Chapter 1: A Modern View of the Universe (Reading Quiz)

The number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy is approximately _________. A. a few hundred billion B. a few hundred C. a few hundred million D. a few hundred thousand

A. a few hundred billion

A light-year is _________. A. about 10 trillion kilometers B. the time it takes light to travel around the Sun C. about 300,000 kilometers per second D. the time it takes light to reach the nearest star

A. about 10 trillion kilometers

Consider a raisin cake expanding uniformly in an oven. Viewed from one of the raisins, you would see _____. A. all other raisins moving away from you, with more distant raisins moving faster B. all raisins, including your own, growing in size as the cake expands C. all other raisins moving away from you at the same speed D. all other raisins moving away from you, with more distant raisins moving slower

A. all other raisins moving away from you, with more distant raisins moving faster

On a scale where the Sun is about the size of a grapefruit and the Earth is about 15 meters away, how far away are the nearest stars besides the Sun? A. About the distance across the state of Delaware B. About the distance across the United States C. About the distance across 50 football fields D. 100 meters

B. About the distance across the United States

Which of the following best describes what we mean by the term universe? A. The universe is another name for our Milky Way Galaxy. B. The sum total of all matter and energy C. A vast collection of stars that number as many as the grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth D. All the galaxies in all the superclusters

B. The sum total of all matter and energy

On a scale in which the distance from Earth to the Sun is about 15 meters, the distance from Earth to the Moon is _________. A. about 1 meter B. small enough to fit within your hand C. about 30 meters D. about 5 meters

B. small enough to fit within your hand

The term observable universe refers to _________. A. that portion of the universe that we have so far photographed through telescopes B. that portion of the universe that we can see in principle, given the current age of the universe C. the portion of the universe that can be seen by the naked eye D. the portion of the universe that is not hidden from view by, for example, being below the horizon

B. that portion of the universe that we can see in principle, given the current age of the universe

An astronomical unit (AU) is _________. A. the average distance between any planet and the Sun B. the average distance between Earth and the Sun C. any very large unit, such as a light-year D. the current distance between Earth and the Sun

B. the average distance between Earth and the Sun

What do we mean when we say that the universe is expanding? A. Average distances between galaxies are increasing with time. B. The statement is not meant to be literal; rather, it means that our knowledge of the universe is growing. C. Everything in the universe is gradually growing in size. D. Within galaxies, average distances between star systems are increasing with time.

A. Average distances between galaxies are increasing with time.

Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star? A. Planets orbit stars, whereas stars orbit the center of the galaxy. B. Planets are dimmer than stars. C. All planets are made of rock and all stars are made of gas. D. Planets are smaller than stars.

C. All planets are made of rock and all stars are made of gas.

What do astronomers mean by the Big Bang? A. The event that marked the birth of our solar system B. A gigantic explosion that blew all the galaxies in the universe to smithereens C. The event that marked the beginning of the expansion of the universe D. The explosion of a massive star at the end of its life

C. The event that marked the beginning of the expansion of the universe

What is the ecliptic plane? A. The plane of the Milky Way Galaxy B. The plane of the Sun's equator C. The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun D. The plane of Earth's equator

C. The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun

A typical galaxy is a _________. A. relatively small, icy object orbiting a star B. large, glowing ball of gas powered by nuclear energy C. collection of millions or billions of stars, bound together by gravity and orbiting a common center D. system consisting of one or a few stars orbited by planets, moons, and smaller objects E. nearby object orbiting a planet

C. collection of millions or billions of stars, bound together by gravity and orbiting a common center

A television advertisement claiming that a product is light-years ahead of its time does not make sense because _________. A. light-years can only be used to talk about light B. a light-year is an astronomically large unit, so a product could not possibly be so advanced C. it uses light-years to talk about time, but a light-year is a unit of distance D. it doesn't specify the number of light-years

C. it uses light-years to talk about time, but a light-year is a unit of distance

Our solar system consists of _________. A. a few hundred billion stars, bound together by gravity B. the Sun and several nearby stars, as well as the planets and other objects that orbit these stars C. the Sun and all the objects that orbit it D. the Sun and the planets, and nothing else

C. the Sun and all the objects that orbit it

Based on observations of the universal expansion, the age of the universe is about _________. A. 14 million years B. 14,000 years C. 14 trillion years D. 14 billion years

D. 14 billion years

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun? A. One month B. One week C. One day D. One year E. The time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun changes significantly from one orbit to the next.

D. One year