Question 1

Why can't we see visible radiation from the central region of the galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) No visible light is emitted by the central region of the galaxy 
B) Interstellar dust blocks our view 
C) Too many stars are in the way 
D) Gravity curves the light away from the earth and Sun 
A) No visible light is emitted by the central region of the galaxy 
B) Interstellar dust blocks our view 
C) Too many stars are in the way 
D) Gravity curves the light away from the earth and Sun

Question 2

Which of the following is not necessarily different in Population I and Population II stars?

Accepted Answer

A) Chemical abundances 
B) Location in the galaxy 
C) Age 
D) Luminosity 
A) Chemical abundances 
B) Location in the galaxy 
C) Age 
D) Luminosity

Question 3

Galactic flattening is similar to what physical structure?

Accepted Answer

A) The shape of an irregular galaxy. 
B) Solar system formation with an ecliptic plane containing planets. 
C) Rotations in a binary system. 
D) The earth's equatorial bulge. 
A) The shape of an irregular galaxy. 
B) Solar system formation with an ecliptic plane containing planets. 
C) Rotations in a binary system. 
D) The earth's equatorial bulge.

Question 4

A reflection nebula is produced when the light from a star is scattered by interstellar

Accepted Answer

A) Electrons 
B) Atoms 
C) Molecules 
D) Dust particles 
A) Electrons 
B) Atoms 
C) Molecules 
D) Dust particles

Question 5

Where are stars being formed in the galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) In the spiral arms 
B) In globular clusters 
C) In the nucleus 
D) In the halo 
A) In the spiral arms 
B) In globular clusters 
C) In the nucleus 
D) In the halo

Question 6

Evidence for dark matter in the galaxy comes from ___________ .

Accepted Answer

A) the flatness of the rotation curve. 
B) direct observation of dark matter. 
C) distant galactic jets,which eject dark matter in high concentrations. 
D) none of the above. 
A) the flatness of the rotation curve. 
B) direct observation of dark matter. 
C) distant galactic jets,which eject dark matter in high concentrations. 
D) none of the above.

Question 7

The first stars that formed in the galaxy

Accepted Answer

A) Were located in the disk of the galaxy 
B) Never ignited hydrogen in their cores 
C) Contained only small amounts of heavy elements 
D) Have all escaped from the galaxy into intergalactic space 
A) Were located in the disk of the galaxy 
B) Never ignited hydrogen in their cores 
C) Contained only small amounts of heavy elements 
D) Have all escaped from the galaxy into intergalactic space

Question 8

What did Harlow Shapley discover about globular clusters that allowed him to determine the size of the galaxy and the Sun's location within it?

Accepted Answer

A) The clusters are confined to a thin plane 
B) The clusters are all located at the same distance from the Sun 
C) The center of the distribution of clusters is far from the Sun 
D) All of the clusters are located in a region a few parsecs across 
A) The clusters are confined to a thin plane 
B) The clusters are all located at the same distance from the Sun 
C) The center of the distribution of clusters is far from the Sun 
D) All of the clusters are located in a region a few parsecs across

Question 9

How did Harlow Shapley discover that our Sun is not at the center of the galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) By detecting radio radiation from the galactic center 
B) By measuring the orbital speed of the Sun around the galactic center 
C) By determining the distribution of globular clusters 
D) By comparing our galaxy with the Andromeda galaxy 
A) By detecting radio radiation from the galactic center 
B) By measuring the orbital speed of the Sun around the galactic center 
C) By determining the distribution of globular clusters 
D) By comparing our galaxy with the Andromeda galaxy

Question 10

The best type of telescope for probing the galactic center region is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) Large refraction telescope optical. 
B) Ultraviolet telescope 
C) Large,space-based optical telescope 
D) Infrared telescope 
A) Large refraction telescope optical. 
B) Ultraviolet telescope 
C) Large,space-based optical telescope 
D) Infrared telescope

Question 11

What atom produces 21 cm radiation?

Accepted Answer

A) Hydrogen 
B) Nitrogen 
C) Silicon 
D) Oxygen 
A) Hydrogen 
B) Nitrogen 
C) Silicon 
D) Oxygen

Question 12

Why has the 21 cm emission line been especially useful for studying the structure of the Milky Way galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) Stars emit very strongly at 21 cm 
B) The 21 cm radiation travels to us at the speed of light 
C) Twenty-one cm emission is produced only in the core of the galaxy 
D) Twenty-one cm radiation is unaffected by interstellar dust 
A) Stars emit very strongly at 21 cm 
B) The 21 cm radiation travels to us at the speed of light 
C) Twenty-one cm emission is produced only in the core of the galaxy 
D) Twenty-one cm radiation is unaffected by interstellar dust

Question 13

The components of the galaxy,from youngest to oldest are _________ .

Accepted Answer

A) thin disk,thick disk,Halo. 
B) Halo,thick disk,thin disk. 
C) thick disk,Halo,thin disk. 
D) Halo,thin disk,thick disk. 
A) thin disk,thick disk,Halo. 
B) Halo,thick disk,thin disk. 
C) thick disk,Halo,thin disk. 
D) Halo,thin disk,thick disk.

Question 14

The orbital period of the Sun and the distance of the Sun from the center of the galaxy can be used to calculate which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) The mass inside the Sun's orbit 
B) The age of the galaxy 
C) The age of the Sun 
D) The distance to the Andromeda galaxy 
A) The mass inside the Sun's orbit 
B) The age of the galaxy 
C) The age of the Sun 
D) The distance to the Andromeda galaxy

Question 15

The ages of galactic components _________ as their distances from the galactic plane increases.

Accepted Answer

A) increases 
B) decreases 
C) stays the same 
D) increases,then decreases 
A) increases 
B) decreases 
C) stays the same 
D) increases,then decreases

Question 16

Which of the following kinds of objects are found in the halo of the galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) Globular clusters 
B) Supernovae 
C) Spiral arms 
D) HII regions 
A) Globular clusters 
B) Supernovae 
C) Spiral arms 
D) HII regions

Question 17

Interstellar dust grains produce

Accepted Answer

A) Radio emission at a wavelength of 21 cm 
B) Interstellar absorption lines in the spectra of distant stars 
C) Extinction and reddening of the light from distant stars 
D) Ultraviolet radiation responsible for HII regions 
A) Radio emission at a wavelength of 21 cm 
B) Interstellar absorption lines in the spectra of distant stars 
C) Extinction and reddening of the light from distant stars 
D) Ultraviolet radiation responsible for HII regions

Question 18

The bluish color of the nebulosity around the Pleiades is produced by

Accepted Answer

A) Starlight reflected by interstellar grains 
B) Emission lines of hot neon gas 
C) Continuous radiation from very hot gas 
D) Synchrotron radiation. 
A) Starlight reflected by interstellar grains 
B) Emission lines of hot neon gas 
C) Continuous radiation from very hot gas 
D) Synchrotron radiation.

Question 19

What property of globular clusters made it possible to study them in order to discover important information about the structure of the Milky Way galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) Nearly all of them are located in the core of the galaxy 
B) Nearly all of them are located at the same distance from the Sun 
C) Most of them are located in the spiral arms of the galaxy 
D) Their distribution is centered on the center of the galaxy 
A) Nearly all of them are located in the core of the galaxy 
B) Nearly all of them are located at the same distance from the Sun 
C) Most of them are located in the spiral arms of the galaxy 
D) Their distribution is centered on the center of the galaxy

Question 20

Which of the following is true of spiral arms?

Accepted Answer

A) They contain a very large density of solar-type stars 
B) Once a star enters a spiral arm it remains stuck there 
C) Stars form in spiral arms 
D) Spiral arms are spun off of the core of the galaxy 
A) They contain a very large density of solar-type stars 
B) Once a star enters a spiral arm it remains stuck there 
C) Stars form in spiral arms 
D) Spiral arms are spun off of the core of the galaxy

Exam 22: The Milky Way

Why can't we see visible radiation from the central region of the galaxy?

Which of the following is not necessarily different in Population I and Population II stars?

Galactic flattening is similar to what physical structure?

A reflection nebula is produced when the light from a star is scattered by interstellar

Where are stars being formed in the galaxy?

Evidence for dark matter in the galaxy comes from ___________ .

The first stars that formed in the galaxy

What did Harlow Shapley discover about globular clusters that allowed him to determine the size of the galaxy and the Sun's location within it?

How did Harlow Shapley discover that our Sun is not at the center of the galaxy?

The best type of telescope for probing the galactic center region is a(n)

What atom produces 21 cm radiation?

Why has the 21 cm emission line been especially useful for studying the structure of the Milky Way galaxy?

The components of the galaxy,from youngest to oldest are _________ .

The orbital period of the Sun and the distance of the Sun from the center of the galaxy can be used to calculate which of the following?

The ages of galactic components _________ as their distances from the galactic plane increases.

Which of the following kinds of objects are found in the halo of the galaxy?

Interstellar dust grains produce

The bluish color of the nebulosity around the Pleiades is produced by

What property of globular clusters made it possible to study them in order to discover important information about the structure of the Milky Way galaxy?

Which of the following is true of spiral arms?

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