ASTRONOMY MIDTERM

How large an object causes a typical shooting star? A. A mountain B. A boulder C. An object the size of a car. D. a grain of sand or a small pebble

D. a grain of sand or a small pebble

Which transition, as shown, is not possible?

D.

Which of the following correctly lists our "cosmic address" from small to large? A. Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe B. Earth, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, Milky Way Galaxy, universe C. Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe.

A. Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe

Suppose you visit the Moon..... A. Your mass would be the same on Earth, but your weight would be different. B. Your weight would be the same on Earth, but your mass would be different. C. Your mass and weight would both be the same as they are on Earth D. Your mass and weight would both be different than they are on Earth

A. Your mass would be the same on Earth but your weight would be different.

How would the wavelength of the photon involved in transition A compare to that of the photon wavelength in transition C? A. it would be shorter B. it would be longer C. it would be more intense D. it would be less intense

A. it would be shorter

Two stars that are in the same constellation: A. may be far from each other in space B. are the same distance from us C. must be near each other in space D. must have been discovered at about the same time

A. may be far from each other in space.

In the spectrum of a star, you observe an emission line at a wavelength of 630 nm. In the laboratory, this line has a wavelength of 600 nm. The emission line from the star is: A. redshifted B. blue shifted C. skewed D. dampened

A. redshifted

In winter, Earth's axis points toward the star Polaris. In spring: A. the axis also points toward Polaris. B. the axis points toward Vega. C. the axis points toward the Sun.

A. the axis also points toward Polaris

The fact that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, with more distant ones moving faster, helped us to conclude that A. the universe is expanding. B. galaxies repel each other like magnets. C. our galaxy lies near the center of the universe.

A. the universe is expanding

The labeled transitions (A-E) represent an electron moving between energy levels in hydrogen. Circle the correct answer. Which transition could represent an atom that absorbs a photon with 10.2 eV of energy?

B.

The speed of light (in a vacuum) and a light year are, respectively: A. 300,000 miles per hour and the distance light travels in one year. B. 300,000 km per sec and the distance light travels in one year. C. 300,000 km per sec and the time it takes for light to travel in one year. D. 300,000 km per sec and the distance to the nearest star.

B. 300,000 km per sec and the distance light travels in one year.

The set of spectral lines that we see in a star's spectrum depends on the star's: A. interior temperature B. chemical composition C. rotation rate

B. chemical composition

Which lists the major steps of solar system formation in the correct order? A. collapse, accretion, condensation B. collapse, condensation, accretion C. accretion, condensation, collapse D. accretion, collapse, condensation

B. collapse, condensation, accretion

To make a rocket turn left, you need to: A.fire an engine that shoots out gas to the left. B. fire an engine that shoots out gas to the right. C. spin the rocket clockwise D. spin the rocket counterclockwise.

B. fire an engine that shoots out gas to the right

A car is accelerating when it is... A. traveling on a straight, flat road at 50 miles per hour. B. going around a circular track at a steady 100 miles per hour. C. traveling on a straight uphill road at 30 miles per hour. D. cant tell with the info given.

B. going around a circular track at a steady 100 miles per hour

Compared to red light, blue light has higher frequency and... A. higher energy and longer wavelength. B. higher energy and shorter wavelength. C. lower energy and shorter wavelength. D. lower energy and longer wavelength

B. higher energy and shorter wavelength

Given the spectral information from Q10, the star is: A. moving towards us B. moving away from us. C. moving sideways with respect to us. D. can't tell with the info given.

B. moving away from us.

The labeled transitions (A-E) represent an electron moving between energy levels in hydrogen. Circle the correct answer. Which transition could represent an atom that emits a photon with 10.2 eV of energy?

C.

Which of the following is not true about a scientific theory? A. A theory must explain a wide range of observations or experiments. B. A theory is stronger than a hypothesis, and weaker than a law. C. A theory is essentially an educated guess. D. Even the strongest theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

C. A theory is essentially an educated guess.

The gravitational potential energy of a contracting interstellar cloud... A. stays the same at all times. B. gradually grows larger. C. gradually transforms into other forms of energy. D. gradually dissipates.

C. gradually transforms into other forms of energy.

The composition of the solar nebula was 98%: A. rock and metal B. hydrogen compounds C. hydrogen and helium D. rainbows and unicorns

C. hydrogen and helium

When we say that a planet has a highly eccentric orbit, we mean that: A. it is spiraling in toward the Sun. B. its orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. C. in some parts of its orbit it is much closer to the Sun than in other parts.

C. in some parts of its orbit it is much closer to the Sun than in other parts

Some jovian planets give off more energy than they receive because of: A. fusion in their cores B. tidal heating C. ongoing contraction or differentiation. D. the solar wind.

C. ongoing contraction or differentiation

The Earth has seasons because: A. its orbit brings it closer to the Sun at certain times of the year. B. the atmosphere stores energy and releases it as heat in a yearly cycle. C. it wobbles which causes one hemisphere to be closer to the Sun than the other. D. its axis of rotation is tilted which causes one hemisphere to receive more direct sunlight than the other.

D. its axis of rotation is tilted which causes one hemisphere to receive more direct sunlight than the other.

The force of gravity is given by: F= GMm/r^2. If Earth were twice as far from the Sun, the force of gravity attracting Earth to the Sun would be... A. one-third as strong. B. twice as strong. C. half as strong. D. one-quarter as strong.

D. one quarter as strong.

The star Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. If it explodes tonight: A. we'll know because it will be brighter than the full Moon in the sky. B. we'll know because debris from the explosion will rain down on us from space. C. we'll know it exploded if we repeat the word "Betelgeuse" three times. D. we won't know it exploded until 600 years from now.

D. we won't know it exploded until 600 years from now.

The labeled transitions (A-E) represent an electron moving between energy levels in hydrogen. Circle the correct answer. Which transition could represent an electron that is breaking free of the atom?

E.

Would transition A represent emission or absorption of light?

emission