Question 1

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity tells us that a photon traveling close to a massive object will

Accepted Answer

A)  travel in a straight line past the object 
B)  follow the curvature of spacetime around the object 
C)  be reflected by the object 
D)  be absorbed by the object 
A)  travel in a straight line past the object 
B)  follow the curvature of spacetime around the object 
C)  be reflected by the object 
D)  be absorbed by the object

Question 2

You are traveling in a space ship at half the speed of light (0.5c) directly toward an oncoming photon traveling at the speed of light (c). At what speed would you see the photon coming toward you?

Accepted Answer

A)  c 
B)  0.25c 
C)  1.5c 
D)  0.5c 
A)  c 
B)  0.25c 
C)  1.5c 
D)  0.5c

Question 3

In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, higher dimensions beyond the three that we can comprehend are called

Accepted Answer

A)  hidden space 
B)  hyperspace 
C)  excited space 
D)  extra space 
A)  hidden space 
B)  hyperspace 
C)  excited space 
D)  extra space

Question 4

Bert and Ernie are two friends of the same age. Bert visits a nearby star system on a spaceship that travels close to the speed of light while Ernie stays at home. Which of the following will be true on Bert's return to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ernie will be younger than Bert 
B)  Ernie will be older than Bert 
C)  Bert and Ernie will still be the same age 
D)  Ernie will not have been born 
A)  Ernie will be younger than Bert 
B)  Ernie will be older than Bert 
C)  Bert and Ernie will still be the same age 
D)  Ernie will not have been born

Question 5

Nuclear fusion is the process by which

Accepted Answer

A)  electrons are rearranged inside an atom, releasing energy 
B)  a number of smaller nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus with the release of energy 
C)  an electron is ejected from the nucleus of an atom, releasing energy 
D)  large nuclei break up into smaller nuclei with the release of energy 
A)  electrons are rearranged inside an atom, releasing energy 
B)  a number of smaller nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus with the release of energy 
C)  an electron is ejected from the nucleus of an atom, releasing energy 
D)  large nuclei break up into smaller nuclei with the release of energy

Question 6

One piece of evidence that proves that the speed of light is indeed constant comes from the observation

Accepted Answer

A)  that the light from the stars in a binary system is smeared out by their mutual motion 
B)  that the light from the stars in binary system is Doppler shifted by their mutual motion 
C)  of gravitational waves emitted from binary systems 
D)  that stars in a binary system appear as distinct points of light 
A)  that the light from the stars in a binary system is smeared out by their mutual motion 
B)  that the light from the stars in binary system is Doppler shifted by their mutual motion 
C)  of gravitational waves emitted from binary systems 
D)  that stars in a binary system appear as distinct points of light

Question 7

The antimatter equivalent of a proton is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a positron 
B)  an antiproton 
C)  a negiproton 
D)  an anion proton 
A)  a positron 
B)  an antiproton 
C)  a negiproton 
D)  an anion proton

Question 8

Consider a spacecraft that travels round-trip to the zeta reticuli star system (distance 39.5 light-years) at 99% of the speed of light. If the round-trip travel time as measured from Earth is 79.8 years, how much time would pass for passengers on the spacecraft?

Accepted Answer

A)  39.9 years 
B)  79.8 years 
C)  22.6 years 
D)  11.3 years 
A)  39.9 years 
B)  79.8 years 
C)  22.6 years 
D)  11.3 years

Question 9

An antihydrogen atom would consist of

Accepted Answer

A)  a proton and a positron 
B)  a proton and an antielectron 
C)  an antiproton and a positron 
D)  an antiproton and an antielectron 
A)  a proton and a positron 
B)  a proton and an antielectron 
C)  an antiproton and a positron 
D)  an antiproton and an antielectron

Question 10

The main practical problem associated with building an interstellar ramjet is

Accepted Answer

A)  making the ship large enough to scoop up enough hydrogen fuel given that the density of hydrogen in space is so low 
B)  producing enough thrust to accelerate the spacecraft to a high enough speed 
C)  separating the matter and antimatter fuels from each other 
D)  receiving enough photon energy to propel the craft 
A)  making the ship large enough to scoop up enough hydrogen fuel given that the density of hydrogen in space is so low 
B)  producing enough thrust to accelerate the spacecraft to a high enough speed 
C)  separating the matter and antimatter fuels from each other 
D)  receiving enough photon energy to propel the craft

Question 11

The idea that other civilizations are aware of our existence but have deliberately chosen to hide from us is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

A)  zoo hypothesis 
B)  conspiracy hypothesis 
C)  sentinel hypothesis 
D)  UFO hypothesis 
A)  zoo hypothesis 
B)  conspiracy hypothesis 
C)  sentinel hypothesis 
D)  UFO hypothesis

Question 12

The theory of relativity predicts that everything in the universe

Accepted Answer

A)  is relative except the laws of physics, which are absolutes 
B)  is relative except the speed of light, which is an absolute 
C)  is relative, there are no absolutes 
D)  is relative except the laws of physics and the speed of light, which are absolutes 
A)  is relative except the laws of physics, which are absolutes 
B)  is relative except the speed of light, which is an absolute 
C)  is relative, there are no absolutes 
D)  is relative except the laws of physics and the speed of light, which are absolutes

Question 13

Traveling at their current speeds, how long will it take the Pioneer and Voyager probes to reach the nearest stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  at least 100,000 years 
B)  several billion years 
C)  around 4.4 years 
D)  about a 1,000 years 
A)  at least 100,000 years 
B)  several billion years 
C)  around 4.4 years 
D)  about a 1,000 years

Question 14

Compared to a chemical rocket, an ion engine has a

Accepted Answer

A)  smaller thrust but can be operated for a longer time period 
B)  smaller thrust and can only be operated for a shorter time period 
C)  larger thrust and can be operated for a longer time period 
D)  larger thrust but can only be operated for a shorter time period 
A)  smaller thrust but can be operated for a longer time period 
B)  smaller thrust and can only be operated for a shorter time period 
C)  larger thrust and can be operated for a longer time period 
D)  larger thrust but can only be operated for a shorter time period

Question 15

If we accelerate a radioactive isotope of an element in a particle accelerator to a speed close to that of light, what would its observed rate of decay be compared to its rate of decay at rest?

Accepted Answer

A)  faster 
B)  slower 
C)  infinite 
D)  zero 
A)  faster 
B)  slower 
C)  infinite 
D)  zero

Question 16

A possible design of a "warp drive" might involve

Accepted Answer

A)  generating a shortcut between two distant parts of the universe through a black hole 
B)  placing a movable massive object like a black hole in front of a spacecraft and using its gravity to shorten the spatial distances in front of the rocket 
C)  using the annihilation of matter and antimatter to accelerate a spacecraft close to the speed of light 
D)  generating a shortcut between two distant parts of the universe through hyperspace 
A)  generating a shortcut between two distant parts of the universe through a black hole 
B)  placing a movable massive object like a black hole in front of a spacecraft and using its gravity to shorten the spatial distances in front of the rocket 
C)  using the annihilation of matter and antimatter to accelerate a spacecraft close to the speed of light 
D)  generating a shortcut between two distant parts of the universe through hyperspace

Question 17

How is the "Fermi Paradox" normally stated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Why are we here? 
B)  Who are we? 
C)  Where are we? 
D)  Where is everybody? 
A)  Why are we here? 
B)  Who are we? 
C)  Where are we? 
D)  Where is everybody?

Question 18

Which of the following is not a difficulty associated with interstellar travel?

Accepted Answer

A)  the large distances between the stars 
B)  the speed of light being the fastest possible speed we can travel 
C)  the enormous amount of energy required to accelerate any ship to high speed 
D)  all three of the above are difficulties 
A)  the large distances between the stars 
B)  the speed of light being the fastest possible speed we can travel 
C)  the enormous amount of energy required to accelerate any ship to high speed 
D)  all three of the above are difficulties

Question 19

In order to get large payloads into space using chemical rockets,

Accepted Answer

A)  multiple rocket stages are necessary 
B)  extremely large single-staged rockets must be used 
C)  very lightweight rockets 
D)  rockets must be launched from the tops of tall mountains 
A)  multiple rocket stages are necessary 
B)  extremely large single-staged rockets must be used 
C)  very lightweight rockets 
D)  rockets must be launched from the tops of tall mountains

Question 20

Chemical rockets work on which basic physical principle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler's first law of planetary motion 
B)  Einstein's special theory of relativity 
C)  Newton's third law of motion 
D)  the law of conservation of energy 
A)  Kepler's first law of planetary motion 
B)  Einstein's special theory of relativity 
C)  Newton's third law of motion 
D)  the law of conservation of energy

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity tells us that a photon traveling close to a massive object will

You are traveling in a space ship at half the speed of light (0.5c) directly toward an oncoming photon traveling at the speed of light (c). At what speed would you see the photon coming toward you?

In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, higher dimensions beyond the three that we can comprehend are called

Bert and Ernie are two friends of the same age. Bert visits a nearby star system on a spaceship that travels close to the speed of light while Ernie stays at home. Which of the following will be true on Bert's return to Earth?

Nuclear fusion is the process by which

One piece of evidence that proves that the speed of light is indeed constant comes from the observation

The antimatter equivalent of a proton is called

Consider a spacecraft that travels round-trip to the zeta reticuli star system (distance 39.5 light-years) at 99% of the speed of light. If the round-trip travel time as measured from Earth is 79.8 years, how much time would pass for passengers on the spacecraft?

An antihydrogen atom would consist of

The main practical problem associated with building an interstellar ramjet is

The idea that other civilizations are aware of our existence but have deliberately chosen to hide from us is referred to as the

The theory of relativity predicts that everything in the universe

Traveling at their current speeds, how long will it take the Pioneer and Voyager probes to reach the nearest stars?

Compared to a chemical rocket, an ion engine has a

If we accelerate a radioactive isotope of an element in a particle accelerator to a speed close to that of light, what would its observed rate of decay be compared to its rate of decay at rest?

A possible design of a "warp drive" might involve

How is the "Fermi Paradox" normally stated?

Which of the following is not a difficulty associated with interstellar travel?

In order to get large payloads into space using chemical rockets,

Chemical rockets work on which basic physical principle?

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Filters

Exam 13: Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity tells us that a photon traveling close to a massive object will

You are traveling in a space ship at half the speed of light (0.5c) directly toward an oncoming photon traveling at the speed of light (c). At what speed would you see the photon coming toward you?

In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, higher dimensions beyond the three that we can comprehend are called

Bert and Ernie are two friends of the same age. Bert visits a nearby star system on a spaceship that travels close to the speed of light while Ernie stays at home. Which of the following will be true on Bert's return to Earth?

Nuclear fusion is the process by which

One piece of evidence that proves that the speed of light is indeed constant comes from the observation

The antimatter equivalent of a proton is called

Consider a spacecraft that travels round-trip to the zeta reticuli star system (distance 39.5 light-years) at 99% of the speed of light. If the round-trip travel time as measured from Earth is 79.8 years, how much time would pass for passengers on the spacecraft?

An antihydrogen atom would consist of

The main practical problem associated with building an interstellar ramjet is

The idea that other civilizations are aware of our existence but have deliberately chosen to hide from us is referred to as the

The theory of relativity predicts that everything in the universe

Traveling at their current speeds, how long will it take the Pioneer and Voyager probes to reach the nearest stars?

Compared to a chemical rocket, an ion engine has a

If we accelerate a radioactive isotope of an element in a particle accelerator to a speed close to that of light, what would its observed rate of decay be compared to its rate of decay at rest?

A possible design of a "warp drive" might involve

How is the "Fermi Paradox" normally stated?

Which of the following is not a difficulty associated with interstellar travel?

In order to get large payloads into space using chemical rockets,

Chemical rockets work on which basic physical principle?

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Filters