Question 1

Precession is

Accepted Answer

A) when the elliptical orbits of planets slip forward with each revolution. 
B) the process of planetary evolution. 
C) the stage before planets stabilize into a stationary orbit. 
D) the wobbling of a planet's axis of rotation. 
A) when the elliptical orbits of planets slip forward with each revolution. 
B) the process of planetary evolution. 
C) the stage before planets stabilize into a stationary orbit. 
D) the wobbling of a planet's axis of rotation.

Question 2

The difference between lightwaves approaching and lightwaves receding is

Accepted Answer

A) when approaching,lightwaves have higher frequency; when receding their frequency is lower. 
B) when approaching,lightwaves have lower frequency; when receding their frequency is higher. 
C) the frequency of approaching lightwaves remain constant,while receding lightwaves are invisible. 
D) There is no difference 
A) when approaching,lightwaves have higher frequency; when receding their frequency is lower. 
B) when approaching,lightwaves have lower frequency; when receding their frequency is higher. 
C) the frequency of approaching lightwaves remain constant,while receding lightwaves are invisible. 
D) There is no difference

Question 3

Spacetime is curved by

Accepted Answer

A) mass. 
B) the force of gravity. 
C) quantum fluctuations. 
D) the vacuum force. 
A) mass. 
B) the force of gravity. 
C) quantum fluctuations. 
D) the vacuum force.

Question 4

According to relativity theory,it is possible to reverse time and grow younger when you

Accepted Answer

A) are near a black hole. 
B) are near a very large gravitational field. 
C) travel at nearly the speed of light. 
D) you can never grow younger. 
E) none of these 
A) are near a black hole. 
B) are near a very large gravitational field. 
C) travel at nearly the speed of light. 
D) you can never grow younger. 
E) none of these

Question 5

How is it possible that today's diverse universe was able to arise from that which was very homogeneous at its first moments?

Accepted Answer

A) Inflation magnified ultrasmall quantum variations in position and momenta. 
B) There is evidence of a second,slightly smaller Big Bang that took place very shortly after the initial Big Bang,which would account for the variation in structure. 
C) The rapidly cooling universe created massive quantities of hydrogen,and then helium,which interacted with each other to create regions of relative structure. 
D) Entropy immediately came into effect,slowing down some areas of expansion,while increasing others. 
A) Inflation magnified ultrasmall quantum variations in position and momenta. 
B) There is evidence of a second,slightly smaller Big Bang that took place very shortly after the initial Big Bang,which would account for the variation in structure. 
C) The rapidly cooling universe created massive quantities of hydrogen,and then helium,which interacted with each other to create regions of relative structure. 
D) Entropy immediately came into effect,slowing down some areas of expansion,while increasing others.

Question 6

What Einstein discovered about space and time is that they

Accepted Answer

A) are separate entities. 
B) are parts of one whole. 
C) follow an inverse-square law. 
D) are special to space travelers. 
A) are separate entities. 
B) are parts of one whole. 
C) follow an inverse-square law. 
D) are special to space travelers.

Question 7

Light bends when it

Accepted Answer

A) passes a massive star. 
B) passes through a gravitational field. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these 
A) passes a massive star. 
B) passes through a gravitational field. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these

Question 8

Evidence for dark matter is exhibited by the

Accepted Answer

A) relatively similar speeds at which all stars in a galaxy orbit the galactic nucleus. 
B) speed at which galaxies orbit one another within clusters. 
C) degree to which galaxy clusters exhibit gravitational lensing effects. 
D) All of the above 
A) relatively similar speeds at which all stars in a galaxy orbit the galactic nucleus. 
B) speed at which galaxies orbit one another within clusters. 
C) degree to which galaxy clusters exhibit gravitational lensing effects. 
D) All of the above

Question 9

The currently accepted reasoning for why the cosmic background radiation is so uniform in temperature is because

Accepted Answer

A) this temperature uniformity was achieved in the moments before cosmic inflation. 
B) as the universe has had time to cool,the hotter parts transferred their heat to the cooler regions. 
C) microwaves can only function at a certain very limited range of temperature. 
D) space is a vacuum and thus cannot retain heat very well. 
A) this temperature uniformity was achieved in the moments before cosmic inflation. 
B) as the universe has had time to cool,the hotter parts transferred their heat to the cooler regions. 
C) microwaves can only function at a certain very limited range of temperature. 
D) space is a vacuum and thus cannot retain heat very well.

Question 10

The theory of dark energy tells us that

Accepted Answer

A) empty space is seething with a form of energy. 
B) there is a force that behaves like an anti-gravity. 
C) there is still much to learn about this universe. 
D) All of the above. 
A) empty space is seething with a form of energy. 
B) there is a force that behaves like an anti-gravity. 
C) there is still much to learn about this universe. 
D) All of the above.

Question 11

Edwin Hubble discovered that the farther away a galaxy is the

Accepted Answer

A) faster it is receding from us. 
B) more massive it is. 
C) more energetic it is. 
D) more black holes it contains. 
A) faster it is receding from us. 
B) more massive it is. 
C) more energetic it is. 
D) more black holes it contains.

Question 12

As a blinking light source approaching you gains speed,you see the frequency of flashes

Accepted Answer

A) increase. 
B) decrease. 
C) remain unchanged. 
D) None of these. 
A) increase. 
B) decrease. 
C) remain unchanged. 
D) None of these.

Question 13

Technically,its not mass that causes the curvature of spacetime,but

Accepted Answer

A) mass density. 
B) energy density. 
C) thermal mass. 
D) thermal mass fluctuations. 
A) mass density. 
B) energy density. 
C) thermal mass. 
D) thermal mass fluctuations.

Question 14

Clocks on fast-moving spaceship shizzing past Earth appear to run slow when viewed from

Accepted Answer

A) inside the spaceship. 
B) Earth. 
C) Both of these. 
D) Neither of these. 
A) inside the spaceship. 
B) Earth. 
C) Both of these. 
D) Neither of these.

Question 15

Cepheids are types of stars that regularly change how bright they are over a period of a few

Accepted Answer

A) days. 
B) months. 
C) year. 
D) decades. 
A) days. 
B) months. 
C) year. 
D) decades.

Question 16

If the orbit of Mercury were perfectly circular,its rate of precession would be

Accepted Answer

A) larger than it is now. 
B) smaller than it is now. 
C) the same as it is now. 
D) zero. 
A) larger than it is now. 
B) smaller than it is now. 
C) the same as it is now. 
D) zero.

Question 17

The elliptical orbit of Mercury measurably precesses because

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury moves in the gravitational field of the other planets. 
B) Mercury travels faster than any other planet. 
C) Mercury is closest to the Sun. 
D) the Sun's gravitational field varies along Mercury's orbit. 
E) none of these 
A) Mercury moves in the gravitational field of the other planets. 
B) Mercury travels faster than any other planet. 
C) Mercury is closest to the Sun. 
D) the Sun's gravitational field varies along Mercury's orbit. 
E) none of these

Question 18

Einstein theories tell us that the speed of light

Accepted Answer

A) depends on one's frame of reference. 
B) is constant in all frames of reference. 
C) provides accurate clocks. 
D) slows in a transparent medium. 
A) depends on one's frame of reference. 
B) is constant in all frames of reference. 
C) provides accurate clocks. 
D) slows in a transparent medium.

Question 19

If you travel at high speed,then compared with your friends who "stay at home," you are

Accepted Answer

A) older. 
B) younger. 
C) neither younger or older. 
D) taller. 
A) older. 
B) younger. 
C) neither younger or older. 
D) taller.

Question 20

A clock on the surface of a shrinking star will run progressively

Accepted Answer

A) slower. 
B) faster. 
C) no difference 
A) slower. 
B) faster. 
C) no difference

Exam 28: The Structure of Space and Time

Precession is

The difference between lightwaves approaching and lightwaves receding is

Spacetime is curved by

According to relativity theory,it is possible to reverse time and grow younger when you

How is it possible that today's diverse universe was able to arise from that which was very homogeneous at its first moments?

What Einstein discovered about space and time is that they

Light bends when it

Evidence for dark matter is exhibited by the

The currently accepted reasoning for why the cosmic background radiation is so uniform in temperature is because

The theory of dark energy tells us that

Edwin Hubble discovered that the farther away a galaxy is the

As a blinking light source approaching you gains speed,you see the frequency of flashes

Technically,its not mass that causes the curvature of spacetime,but

Clocks on fast-moving spaceship shizzing past Earth appear to run slow when viewed from

Cepheids are types of stars that regularly change how bright they are over a period of a few

If the orbit of Mercury were perfectly circular,its rate of precession would be

The elliptical orbit of Mercury measurably precesses because

Einstein theories tell us that the speed of light

If you travel at high speed,then compared with your friends who "stay at home," you are

A clock on the surface of a shrinking star will run progressively

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Time - Reading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

Prologue: The Nature of Science

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