Question 1

Where are many of the older,metal-poor stars found in the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  throughout the whole Galaxy 
B)  at the galactic center 
C)  in the disk and spiral arms 
D)  in globular clusters and in the galactic halo 
A)  throughout the whole Galaxy 
B)  at the galactic center 
C)  in the disk and spiral arms 
D)  in globular clusters and in the galactic halo

Question 2

What is the famous Virgo cluster of galaxies?

Accepted Answer

A)  a rich, irregular cluster of over 1000 galaxies 
B)  a cluster of unknown type centered on a quasar near the edge of the visible universe 
C)  a rich, regular cluster of thousands of galaxies 
D)  the nearest cluster beyond the Local Group containing about three dozen galaxies 
A)  a rich, irregular cluster of over 1000 galaxies 
B)  a cluster of unknown type centered on a quasar near the edge of the visible universe 
C)  a rich, regular cluster of thousands of galaxies 
D)  the nearest cluster beyond the Local Group containing about three dozen galaxies

Question 3

The source of the hot,intergalactic gas in many rich,regular clusters of galaxies appears to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  jets of gas ejected by supermassive black holes at the centers of the galaxies. 
B)  bursts of star formation in merging galaxies. 
C)  exploding stars or supernovae within individual galaxies. 
D)  collisions between galaxies in the cluster. 
A)  jets of gas ejected by supermassive black holes at the centers of the galaxies. 
B)  bursts of star formation in merging galaxies. 
C)  exploding stars or supernovae within individual galaxies. 
D)  collisions between galaxies in the cluster.

Question 4

The specific characteristics that identify MOST quasars are:

Accepted Answer

A)  that they look like elliptical galaxies but with high spectral redshifts. 
B)  bright, starlike appearance and very high spectral blueshift, indicating that they are approaching the Sun very fast, and rapid intensity fluctuations, indicating small intrinsic size. 
C)  bright, starlike appearance with very high redshifts and hence very large distances, indicating very energetic sources. 
D)  spiral galaxy appearance and very high spectral blueshift, indicating that they are coming toward the Sun at high speed. 
A)  that they look like elliptical galaxies but with high spectral redshifts. 
B)  bright, starlike appearance and very high spectral blueshift, indicating that they are approaching the Sun very fast, and rapid intensity fluctuations, indicating small intrinsic size. 
C)  bright, starlike appearance with very high redshifts and hence very large distances, indicating very energetic sources. 
D)  spiral galaxy appearance and very high spectral blueshift, indicating that they are coming toward the Sun at high speed.

Question 5

Did the distribution of dark matter affect the initial formation of galaxies?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, the theory of the early formation of galaxies does not involve dark matter. 
B)  Yes, spiral galaxies of all types appear to have formed only in the presence of supermassive black holes and abundant dark matter. 
C)  Yes, the greatest concentrations of dark matter appear to have led to the formation of the earliest giant ellipticals. 
D)  Yes, when the concentration of dark matter was not particularly large the formation of barred spirals resulted. 
A)  No, the theory of the early formation of galaxies does not involve dark matter. 
B)  Yes, spiral galaxies of all types appear to have formed only in the presence of supermassive black holes and abundant dark matter. 
C)  Yes, the greatest concentrations of dark matter appear to have led to the formation of the earliest giant ellipticals. 
D)  Yes, when the concentration of dark matter was not particularly large the formation of barred spirals resulted.

Question 6

Which arrangement of distance-measuring techniques is listed in order of the distance for which they are MOST effective,from smallest to greates?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cepheid variables, spectroscopic parallax, Type Ia supernovae, and Tully-Fisher relation 
B)  spectroscopic parallax, Tully-Fisher relation, Cepheid variables, and Type Ia supernovae 
C)  spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid variables, Tully-Fisher relation, and Type Ia supernovae 
D)  Cepheid variables, spectroscopic variables, Type Ia supernovae, and Tully-Fisher relation 
A)  Cepheid variables, spectroscopic parallax, Type Ia supernovae, and Tully-Fisher relation 
B)  spectroscopic parallax, Tully-Fisher relation, Cepheid variables, and Type Ia supernovae 
C)  spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid variables, Tully-Fisher relation, and Type Ia supernovae 
D)  Cepheid variables, spectroscopic variables, Type Ia supernovae, and Tully-Fisher relation

Question 7

Which statistic is NOT useful for mapping the locations and shapes of the spiral arms of our Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the distribution of globular clusters 
B)  the distribution of O and B stars 
C)  the distribution of emission nebulae (H II regions) 
D)  the distribution of giant molecular clouds 
A)  the distribution of globular clusters 
B)  the distribution of O and B stars 
C)  the distribution of emission nebulae (H II regions) 
D)  the distribution of giant molecular clouds

Question 8

Collisions between galaxies:

Accepted Answer

A)  occur only very occasionally to produce spectacular supergalaxies containing many new stars. Only one or two examples have been detected so far. 
B)  are occurring all the time, all elliptical galaxies having resulted from such collisions. The collisions have cleared out all the gas and dust from these galaxies. 
C)  never happen since galaxies are so far apart in our universe. 
D)  can and do occur relatively frequently over cosmological times. 
A)  occur only very occasionally to produce spectacular supergalaxies containing many new stars. Only one or two examples have been detected so far. 
B)  are occurring all the time, all elliptical galaxies having resulted from such collisions. The collisions have cleared out all the gas and dust from these galaxies. 
C)  never happen since galaxies are so far apart in our universe. 
D)  can and do occur relatively frequently over cosmological times.

Question 9

The intensity of radiation coming from an active galaxy:

Accepted Answer

A)  remains remarkably constant during its long life. 
B)  decreases slightly at a constant rate as energy is radiated away. 
C)  ebbs and flows as the mass of the accretion disk around the black hole ebbs and flows. 
D)  ebbs and flows as the mass of the black hole ebbs and flows. 
A)  remains remarkably constant during its long life. 
B)  decreases slightly at a constant rate as energy is radiated away. 
C)  ebbs and flows as the mass of the accretion disk around the black hole ebbs and flows. 
D)  ebbs and flows as the mass of the black hole ebbs and flows.

Question 10

What is believed to be the origin of giant elliptical galaxies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Giant elliptical galaxies formed that way and have remained unchanged ever since. 
B)  Giant elliptical galaxies grew by devouring smaller galaxies. 
C)  Collisions of galaxies in the cluster produces a smooth distribution of stars through the cluster, which sink to the center of the cluster and form giant galaxies. 
D)  Giant elliptical galaxies have grown continuously since their formation by accretion of intergalactic gas. 
A)  Giant elliptical galaxies formed that way and have remained unchanged ever since. 
B)  Giant elliptical galaxies grew by devouring smaller galaxies. 
C)  Collisions of galaxies in the cluster produces a smooth distribution of stars through the cluster, which sink to the center of the cluster and form giant galaxies. 
D)  Giant elliptical galaxies have grown continuously since their formation by accretion of intergalactic gas.

Question 11

The Magellanic Clouds as seen from the southern hemisphere are examples of what types of objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  irregular galaxies 
B)  supernova remnants 
C)  planetary nebulae 
D)  spiral galaxies 
A)  irregular galaxies 
B)  supernova remnants 
C)  planetary nebulae 
D)  spiral galaxies

Question 12

Which term does NOT name one of the four main categories of galaxies in the Hubble classification scheme?

Accepted Answer

A)  normal spirals 
B)  barred spirals 
C)  starbursts 
D)  ellipticals 
A)  normal spirals 
B)  barred spirals 
C)  starbursts 
D)  ellipticals

Question 13

Which property do Seyfert galaxies and the Milky Way Galaxy share?

Accepted Answer

A)  a bright, starlike nucleus 
B)  a spiral galaxy classification 
C)  significantly varying energy output over a few weeks 
D)  a spectrum containing strong emission lines from elements such as highly ionized iron 
A)  a bright, starlike nucleus 
B)  a spiral galaxy classification 
C)  significantly varying energy output over a few weeks 
D)  a spectrum containing strong emission lines from elements such as highly ionized iron

Question 14

Which phenomenon will produce synchrotron radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the accelerated motion of high-speed electrons as they spiral in a magnetic field 
B)  the heating of matter by compression as it spirals into a black hole 
C)  the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus 
D)  the slowing down of charged particles as they enter a dense medium such as the atmosphere of a star or of Earth 
A)  the accelerated motion of high-speed electrons as they spiral in a magnetic field 
B)  the heating of matter by compression as it spirals into a black hole 
C)  the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus 
D)  the slowing down of charged particles as they enter a dense medium such as the atmosphere of a star or of Earth

Question 15

What is microlensing?

Accepted Answer

A)  the beaming of radiation by accretion disks 
B)  the use of small telescopes to enhance contrast by eliminating scattered light 
C)  the focusing of starlight by the gravitational fields of "small" objects like planets or brown dwarfs 
D)  the focusing of starlight by planetary atmospheres 
A)  the beaming of radiation by accretion disks 
B)  the use of small telescopes to enhance contrast by eliminating scattered light 
C)  the focusing of starlight by the gravitational fields of "small" objects like planets or brown dwarfs 
D)  the focusing of starlight by planetary atmospheres

Question 16

By 2004,astronomers were able to observe galaxies about 13.2 billion light-years away.Thus,they were observing these galaxies:

Accepted Answer

A)  almost immediately after the Big Bang. 
B)  a few billion years after the beginning of the universe. 
C)  at about half their present age. 
D)  at about 90% of their present age. 
A)  almost immediately after the Big Bang. 
B)  a few billion years after the beginning of the universe. 
C)  at about half their present age. 
D)  at about 90% of their present age.

Question 17

In the Hubble classification scheme for spiral galaxies,the tightness of the winding of the spiral arms appears to be related directly to the:

Accepted Answer

A)  age of the galaxy, as determined from the age of its individual stars. 
B)  number of globular clusters in the halo of the galaxy. 
C)  overall intrinsic size of the galaxy, or the diameter across the spiral arms. 
D)  size of the central bulge of the galaxy. 
A)  age of the galaxy, as determined from the age of its individual stars. 
B)  number of globular clusters in the halo of the galaxy. 
C)  overall intrinsic size of the galaxy, or the diameter across the spiral arms. 
D)  size of the central bulge of the galaxy.

Question 18

Starburst galaxies are characterized by an abundance of stars in the process of formation.As a result,these galaxies send out an unusually large amount of electromagnetic radiation in which range?

Accepted Answer

A)  X-ray 
B)  visible 
C)  infrared 
D)  radio 
A)  X-ray 
B)  visible 
C)  infrared 
D)  radio

Question 19

"It is starlike in appearance,showing very high redshift and an energy output of at least 100 galaxies from a small region about 1 ly across." These characteristics describe which astronomical object?

Accepted Answer

A)  a red supergiant star 
B)  the center of the Milky Way Galaxy 
C)  a quasar 
D)  a supernova explosion in a neighboring galaxy 
A)  a red supergiant star 
B)  the center of the Milky Way Galaxy 
C)  a quasar 
D)  a supernova explosion in a neighboring galaxy

Question 20

A close encounter between two galaxies is LEAST likely to trigger starburst in which type of galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  elliptical 
B)  barred spiral 
C)  normal spiral 
D)  irregular 
A)  elliptical 
B)  barred spiral 
C)  normal spiral 
D)  irregular

Where are many of the older,metal-poor stars found in the Milky Way Galaxy?

What is the famous Virgo cluster of galaxies?

The source of the hot,intergalactic gas in many rich,regular clusters of galaxies appears to be:

The specific characteristics that identify MOST quasars are:

Did the distribution of dark matter affect the initial formation of galaxies?

Which arrangement of distance-measuring techniques is listed in order of the distance for which they are MOST effective,from smallest to greates?

Which statistic is NOT useful for mapping the locations and shapes of the spiral arms of our Galaxy?

Collisions between galaxies:

The intensity of radiation coming from an active galaxy:

What is believed to be the origin of giant elliptical galaxies?

The Magellanic Clouds as seen from the southern hemisphere are examples of what types of objects?

Which term does NOT name one of the four main categories of galaxies in the Hubble classification scheme?

Which property do Seyfert galaxies and the Milky Way Galaxy share?

Which phenomenon will produce synchrotron radiation?

What is microlensing?

By 2004,astronomers were able to observe galaxies about 13.2 billion light-years away.Thus,they were observing these galaxies:

In the Hubble classification scheme for spiral galaxies,the tightness of the winding of the spiral arms appears to be related directly to the:

Starburst galaxies are characterized by an abundance of stars in the process of formation.As a result,these galaxies send out an unusually large amount of electromagnetic radiation in which range?

"It is starlike in appearance,showing very high redshift and an energy output of at least 100 galaxies from a small region about 1 ly across." These characteristics describe which astronomical object?

A close encounter between two galaxies is LEAST likely to trigger starburst in which type of galaxy?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 13: The Galaxies

Where are many of the older,metal-poor stars found in the Milky Way Galaxy?

What is the famous Virgo cluster of galaxies?

The source of the hot,intergalactic gas in many rich,regular clusters of galaxies appears to be:

The specific characteristics that identify MOST quasars are:

Did the distribution of dark matter affect the initial formation of galaxies?

Which arrangement of distance-measuring techniques is listed in order of the distance for which they are MOST effective,from smallest to greates?

Which statistic is NOT useful for mapping the locations and shapes of the spiral arms of our Galaxy?

Collisions between galaxies:

The intensity of radiation coming from an active galaxy:

What is believed to be the origin of giant elliptical galaxies?

The Magellanic Clouds as seen from the southern hemisphere are examples of what types of objects?

Which term does NOT name one of the four main categories of galaxies in the Hubble classification scheme?

Which property do Seyfert galaxies and the Milky Way Galaxy share?

Which phenomenon will produce synchrotron radiation?

What is microlensing?

By 2004,astronomers were able to observe galaxies about 13.2 billion light-years away.Thus,they were observing these galaxies:

In the Hubble classification scheme for spiral galaxies,the tightness of the winding of the spiral arms appears to be related directly to the:

Starburst galaxies are characterized by an abundance of stars in the process of formation.As a result,these galaxies send out an unusually large amount of electromagnetic radiation in which range?

"It is starlike in appearance,showing very high redshift and an energy output of at least 100 galaxies from a small region about 1 ly across." These characteristics describe which astronomical object?

A close encounter between two galaxies is LEAST likely to trigger starburst in which type of galaxy?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters