Question 1

The assumption of isotropy states that

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe looks the same at all epochs. 
B)  the universe looks the same from all locations over sufficiently great distances. 
C)  the universe looks the same in all directions over sufficiently great distances. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 2

How can the big bang still be visible? In what form has it been detected?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can the big bang still be...

Question 3

If galaxy A is four times more distant than galaxy B, then according to the Hubble law, galaxy A will recede ____ than galaxy B.

Accepted Answer

A)  16 times faster 
B)  4 times faster 
C)  2 times faster 
D)  1.2 times faster 
E)  0.25 times faster

Question 4

How could the measurement of the Hubble constant at great distances tell us whether the universe is open or closed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How could the measurement of the Hubble...

Question 5

If the universe is closed and finite, then

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe will expand forever. 
B)  the universe has a center. 
C)  the universe has an edge. 
D)  none of the above.

Question 6

Why would a value of 500 km/s/Mpc for the Hubble constant contradict theories of stellar evolution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why would a value of 500 km/s/Mpc...

Question 7

The flatness problem and horizon problem

Accepted Answer

A)  are solved if there was a sudden inflation of the universe at time before recombination occurred. 
B)  show that the universe can be described as static and unchanging. 
C)  show that dark matter must be a small fraction of the total mass of the universe. 
D)  imply that the universe was once much colder than it is now. 
E)  imply that the inflationary theory is incorrect.

Question 8

The age of the universe can be estimated or constrained from

Accepted Answer

A)  the age of the oldest objects such as globular clusters. 
B)  the distances of galaxies beyond our Local Group of galaxies. 
C)  the rate of recession of the galaxies beyond the Local Group. 
D)  all of the above.

Question 9

The assumption of homogeneity states that

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe looks the same at all epochs. 
B)  the universe looks the same from all locations over sufficiently great distances. 
C)  the universe looks the same in all directions over sufficiently great distances. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 10

The deuterium and lithium-7 in distant quasars and in the interstellar medium suggests that the universe is open.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

How might we tell whether the universe is open or closed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might we tell whether the universe...

Question 12

How old is the universe since the Big Bang? Pick the best answer according to radioactive dating in the solar system, light travel times to most distant galaxies, time reversal of the Big Bang, and observations of the 3-K radiation.

Accepted Answer

A)  1400 years 
B)  14,000 years 
C)  14,000,000 years 
D)  14,000,000,000 years

Question 13

The cosmological principle states that the universe is

Accepted Answer

A)  I and II 
B)  III and IV 
C)  I and III 
D)  II and IV 
E)  I, II, III, and IV

Question 14

Dark energy is the name of the

Accepted Answer

A)  force that lead to the inflationary period of the universe. 
B)  five-dimensional space of the universe. 
C)  force suspected to cause the current acceleration in the rate of expansion of the universe. 
D)  one of the particles of dark matter related to WIMPs. 
E)  the force that holds the proton together.

Question 15

The rate of expansion of the universe is currently increasing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The cosmic background radiation comes from a time after the origin of the universe

Accepted Answer

A)  when protons and neutrons were first formed. 
B)  when the big bang first began to expand. 
C)  during the inflationary period. 
D)  when gamma rays had enough energy to destroy nuclei. 
E)  when electrons began to recombine with nuclei to form atoms.

Question 17

The density of the universe is

Accepted Answer

A)  equal to the critical density if the universe is closed. 
B)  equal to the critical density if the universe is flat. 
C)  greater than the critical density if the universe is flat. 
D)  greater than the critical density if the universe is open. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 18

What do the size and distribution of small scale temperature variations suggest about the geometry of the universe?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do the size and distribution of...

Question 19

If the universe is closed, then its age will be

Accepted Answer

A)  less than two-thirds of 1/H. 
B)  more than two-thirds of 1/H. 
C)  equal to 1/H. 
D)  equal to H squared. 
E)  equal to the square-root of H.

Question 20

Current evidence suggests that the universe is

Accepted Answer

A)  flat, infinite, and neither expanding nor contracting. 
B)  closed, finite, and slowing its expansion. 
C)  open, infinite, and slowing in its expansion. 
D)  static with no expansion. 
E)  flat, infinite, and accelerating in its expansion.

Exam 14: Modern Cosmology