Universe with geometry having a positive curvature.

What was the temperature of the Universe when the recombination took place that produced the cosmic background radiation we observe today

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

The cosmological principle states that the Universe is I.expanding. II.accelerating. III.homogeneous IV.isotropic.

A(n) ___________ Universe is infinite and would have a density equal to the critical density.

If the density of the universe is equal to the critical density, and H equals 50 km/s/Mpc, then the true age of the Universe is 13.3 billion years.

What observation has prompted astronomers to ponder the possible existence of dark energy

How is Olbers's paradox explained

Even if the Universe has no edge, it has a center.

Why is the primordial background radiation visible in all directions

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

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

The Origin of the Solar System

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

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

If a region of the universe during the big bang is the pink/black colors and a region of the universe today shows the sky-blue galaxies and stars, what are the yellow squiggly lines and when did they occur

Space-time will be flat if

Observations of Type Ia supernova indicate that the universe is static.

The longer straight line in the following cartoon should be colored violet as it represents photons traveling from a more distant galaxy through an accelerating Universe.

If galaxy A is four times more distant than galaxy B, then according to the Hubble law, galaxy A will recede ___________ than galaxy B.

Why is the cosmic microwave background (CMB) so cold if the early Universe was so hot

The flatness problem states that

If the Universe is truly flat, then what is the curvature and type of Universe

The shape shown in the following cartoon represents a closed Universe with geometry having a positive curvature.

What was the temperature of the Universe when the recombination took place that produced the cosmic background radiation we observe today

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

The cosmological principle states that the Universe is I.expanding. II.accelerating. III.homogeneous IV.isotropic.

A(n) ___________ Universe is infinite and would have a density equal to the critical density.

If the density of the universe is equal to the critical density, and H equals 50 km/s/Mpc, then the true age of the Universe is 13.3 billion years.

What observation has prompted astronomers to ponder the possible existence of dark energy

How is Olbers's paradox explained

Even if the Universe has no edge, it has a center.

Why is the primordial background radiation visible in all directions

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

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

The Origin of the Solar System

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