Question 1

If you were to specify your address in the universe,listing your membership from the smallest to largest physical structures,it would be

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth,Local Group,Solar System,Andromeda,the universe. 
B)  Earth,Solar System,Local Group,Milky Way,the universe. 
C)  Earth,Solar System,Milky Way,Local Group,Virgo Supercluster,the universe. 
D)  Earth,Solar System,Milky Way,Fornax Supercluster,the universe. 
A)  Earth,Local Group,Solar System,Andromeda,the universe. 
B)  Earth,Solar System,Local Group,Milky Way,the universe. 
C)  Earth,Solar System,Milky Way,Local Group,Virgo Supercluster,the universe. 
D)  Earth,Solar System,Milky Way,Fornax Supercluster,the universe.

Question 2

What are the advantage(s)of placing telescopes in space?

Accepted Answer

A)  Better access to high energy radiation such as ultraviolet light and X-rays 
B)  Better access to low energy radiation such as infrared and microwave radiation 
C)  Avoids the blurring of images caused by the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Better access to high energy radiation such as ultraviolet light and X-rays 
B)  Better access to low energy radiation such as infrared and microwave radiation 
C)  Avoids the blurring of images caused by the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  All of the above

Question 3

Nuclear fusion is the process through which new elements are created in stellar interiors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The cosmological principle states that

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe is expanding in all directions at the same rate. 
B)  a unique center of the universe exists. 
C)  the universe looks the same everywhere as long as you look on large enough spatial scales. 
D)  physical laws may change from place to place in the universe. 
A)  the universe is expanding in all directions at the same rate. 
B)  a unique center of the universe exists. 
C)  the universe looks the same everywhere as long as you look on large enough spatial scales. 
D)  physical laws may change from place to place in the universe.

Question 5

Observed patterns are usually due to some underlying scientific explanation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

We are located approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  at the center of the Milky Way. 
B)  near the center of the Milky Way. 
C)  halfway out from the center of the Milky Way. 
D)  at the farthest outskirts of the Milky Way. 
A)  at the center of the Milky Way. 
B)  near the center of the Milky Way. 
C)  halfway out from the center of the Milky Way. 
D)  at the farthest outskirts of the Milky Way.

Question 7

The Local Group is the environment around

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun that contains about a dozen stars. 
B)  the Milky Way that contains a few dozen galaxies. 
C)  the Sun that contains over a billion stars. 
D)  the Milky Way that contains a few thousand galaxies. 
A)  the Sun that contains about a dozen stars. 
B)  the Milky Way that contains a few dozen galaxies. 
C)  the Sun that contains over a billion stars. 
D)  the Milky Way that contains a few thousand galaxies.

Question 8

A __________ becomes a __________ when repeated testing of its predictions does not disprove it.

Accepted Answer

A)  hypothesis;scientific method 
B)  theory;scientific revolution 
C)  phenomenon;theory 
D)  hypothesis;theory 
A)  hypothesis;scientific method 
B)  theory;scientific revolution 
C)  phenomenon;theory 
D)  hypothesis;theory

Question 9

The cosmological principle states that there is nothing special about our local region of the universe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What two pre-Renaissance beliefs were proven completely false by the cosmological principle?

Accepted Answer

(1)Earth is at the center of o

Question 11

Describe briefly why the phrase "we are stardust" is literally true.

Accepted Answer

Massive stars make heavy elements during

Question 12

Light from the Sun takes about __________ to reach Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  8 seconds 
B)  8 minutes 
C)  8 hours 
D)  8 years 
A)  8 seconds 
B)  8 minutes 
C)  8 hours 
D)  8 years

Question 13

It is often said that "mathematics is the language of science." Explain why this is true.

Accepted Answer

Math is a language that descri

Question 14

Describe the main steps involved in the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

First you make a hypothesis;then you mak

Question 15

The scientific method is a process by which scientists

Accepted Answer

A)  prove theories to be known facts. 
B)  gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong. 
C)  show all theories to be wrong. 
D)  test the ideas of Aristotle. 
A)  prove theories to be known facts. 
B)  gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong. 
C)  show all theories to be wrong. 
D)  test the ideas of Aristotle.

Question 16

If the speed of light is   and   miles,what is the speed of light in miles per hour?

Accepted Answer

A)  670 million miles/hr 
B)  670 thousand miles/hr 
C)  186 miles/hr 
D)  186 thousand miles/hr 
A)  670 million miles/hr 
B)  670 thousand miles/hr 
C)  186 miles/hr 
D)  186 thousand miles/hr

Question 17

Human beings are composed almost entirely of the same elements that were created in the Big Bang.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is the only thing that makes the Sun an exceptional star?

Accepted Answer

The fact t

Question 19

The number of classical planets in the Solar System is

Accepted Answer

A)  eight. 
B)  nine. 
C)  twelve. 
D)  six. 
A)  eight. 
B)  nine. 
C)  twelve. 
D)  six.

Question 20

An observed pattern in nature is usually a sign of some underlying scientific reason.Give an example of this in astronomy,citing the pattern and the reason behind it.

Accepted Answer

The Sun rises and sets each day.This pat

Exam 1: Why Learn Astronomy

If you were to specify your address in the universe,listing your membership from the smallest to largest physical structures,it would be

What are the advantage(s)of placing telescopes in space?

Nuclear fusion is the process through which new elements are created in stellar interiors.

The cosmological principle states that

Observed patterns are usually due to some underlying scientific explanation.

We are located approximately

The Local Group is the environment around

A __________ becomes a __________ when repeated testing of its predictions does not disprove it.

The cosmological principle states that there is nothing special about our local region of the universe.

What two pre-Renaissance beliefs were proven completely false by the cosmological principle?

Describe briefly why the phrase "we are stardust" is literally true.

Light from the Sun takes about __________ to reach Earth.

It is often said that "mathematics is the language of science." Explain why this is true.

Describe the main steps involved in the scientific method.

The scientific method is a process by which scientists

If the speed of light is and miles,what is the speed of light in miles per hour?

Human beings are composed almost entirely of the same elements that were created in the Big Bang.

What is the only thing that makes the Sun an exceptional star?

The number of classical planets in the Solar System is

An observed pattern in nature is usually a sign of some underlying scientific reason.Give an example of this in astronomy,citing the pattern and the reason behind it.

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

A becomes a when repeated testing of its predictions does not disprove it.