Question 1

The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Measuring distances in the amount of time it takes light to travel,if the circumference of Earth is a snap of your fingers,the diameter of the Solar System is approximately equal to

Accepted Answer

A)  the length of a quick lunch. 
B)  the time to turn a page in a book. 
C)  the time between sunrise and sunset. 
D)  the time you spent in high school. 
A)  the length of a quick lunch. 
B)  the time to turn a page in a book. 
C)  the time between sunrise and sunset. 
D)  the time you spent in high school.

Question 3

The scientific method is a way of proving ideas to be true.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Using the method of comparing times to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy,compare the size of Earth to the size of the visible universe.Start by making the size of the Earth comparable to a snap of your fingers,which lasts about 1/7 seconds.Show your computation.

Accepted Answer

If the size of Earth is like a

Question 5

One of the central assumptions in astronomy is that the physical laws of nature

Accepted Answer

A)  change when objects move at high speed. 
B)  stay the same throughout the age of the universe. 
C)  depend on the mass of the objects involved. 
D)  are the same everywhere in the universe. 
A)  change when objects move at high speed. 
B)  stay the same throughout the age of the universe. 
C)  depend on the mass of the objects involved. 
D)  are the same everywhere in the universe.

Question 6

If a scientific theory cannot be tested,it is assumed to be true.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

There are nearly 100 times more galaxies in the universe as there are stars in the Milky Way.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Using the method of comparing times to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy,compare the diameter of our Solar System,which is   ,to the diameter of the Galaxy,which is   by calculating the time it would take for light to travel these diameters.For reference,the speed of light is   .

Accepted Answer

The time it takes light to tra

Question 9

Our universe is approximately __________ years old.

Accepted Answer

A)  14 million 
B)  14 billion 
C)  14 trillion 
D)  14 thousand 
A)  14 million 
B)  14 billion 
C)  14 trillion 
D)  14 thousand

Question 10

__________ is the idea that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is usually the correct one.

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's hypothesis 
B)  Occam's razor 
C)  Aristotle's test 
D)  Einstein's excuse 
A)  Newton's hypothesis 
B)  Occam's razor 
C)  Aristotle's test 
D)  Einstein's excuse

Question 11

Scientific notation allows us to

Accepted Answer

A)  write very large and very small numbers in a convenient way. 
B)  talk about science in an easy way. 
C)  change easy calculations into hard calculations. 
D)  explain science to engineers. 
A)  write very large and very small numbers in a convenient way. 
B)  talk about science in an easy way. 
C)  change easy calculations into hard calculations. 
D)  explain science to engineers.

Question 12

In 2006,Pluto's status was changed from a classical planet to a dwarf planet primarily because of its

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of an atmosphere. 
B)  small size. 
C)  large distance. 
D)  ice-covered surface. 
A)  lack of an atmosphere. 
B)  small size. 
C)  large distance. 
D)  ice-covered surface.

Question 13

One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri,whose distance is   .The time it takes light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us is

Accepted Answer

A)  1.25 seconds. 
B)  8.3 minutes. 
C)  4.4 years. 
D)  600 years. 
A)  1.25 seconds. 
B)  8.3 minutes. 
C)  4.4 years. 
D)  600 years.

Question 14

The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the center of our Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Describe two important technological developments that have greatly increased our ability to study the universe.

Accepted Answer

A few of them are spacecraft,t

Question 16

Suppose you were writing to a pen pal in another universe.What address would you put on the envelope that included all the major structures in which we reside? (Hint: Your cosmic address should begin with "Earth" and end with "the universe.")

Accepted Answer

The address would be: "Earth,t

Question 17

The kind of mathematics that deals with change is called

Accepted Answer

A)  algebra. 
B)  calculus. 
C)  arithmetic. 
D)  geometry. 
A)  algebra. 
B)  calculus. 
C)  arithmetic. 
D)  geometry.

Question 18

The word astronomy

Accepted Answer

A)  means "patterns among the stars." 
B)  means "to study the stars." 
C)  means "discovering the universe." 
D)  has nothing to do with stars. 
A)  means "patterns among the stars." 
B)  means "to study the stars." 
C)  means "discovering the universe." 
D)  has nothing to do with stars.

Question 19

Describe how talking about time can give us a feeling for distance.

Accepted Answer

If speed is constant,a differe

Question 20

Once a scientific theory is declared to be "true," progress in that area stops.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 1: Why Learn Astronomy

The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.

Measuring distances in the amount of time it takes light to travel,if the circumference of Earth is a snap of your fingers,the diameter of the Solar System is approximately equal to

The scientific method is a way of proving ideas to be true.

Using the method of comparing times to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy,compare the size of Earth to the size of the visible universe.Start by making the size of the Earth comparable to a snap of your fingers,which lasts about 1/7 seconds.Show your computation.

One of the central assumptions in astronomy is that the physical laws of nature

If a scientific theory cannot be tested,it is assumed to be true.

There are nearly 100 times more galaxies in the universe as there are stars in the Milky Way.

Using the method of comparing times to get a handle on the large distances in astronomy,compare the diameter of our Solar System,which is ,to the diameter of the Galaxy,which is by calculating the time it would take for light to travel these diameters.For reference,the speed of light is .

Our universe is approximately __________ years old.

__________ is the idea that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is usually the correct one.

Scientific notation allows us to

In 2006,Pluto's status was changed from a classical planet to a dwarf planet primarily because of its

One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri,whose distance is .The time it takes light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us is

The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the center of our Sun.

Describe two important technological developments that have greatly increased our ability to study the universe.

Suppose you were writing to a pen pal in another universe.What address would you put on the envelope that included all the major structures in which we reside? (Hint: Your cosmic address should begin with "Earth" and end with "the universe.")

The kind of mathematics that deals with change is called

The word astronomy

Describe how talking about time can give us a feeling for distance.

Once a scientific theory is declared to be "true," progress in that area stops.

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Gravity and Orbitsa Celestial Ballet

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Gravity Is More Than Keplers Laws

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

A Run-Of-The-Mill G-Type Starour Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Stars in the Slow Lanelow-Mass Stellar Evolution

Live Fast,die Younghigh-Mass Stellar Evolution

Our Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of Structure

Life

Filters