Astronomy Final
What name is given to a rotating black hole? A) A wormhole. B) A Kerr black hole. C) A Hawking singularity. D) A Schwarzschild black hole.
B) A Kerr black hole.
The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is A) 430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin. B) 100°C, high enough to boil water. C) 961°C, high enough to melt silver. D) 0°C, high enough to melt water.
A) 430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin.
The temperature of the Sun's photosphere is A) 5800 K. B) close to 1 million K. C) about 10,000 K. D) 4300 K
A) 5800 K.
What name is given to a non-rotating black hole? A) A Schwarzschild black hole. B) A Hawking singularity. C) A Kerr black hole. D) A wormhole.
A) A Schwarzschild black hole.
What is the Great Red Spot? A) A large and long-lived, possibly permanent, storm on Jupiter. B) A large, anticyclone storm on Neptune. C) A dark polar hood in the clouds of Titan, a satellite of Saturn. D) A lava lake on Io, a satellite of Jupiter.
A) A large and long-lived, possibly permanent, storm on Jupiter.
Asteroids whose orbits carry them across the Earth's orbit are known as A) Apollo asteroids. B) Trojan asteroids. C) Amor asteroids. D) Kirkwood asteroids.
A) Apollo asteroids.
Which of the Moons of Jupiter is characterized by an exceptionally smooth, icy surface, few craters, and many streaks and cracks? A) Europa. B) Callisto. C) Io. D) Ganymede.
A) Europa.
The surface of the Sun is divided into light-colored areas with dark boundaries in a cellular pattern. What are these cells called? A) Granules. B) Sunspots. C) Filaments. D) Spicules.
A) Granules.
Where in the solar system would you look for liquid hydrogen? A) In the deep interiors of Jupiter and Saturn. B) On the polar caps of Mars. C) Nowhere, since there is nowhere cold enough in the solar system to liquefy hydrogen. D) On the surface of Venus, beneath the clouds.
A) In the deep interiors of Jupiter and Saturn.
The Magellanic Clouds seen from the southern hemisphere are examples of what type of objects? A) Irregular galaxies. B) Supernova remnants. C) Planetary nebulae. D) Spiral galaxies.
A) Irregular galaxies.
What are the characteristics of the magnetic field of Uranus? A) It is tilted almost 60 degrees to the axis of planetary rotation and is offset from the planet's center. B) It is aligned almost parallel to the planet's axis of rotation, but is offset from the planet's center. C) It passes through the center of Uranus but is tilted almost 60 degrees from the axis of rotation. D) It is aligned almost exactly along the planet's axis of rotation, through the center of Uranus.
A) It is tilted almost 60 degrees to the axis of planetary rotation and is offset from the planet's center.
The major part of a star's life is spent on the: A) Main Sequence B) Hydrogen Phase C) Kelvin-Helmholz D) Hayashi
A) Main Sequence
Which is the only planet whose surface features can easily be seen through a telescope from Earth? A) Mars B) Jupiter C) Mercury D) Venus
A) Mars
Which of the planets fits the following description: "A cool, solid surface, with a thin CO2 atmosphere and occasional dust clouds"? A) Mars B) Venus C) Jupiter D) Mercury
A) Mars
Which two parameters of star motion in a galaxy are represented by its rotation curve? A) Orbital speed as a function of star distance from the galactic center. B) Orbital period of the stars as a function of their distance from the galactic center. C) Orbital speed of the stars as a function of their individual masses. D) Star position above or below the galactic plane as a function of distance from the galactic center.
A) Orbital speed as a function of star distance from the galactic center.
Which nuclear chain reaction process is used by stars like our Sun? A) PP chain B) CNO cycle C) CVC cycle D) triple-action
A) PP chain
Which of the following objects is NOT an end-point of a star's evolutionary life? A) Red giant. B) Neutron star. C) Black hole. D) Supernova.
A) Red giant.
A particular galaxy has a nuclear region of more or less uniform brightness from which long lanes of stars curve outward. What type of galaxy is this? A) Spiral. B) Quasar. C) Irregular. D) Elliptical.
A) Spiral.
The Hubble law, representing observations of distant objects in the universe, relates which two parameters? A) The distance to a distant object and the redshift of its light. B) The mass of an object and its luminosity. C) The luminosity and position of stars in the galaxy. D) The mass of a distant object and its recession velocity.
A) The distance to a distant object and the redshift of its light.
Which planet has its rotation axis tilted at 98 degrees from the vertical to its orbit? A) Uranus. B) Venus. C) Neptune. D) Earth.
A) Uranus.
What method is used to determine the distances of very remote galaxies? A) Use of their spectral redshifts and the Hubble law. B) Comparison of their apparent and absolute magnitudes. C) Measurement of the apparent brightness and period of Cepheid variable stars within the galaxies. D) Measurement of the angular size of the galaxy and an assumption about the actual physical size of the galaxy.
A) Use of their spectral redshifts and the Hubble law.
Which of the following planets rotates on its axis in a retrograde fashion, opposite to that of most of the planets and opposite to the direction of revolution of the planets? A) Venus B) Mercury C) Saturn D) Moon
A) Venus
An object which is too massive to be a planet but not massive enough to be a star is called A) a brown dwarf. B) a white dwarf. C) a red dwarf. D) a T Tauri star.
A) a brown dwarf.
A shooting star is A) a small particle of interplanetary dust, burning up and glowing as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. B) a violently erupting star, ejecting matter rapidly away from it into interstellar space. C) a near-neighbor star, moving rapidly across our field of view. D) the leading scorer on a basketball team.
A) a small particle of interplanetary dust, burning up and glowing as it enters the Earth's atmosphere.
Our Sun will end its life by becoming A) a white dwarf. B) a molecular cloud. C) a black hole. D) a pulsar.
A) a white dwarf.
The chemical makeup of the Sun's surface can be determined A) by solar spectroscopy. B) by measuring the components of the solar wind with Earth-orbiting spacecraft. C) by taking a sample of the star's surface with a space probe. D) by examining the chemicals present in a meteorite, since it is part of the solar system.
A) by solar spectroscopy.
Helium nuclear reactions (helium burning) produces primarily A) carbon and oxygen. B) oxygen and neon. C) carbon and silicon. D) iron.
A) carbon and oxygen.
Sunspots are A) cooler, darker regions on the Sun's surface. B) the shadows of cool, dark curtains of matter, hanging above the solar surface. C) hotter, deeper regions in the Sun's atmosphere. D) cooler regions of the Sun's high corona.
A) cooler, darker regions on the Sun's surface
In the 1780's, Sir William Herschel tried to measure the Sun's position in our Galaxy by A) counting the density of stars in different directions along the Milky Way. B) measuring distances to star clusters and H II regions in the disk of the Galaxy. C) measuring the locations of globular clusters around the Galaxy. D) comparing our Galaxy to photographs of the Andromeda Galaxy.
A) counting the density of stars in different directions along the Milky Way.
The dimensions of the disk of our Milky Way Galaxy are A) diameter 100,000 light-years; thickness 2,000 light-years. B) diameter 10,000 light-years; thickness 28,000 light-years. C) diameter 2000 light-years; thickness 100,000 light-years. D) diameter 28,000 light-years; thickness 2000 light-years.
A) diameter 100,000 light-years; thickness 2,000 light-years.
The Milky Way Galaxy appears to have a spiral structure with A) four separate major arms. B) three loosely wound arms. C) one "arm" wound around the nucleus four times. D) two major arms, wound twice around the nucleus
A) four separate major arms.
The brighter cells surrounded by dark, narrow boundaries making up the cellular pattern that completely covers the visible surface of the Sun are called A) granules. B) sunspots. C) spicules. D) filaments.
A) granules.
The main product of silicon fusion reactions in the core of a massive star is A) iron. B) helium. C) carbon. D) magnesium.
A) iron.
Saturn's moon, Titan, is different from all other moons of planets because A) it possesses a thick atmosphere. B) lakes of water with floating icebergs are seen upon its surface. C) its orbit carries it directly over both poles of the planet. D) continuously erupting volcanoes are observed upon it.
A) it possesses a thick atmosphere.
Comet tails are the result of A) melting and evaporation of ices from the comet core. B) sunlight glinting upon the central icy comet core. C) interplanetary material streaming into the comet because of its gravity. D) interplanetary dust, collected by the comet as it moves in its orbit.
A) melting and evaporation of ices from the comet core.
The geology and geography of the surface of the Venus is best described as A) mostly volcanic plains, with two continent-sized uplands, and a number of large volcanoes. B) heavily cratered, with no major volcanoes or lava flows. C) colliding surface plates with long mountain chains, rift valleys, and deep subduction trenches. D) volcanoes and volcanic uplifts in the northern hemisphere, and cratered plains in the southern hemisphere.
A) mostly volcanic plains, with two continent-sized uplands, and a number of large volcanoes.
Jupiter has a magnetic field that is A) much more powerful than that of Earth. B) about the same strength and extent as that of Earth. C) weak and variable, sometimes existing only at the Great Red Spot. D) almost nonexistent.
A) much more powerful than that of Earth.
The two forces producing hydrostatic equilibrium in the sun are A) nuclear forces and gravity. B) gravity and gas pressure. C) electrical forces and gravity. D) electrical forces and gas pressure.
A) nuclear forces and gravity.
Tomorrow's weather report for Venus would be A) overcast and very hot. B) hot and humid, with clear skies. C) cold and clear. D) snow.
A) overcast and very hot.
The layer of the sun that is normally visible to us is the A) photosphere B) corona C) chromosphere D) core
A) photosphere
The orbits of comets are A) randomly oriented in the solar system and can extend far beyond the orbit of Pluto. B) primarily in the plane of the ecliptic and confined to distances closer to the Sun than approximately the orbit of Pluto. C) primarily in the plane of the ecliptic and can extend far out beyond the orbit of Pluto. D) randomly oriented in the solar system and confined to distances closer to the Sun than approximately the orbit of Pluto.
A) randomly oriented in the solar system and can extend far beyond the orbit of Pluto.
The length of a star's main sequence life is determined by the star's: A) spectral type B) radius C) carbon content D) surface temperature
A) spectral type
When distances were carefully measured from Earth to globular clusters above and below the Milky Way plane (where our view of them is not obscured by interstellar dust and gas), their distribution was found to be A) spherically symmetric about a point in the constellation Sagittarius and concentrated in that direction. B) in a relatively flat disk almost perpendicular to the plane of the Galaxy, with a relatively higher density of clusters toward its center. C) concentrated in the plane of the Milky Way and clustered around the Sun's position, indicating that the Sun is close to the Galaxy's center. D) uniformly distributed throughout space, with no concentration in any area of the Milky Way.
A) spherically symmetric about a point in the constellation Sagittarius and concentrated in that direction.
A black hole can be thought of as A) strongly curved space. B) a star with a temperature of 0 K, emitting no light. C) densely packed matter inside a small but finite volume. D) the point at the center of every star, providing the star's energy by gravitational collapse.
A) strongly curved space.
A white dwarf star is about the same size as A) the Earth. B) a major city. C) the total solar system. D) the Sun.
A) the Earth.
The Martian magnetic field is A) weak and localized, not at all like the global magnetic field of Earth. B) comparable to Earth's magnetic field. C) much stronger and more extensive than the Earth's magnetic field. D) non-existent-no spacecraft has ever detected a magnetic field on Mars.
A) weak and localized, not at all like the global magnetic field of Earth.
What is the Local Group? A) The stars that occupy the same spiral arm as the Sun. B) A cluster of about 30 galaxies of which the Milky Way is a member. C) A group of galaxies clustered around the Andromeda Galaxy M31, apparently gravitationally bound to it but separate from the Milky Way. D) A group of about 100 stars within 20 light-years of the Sun, which appear to have been formed at about the same time from similar material.
B) A cluster of about 30 galaxies of which the Milky Way is a member
What are the Valles Marineris? A) A system of tectonic faults on the Jovian satellite Ganymede. B) A large rift valley system associated with the great volcanoes on Mars. C) A system of deep trenches bordering Aphrodite Terra on Venus. D) A long scarp-and-trough system in the lava plains of Mercury.
B) A large rift valley system associated with the great volcanoes on Mars.
What is a barred spiral galaxy? A) A galaxy with a bar through the nuclear bulge and the spiral arms starting from the ends of the bar. B) A spiral galaxy with a straight bar instead of a nuclear bulge. C) A galaxy in which the arms form straight bars instead of curved lines. D) A galaxy with a bar extending across an entire diameter and the arms starting at various positions along the bar.
B) A spiral galaxy with a straight bar instead of a nuclear bulge.
Objects that are intermediate between stars and planets. A) Black Dwarf B) Brown Dwarf C) Blue Dwarf D) White Dwarf
B) Brown Dwarf
What is the major constituent of the atmosphere of Mars? A) H2 (hydrogen). B) CO2 (carbon dioxide). C) H2O (water vapor). D) CH4 (methane or natural gas).
B) CO2 (carbon dioxide).
The gas that is the major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars and a minor constituent of the Earth's atmosphere is A) O2. B) CO2. C) N2. D) H2O.
B) CO2.
What are the names of the three layers in the Sun's atmosphere, in order from highest to lowest? A) Photosphere, chromosphere, corona. B) Corona, chromosphere, photosphere. C) Photosphere, corona, chromosphere. D) Chromosphere, photosphere, corona.
B) Corona, chromosphere, photosphere.
The __________________ is the "mountain" in the potential energy that must be crossed over to move the two nuclei close enough together to fuse in the core of a star. A) Einstein Barrier B) Coulomb Barrier C) Newton's Ring D) Hawking Hill
B) Coulomb Barrier
Which of the following is a moon of Eris? A) Nix B) Dysnomia C) Charon D) Hydra
B) Dysnomia
Who developed the classification system that divides galaxies into spiral, elliptical, and irregular and classifies spirals by the size of their nuclear region and the tightness of winding of their arms? A) Ejnar Hertzsprung. B) Edwin Hubble. C) Sir John Herschel. D) Olaus Roemer.
B) Edwin Hubble.
The energy released in a thermonuclear reaction comes from the conversion of matter into energy acoording to ____________ equation. A) Hawkin's B) Einstein's C) Busch's D) Newton's
B) Einstein's
_____________ is the process of splitting atoms. A) Blasting B) Fission C) Fusion D) Mass Defect
B) Fission
The four major moons of Jupiter are collectively named after which early astronomer? A) Copernicus. B) Galileo. C) Ptolemy. D) Newton.
B) Galileo.
What is the most abundant element in the universe? A) Oxygen. B) Hydrogen. C) Helium. D) Carbon.
B) Hydrogen.
Where has water ice been found on Mercury? A) Suspended as microscopic crystals in the stratosphere. B) In permanently shadowed crater floors at the north and south poles. C) In deep fissures on the night side. D) In a recently formed crater, probably from a comet impact.
B) In permanently shadowed crater floors at the north and south poles.
Where is the coolest region in the Sun? A) In the lower corona. B) In the photosphere. C) In the convective zone. D) In the lower chromosphere.
B) In the photosphere.
Which satellite of Jupiter is volcanically active? A) Europa. B) Io. C) Callisto D) Ganymede.
B) Io.
What is the difference between a long-period comet and a short-period comet? A) Long-period comets fall in from the Kuiper belt or the Oort cloud, whereas short- period comets have been captured into a smaller orbit by having passed close to a planet. B) Long-period comets orbit in the Oort cloud, whereas short-period comets orbit in the Kuiper belt. C) Long-period comets have aphelia in the region of Pluto's orbit, whereas short-period comets have aphelia within the orbit of Jupiter. D) Long-period comets fall in from the Oort cloud, whereas short-period comets fall in from the Kuiper belt.
B) Long-period comets orbit in the Oort cloud, whereas short-period comets orbit in the Kuiper belt.
Which of the following sequences of stellar spectral classifications is in correct order of increasing temperature? A) O,B,A,F,G,K,M. B) M,K,G,F,A,B,O. C) A,B,F,G,K,M,O. D) K,M,G,F,A,B,O.
B) M,K,G,F,A,B,O
Phobos and Deimos are moons of which planet? A) Venus B) Mars C) Uranus D) Jupiter
B) Mars
On which planetary body can distinct evidence be seen for the flow of water at an earlier time? A) Venus. B) Mars. C) Titan, the moon of Saturn. D) The Earth's Moon.
B) Mars.
Which of the following physical properties of Venus are very similar in value to those of Earth? A) Temperatures of surface and atmosphere. B) Mass and radius and hence average density and surface gravity. C) Rotation rate around its axis and length of solar day. D) Magnetic field and magnetosphere.
B) Mass and radius and hence average density and surface gravity.
________ are regions of higher temperature and density surrounding sunspots. A) Corona. B) Plages. C) Flares. D) Photosphere.
B) Plages.
What is the name given to a galaxy with a large nuclear bulge and tightly wound arms starting from a bar through the nuclear bulge? A) Sb. B) SBa. C) SBc. D) Sa.
B) SBa.
Which planet has wide, bright rings that are easily visible from Earth? A) Venus. B) Saturn. C) Neptune. D) Jupiter.
B) Saturn.
What is the Hubble classification for a spiral galaxy with a small nuclear region and loosely wound arms? A) Sa. B) Sc. C) SBa. D) Sb.
B) Sc.
What is the event horizon of a black hole? A) The "surface" at which all events happen. B) The "surface" from inside of which nothing can escape. C) The "surface" inside which any object entering will leave with a greater energy than that with which it entered. D) The infinitesimally small volume at the center of the black hole that contains all of the black hole's mass.
B) The "surface" from inside of which nothing can escape.
What is the solar wind? A) The constant flux of photons from the Sun's visible surface. B) The Sun's outer atmosphere streaming out into space. C) The circulation of gases between the equator and the poles of the Sun. D) The storm of waves and vortices on the Sun's surface generated by a solar flare.
B) The Sun's outer atmosphere streaming out into space.
What is the photosphere of the Sun? A) The middle layer of the Sun's atmosphere. B) The visible "surface" of the Sun. C) The core of the Sun, where nuclear energy is generated. D) The region of convecting gases below the visible surface of the Sun.
B) The visible "surface" of the Sun.
What useful purpose did RR Lyrae stars serve for Harlow Shapley in locating the galactic center? A) They are important spiral arm tracers, and thus defined the shape of the Galaxy. B) Their brightness variations allowed accurate distances to be measured. C) They emit copious amounts of infrared radiation, and are thus visible through interstellar dust that obscures visible light. D) They are concentrated in the galactic center and so defined its direction.
B) Their brightness variations allowed accurate distances to be measured.
Which of the following planets has no moon? A) Neptune B) Venus C) Jupiter D) Pluto
B) Venus
Which is the hottest planet in the solar system, measured at the surface? A) Mercury. B) Venus. C) Mars. D) Earth.
B) Venus.
Olympus Mons is A) a mountain on Venus. B) a volcano on Mars. C) a long-lived anticyclone or spot on Jupiter. D) a valley on the Moon.
B) a volcano on Mars.
The thickness of the photosphere, or the visible "surface" of the Sun, is A) several times 10,000 km. B) about 400 km. C) about 4000 km. D) only about 1 km.
B) about 400 km
A planetary nebula is A) a disk-shaped nebula of dust and gas, photographed around a relatively young star, from which planets will eventually form. B) an expanding gas shell surrounding a hot white dwarf star. C) a contracting spherical cloud of gas surrounding a newly formed star in which planets are forming. D) the nebula caused by the supernova explosion of a massive star.
B) an expanding gas shell surrounding a hot white dwarf star.
Granulation on the surface of the Sun is caused by A) Differential rotation of the Sun. B) convective currents carrying heat from beneath the surface. C) Magnetic field disturbances above the solar surface. D) Nuclear fusion processes occurring just below the surface.
B) convective currents carrying heat from beneath the surface.
Venus A) has a very powerful magnetic field. B) has no magnetic field. C) has a weak magnetic field, about 1/100 of Earth's field strength. D) has a magnetic field about the strength of that of Earth.
B) has no magnetic field.
New stars are formed from A) free space out of pure energy. B) huge, cool dust and gas clouds. C) activity in the centers of galaxies. D) hot supernova remnants.
B) huge, cool dust and gas clouds.
The factor that misled Herschel into concluding that the stars of the Milky Way were distributed with the Sun at the center of the Galaxy was A) hot hydrogen gas in the Galaxy, its emission hiding the more distant stars. B) interstellar dust, which obscured the more distant stars and thereby localized his observations. C) gravitational bending of light by the mass of the Galaxy, distorting the relative positions of the stars. D) that most of the "stars" he measured were in fact distant galaxies that are distributed uniformly around the Sun.
B) interstellar dust, which obscured the more distant stars and thereby localized his observations.
The reddish color of Mars is probably due to A) sulfur compounds thrown out by active volcanoes. B) iron oxides such as rust. C) vegetation turning red in the Martian autumn. D) the glow from the very high temperature surface on the sunlit parts of Mars.
B) iron oxides such as rust.
The nucleus of a typical comet is A) irregular in shape, with a bright and very reflective, icy surface. B) irregular in shape, with a very dark and cratered surface. C) spherical, with a very smooth, dark surface. D) spherical, smooth and very light-colored, being composed mostly of ice.
B) irregular in shape, with a very dark and cratered surface.
The Sun's energy is generated by A) nuclear fission B) nuclear fusion C) gravitational contraction D) chemical reactions
B) nuclear fusion
Harlow Shapley first located the center of our Galaxy in 1917 by A) measuring the positions of supernova explosions throughout the Galaxy. B) observing the distribution of globular clusters in the galactic halo. C) redshift measurements on stars in the galactic plane and disk. D) observing the distribution of hydrogen gas, measured by 21-cm radio emission.
B) observing the distribution of globular clusters in the galactic halo.
The most common method of energy transport in normal stars is by ________. A) flavors B) photons C) neutrinos D) gravitons
B) photons
The asteroid belt is believed by most astronomers to be composed of A) genuine leather. B) rocky debris left over from the formation of the solar system. C) the remnants of a gaseous planet, disrupted by a massive impact. D) rather dirty ice-balls similar to the nuclei of comets.
B) rocky debris left over from the formation of the solar system.
The lowest mass that a protostar can have and still become a star (i.e., start thermonuclear reactions in its core) is A) slightly less than 1/100 of a solar mass. B) slightly less than 1/10 of a solar mass. C) 8/10 of a solar mass. D) about half a solar mass.
B) slightly less than 1/10 of a solar mass.
The cause of the "meteor showers," seen at regular times each year upon Earth, is most probably A) the Earth running into material within the spiral arm structure of the Milky Way. B) the Earth moving through the remnant dust and rock fragments of an old comet which are orbiting the Sun in the comet's old orbit. C) sunspot activity and the resultant geomagnetic disturbances. D) unstable weather conditions on Earth.
B) the Earth moving through the remnant dust and rock fragments of an old comet which are orbiting the Sun in the comet's old orbit.
The Kirkwood gaps are caused by A) large asteroids moving in circular orbits within the Asteroid Belt, which sweep out and collect smaller objects in their path. B) the gravitational pull of Jupiter, which nudges asteroids into new orbits. C) large asteroids on the outer fringe of the Asteroid Belt, which gravitationally affect the paths of smaller objects within the Belt. D) large asteroids whose orbits carry them periodically through the Asteroid Belt, where they sweep out a path and leave it devoid of asteroids.
B) the gravitational pull of Jupiter, which nudges asteroids into new orbits.
The surface temperature of a nearby star can best be determined from spectral classification by examining A) the pattern of emission lines which are on the star's spectrum. B) the pattern of spectral absorption lines from various atoms. C) the relative intensities of light measured through different photometric filters. D) the peak wavelength of the star's continuum blackbody spectrum.
B) the pattern of spectral absorption lines from various atoms.
The primary evidence for the expanding universe concept is A) the slow spreading out of stars in the near neighborhood of the Sun. B) the redshift of light from distant galaxies, which increases with distance of the galaxy from Earth. C) the discovery of black holes in binary stars. D) the slow increase in the Earth-Moon separation, of about 4 cm per year, with time.
B) the redshift of light from distant galaxies, which increases with distance of the galaxy from Earth.
After hydrogen burning ends in a star's core, its position on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram moves in a direction toward the A) lower left. B) upper right. C) lower right. D) upper left.
B) upper right.
The endpoint for the evolution of a low mass star is ________________. A) pulsar B) white dwarf C) red giant D) neutron star
B) white dwarf
The number of times that a typical comet can pass close to the Sun (i.e., the number of orbits that the comet can complete) before it is completely vaporized or destroyed is about A) millions. B) once. C) 100. D) 1000.
C) 100.
The stars which eventually become white dwarfs are those which start life with masses less than A) 1.4 solar masses. B) 25 solar masses. C) 8 solar masses. D) 3 solar masses.
C) 8 solar masses.
What is the galactic halo? A) A system of arcs and other gas clouds surrounding the galactic nucleus. B) A system of satellite galaxies surrounding our own Milky Way Galaxy. C) A spherical distribution of stars and globular clusters centered on the nuclear bulge. D) A large disk of stars and molecular clouds extending outward from the nuclear bulge.
C) A spherical distribution of stars and globular clusters centered on the nuclear bulge.
What is a white dwarf star? A) A large, planetary object, such as Jupiter. B) A main sequence star with a surface temperature near 12,000 K. C) A star of about the same size (diameter) as the Earth. D) Any star which is significantly smaller than a giant or supergiant star.
C) A star of about the same size (diameter) as the Earth.
What is a red giant? A) A protostar in the "upper right" part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. B) A large emission nebula. C) A star that is burning hydrogen into helium in a shell around the core. D) A large, red star that is burning hydrogen into helium in its core.
C) A star that is burning hydrogen into helium in a shell around the core.
Which of the following features have NOT been seen or detected on Mars? A) Valley fog. B) Advancing and receding polar icecaps. C) Active volcanoes. D) Dust storms.
C) Active volcanoes.
Which of the following letters representing spectral classification signifies the hottest stellar surface temperature? A) K. B) G. C) B. D) A.
C) B.
Which nuclear fusion cycle follows the helium fusion phase as a massive star evolves? A) Oxygen "burning." B) Silicon "burning." C) Carbon "burning." D) Iron "burning."
C) Carbon "burning."
________ is the largest dwarf planet. A) Pluto B) Ceres C) Eris D) Mercury
C) Eris
The Sun's classification in terms of its surface temperature, as determined from absorption lines in its spectrum, is A) B2. B) M9. C) G2. D) O1.
C) G2.
Which force induces the core to condense and collapse in massive stars at the conclusion of each episode of nuclear fusion, such as the carbon, oxygen and silicon fusion cycles? A) Gas pressure produced by the very high gas temperatures. B) The nuclear attractive force between nuclei and between neutrons and protons. C) Gravity. D) Electron degeneracy pressure.
C) Gravity.
On which planet is the Great Red Spot found? A) Saturn B) Mars C) Jupiter D) Neptune
C) Jupiter
Which is the biggest planet in the solar system? A) Saturn B) Neptune C) Jupiter D) Earth
C) Jupiter
Which of the following four spectral classifications represents the coolest stellar surface temperature? A) A. B) B. C) K. D) G.
C) K.
What are the characteristic features on the visible surface of Jupiter? A) A Bluish-green, almost featureless, cloud layer. B) A bluish tint with high, white clouds and dark storms. C) Light and dark bands of clouds parallel to the equator. D) Large volcanoes and a long, deep rift valley
C) Light and dark bands of clouds parallel to the equator.
Which type of main-sequence stars live the longest? A) O and B B) G C) M D) K
C) M
At what stage of its evolutionary life is the Sun? A) Pre-main sequence, variable star. B) Just before supernova stage (perhaps 5 years), late evolutionary stage. C) Main sequence, middle age. D) Post-main sequence, red giant (cool) phase.
C) Main sequence, middle age.
The asteroid belt exists between the orbits of the planets A) Venus and Earth B) Earth and Mars C) Mars and Jupiter D) Jupiter and Saturn
C) Mars and Jupiter
Which of the following statements is NOT true for asteroids? A) The total mass of all asteroids is much smaller than the mass of the Earth. B) Some asteroids have orbits which carry them inside the Earth's orbit. C) Only a minority of all asteroids are in the asteroid belt. D) Some asteroids occupy the same orbit as Jupiter.
C) Only a minority of all asteroids are in the asteroid belt.
An astronomer studying a distant cluster of galaxies finds that several of the galaxies are spiral-shaped, with a large nuclear region and tightly wound arms. How should the astronomer classify these galaxies? A) Sb. B) SBb. C) Sa. D) Sc.
C) Sa.
An astronomer studying a distant cluster of galaxies finds that several of the galaxies are spiral-shaped, with a nuclear region of moderate size and moderately wound arms. How should the astronomer classify these galaxies? A) SBa. B) Sc. C) Sb. D) Sa.
C) Sb.
Which important stellar parameter can be best determined by observations of binary stars? A) Distance from Earth. B) Pulsation period. C) Stellar mass. D) Surface temperature.
C) Stellar mass.
Which solar system object was found on January 1, 1801, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter? A) The asteroid Gaspra. B) The Kuiper belt object 1993 SC. C) The dwarf planet Ceres. D) Halley's Comet.
C) The dwarf planet Ceres.
What process provides the power for the Sun? A) The fission of uranium to form lead. B) The fusion of helium into carbon. C) The fusion of hydrogen into helium. D) The emission of neutrinos.
C) The fusion of hydrogen into helium
Where are the most massive stars to be found in the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram? A) Main sequence stars all have approximately the same mass, by definition. B) The lower, right end. C) The upper, left end. D) In the center section near to the Sun's position, with lower mass stars on either side.
C) The upper, left end.
Which of the following statements is NOT a property of neutron stars? A) They emit relatively narrow beams of light and other radiation. B) They rotate from one to thirty times each second. C) They contain strong gravitational fields but weak magnetic fields. D) They are composed almost entirely of neutrons.
C) They contain strong gravitational fields but weak magnetic fields.
Which part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is occupied by protostars? A) A band running from upper left to lower right. B) A band running from upper right to lower left. C) To the right of the main sequence. D) To the left of the main sequence.
C) To the right of the main sequence.
Asteroids which orbit the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter are known as A) Apollos B) Jupitoids C) Trojans D) Adenoids
C) Trojans
What is the composition of Saturn's rings? A) Small grains of rock. B) Particles of methane and ammonia ice. C) Water ice or ice-coated rock. D) Sodium and sulfur ions
C) Water ice or ice-coated rock.
What name is given to a galaxy with a smooth distribution of brightness and a very elongated shape? A) Sc. B) SBc. C) E0. D) E7.
D) E7.
Who first discovered that the majority of galaxies are moving away from the Earth? A) Karl Jansky. B) V. M. Slipher. C) Albert Einstein. D) Edwin Hubble.
D) Edwin Hubble.
At what point in its evolution will a protostar stop shrinking and stabilize into a star? A) When gravitational contraction has heated up the gas to the point where radiation pressure opposes gravity for the first time. B) When nuclear reactions end in its core. C) When nuclear processes generate enough energy and internal pressure to resist gravitational contraction. D) When it has spun off enough of its matter and is spinning fast enough that centrifugal force opposes the gravitational contraction.
C) When nuclear processes generate enough energy and internal pressure to resist gravitational contraction.
The final remnant of the evolution of a red giant star that has ejected a planetary nebula is A) a blue supergiant. B) a protostar. C) a white dwarf star. D) a supernova.
C) a white dwarf star.
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a plot of A) luminosity against mass of a group of stars. B) apparent brightness against distance for stars near to the Sun. C) absolute magnitude (or intrinsic brightness) against temperature of a group of stars. D) apparent brightness against intrinsic brightness of a group of stars.
C) absolute magnitude (or intrinsic brightness) against temperature of a group of stars.
Sunspots are areas on the sun that are A) Same temperature as surroundings. B) Holes in the chromosphere. C) cooler than their surroundings. D) hotter than their surroundings.
C) cooler than their surroundings.
The absolute magnitude of a star is A) the same as the apparent magnitude. B) equal to the brightness of the on the clearest night. C) equal to the apparent magnitude if the star is 10 parsecs away. D) the size of the star.
C) equal to the apparent magnitude if the star is 10 parsecs away.
The most likely places where stars and planetary systems are forming in the universe are A) in the centers of galaxies. B) in regions surrounding quasars. C) in nebulae composed of gas and dust. D) in the rarified space between galaxies.
C) in nebulae composed of gas and dust.
For any star on the main sequence, the same star when it was a protostar was A) larger and hotter. B) cooler but not necessarily larger. C) larger and cooler. D) hotter but not necessarily larger.
C) larger and cooler.
Thermonuclear fusion reactions in the core of the Sun convert four hydrogen atoms into one helium atom. The helium atom has A) an undetermined amount of mass, depending on the temperature at which the reaction occurs. B) more mass than the four hydrogen atoms, because energy is produced in the reaction, and the energy adds mass by E = mc2. C) less mass than the four hydrogen atoms, because the energy produced is lost from the atom, and energy is equivalent to mass by E = mc2. D) the same mass as the four hydrogen atoms, because the mass of any product has to equal the sum of the mass of its parts.
C) less mass than the four hydrogen atoms, because the energy produced is lost from the atom, and energy is equivalent to mass by E = mc2.
A piece of rock from outer space that reaches the Earth's surface after surviving a fiery passage through the Earth's atmosphere is known as a(n) A) meteor. B) asteroid. C) meteorite. D) meteoroid.
C) meteorite.
Neptune's high cirrus clouds consist of A) droplets of sulfuric acid. B) crystals of water ice. C) methane ice crystals. D) ammonia ice crystals.
C) methane ice crystals.
A star in the lower left part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, compared to a star in the middle of the diagram, is A) cooler. B) brighter. C) smaller. D) larger.
C) smaller.
What is the average length of time from one maximum in the number of sunspots on the Sun to the next maximum? A) 4 1/2 years. B) 7 years. C) 22 years. D) 11 years.
D) 11 years.
What is the name of a sudden eruptive surge on the surface of the Sun? A) A sunspot. B) A prominence. C) A plague. D) A flare.
D) A flare.
What is a protostar? A) A star near the end of its life, before it explodes as a supernova. B) A small interstellar cloud, before it collapses to become a star. C) A shell of gas left behind from the explosion of a star as a supernova. D) A sphere of gas after collapse from an interstellar cloud but before nuclear reactions have begun.
D) A sphere of gas after collapse from an interstellar cloud but before nuclear reactions have begun.
During which phase of a low-mass star's life does helium shell burning occur? A) Horizontal branch. B) First red giant phase. C) Main sequence. D) Asymptotic giant branch.
D) Asymptotic giant branch.
Which nuclear chain reaction process is used by stars more massive than our Sun? A) triple-action B) PP chain C) CVC cycle D) CNO cycle
D) CNO cycle
_________ is the only dwarf planet located in the main asteroid belt. A) Pluto B) Eris C) Mercury D) Ceres
D) Ceres
What name is given to a galaxy with a smooth distribution of brightness and a round shape? A) SBa. B) Sa. C) E7. D) E0.
D) E0.
Which of the following will a high-mass star (say, 25 times the mass of the Sun) NOT do at or near the end of its life? A) Convert silicon into iron in its core. B) Emit copious amounts of neutrinos. C) Eject its outer layers and become a neutron star. D) Eject its outer layers and become a white dwarf.
D) Eject its outer layers and become a white dwarf.
Process of combining nuclei. A) Fission B) Neutrino C) Barrier D) Fusion
D) Fusion
What is the escape velocity from inside a black hole? A) Zero. B) Infinite. C) Twice that from a neutron star. D) Greater than the speed of light.
D) Greater than the speed of light.
Which are the two most abundant elements in the universe? A) Hydrogen and carbon. B) Nitrogen and oxygen. C) Hydrogen and oxygen. D) Hydrogen and helium.
D) Hydrogen and helium.
Where is the Sun located in our galaxy? A) In the Centaurus arm, between the galactic center and the Orion arm. B) In the Sagittarius arm, which is between the Centaurus and Orion arms. C) In the Perseus arm, between the Orion and Cygnus arms. D) In or close to the Orion arm, which is between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms.
D) In or close to the Orion arm, which is between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms.
Where is the chromosphere on the Sun? A) It is the visible surface of the Sun. B) It is the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere. C) It is the layer below the visible surface of the Sun, where convection begins. D) It is the layer above the visible surface of the Sun.
D) It is the layer above the visible surface of the Sun.
Why does no major planet orbit the Sun at the location of the asteroid belt? A) Three earth-sized planets did form there, but they destroyed each other by mutual collisions; the asteroid belt is the debris from these collisions. B) One such object did form there, but was destroyed by a collision with an early comet; the asteroid belt is the debris from the collision. C) In the early solar nebula, the temperature that close to the Sun was too high for rock or iron to condense into solid form. D) Jupiter's gravitational pull stirred up the planetesimals, preventing them from coalescing into a single large object.
D) Jupiter's gravitational pull stirred up the planetesimals, preventing them from coalescing into a single large object.
Which is the largest planetary satellite in the solar system? A) Our Moon. B) Saturn's satellite, Titan. C) Neptune's satellite, Triton. D) Jupiter's satellite, Ganymede.
D) Jupiter's satellite, Ganymede.
The time for a protostar to collapse to the main sequence is called: A) Hayashi Tracks B) Einstein Tracks C) ZAMS D) Kevin-Helmholz
D) Kevin-Helmholz
On which planet can we see prominent but variable ice caps? A) Venus B) Mercury C) The Moon D) Mars
D) Mars
The inner planets, in order of increasing planetary radius, are A) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. B) Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars. C) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. D) Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth.
D) Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth.
Which of the following is not a dwarf planet? A) Eris B) Pluto C) . Ceres D) Neptune
D) Neptune
Where on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram do most local stars in our Universe congregate? A) In the supergiant area, where the most massive stars spend a significant time. B) In the white dwarf area, the "graveyard" of stars. C) In the giants area, where most stars spend the longest time of their lives. D) On the main sequence, where stars are generating energy by fusion reactions.
D) On the main sequence, where stars are generating energy by fusion reactions.
Which is the least dense planet in the solar system? A) Jupiter. B) Pluto. C) Uranus. D) Saturn.
D) Saturn.
What is the name of the layer of the Sun's atmosphere that appears as a pinkish ring just outside the visible disk of the Sun during a total solar eclipse? A) The convective zone. B) The photosphere. C) The corona. D) The chromosphere.
D) The chromosphere.
Which of the following properties do the terrestrial planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, have in common? A) They all orbit the Sun in a year or less. B) They all have very dense atmospheres. C) They are all cloud-covered. D) They all have solid surfaces.
D) They all have solid surfaces.
Which of the follwoing stars is most dense? A) Main-sequence Star B) Red Giant C) Subgiant D) White Dwarf
D) White Dwarf
An asteroid is A) another name for the nucleus of a comet, a volatile object which moves around the Sun in a long, elliptical orbit. B) a meteorite before it enters the atmosphere and plunges to Earth. C) a small, easily recognizable group of stars within a constellation. D) a planetesimal moving in an orbit around the Sun.
D) a planetesimal moving in an orbit around the Sun.
A white dwarf is A) an object like Jupiter which was not quite massive enough to become a star. B) a hot, main sequence star. C) a type of small protostar. D) a small, very hot, low-mass star.
D) a small, very hot, low-mass star.
The ______ is the Sun's outer atmosphere. It is visible during total eclipses of the Sun as a pearly white crown surrounding the Sun. A) core. B) chromosphere. C) photosphere. D) corona.
D) corona.
Sunspots are caused by A) dark clouds hanging over the surface, above the magnetic field regions. B) the impact of meteoroids and comets on the solar surface. C) coronal holes, darkening the surface. D) differential rotation and its effect on weak magnetic fields just under the solar surface.
D) differential rotation and its effect on weak magnetic fields just under the solar surface.
The ionized gas tail of a comet is always aligned A) along the comet's direction of motion. B) along the celestial equator. C) along the line between the comet and the nearest planet to it in its orbital motion. D) in the comet-Sun line.
D) in the comet-Sun line.
A meteoroid is the name used to describe a solid particle that A) has fallen to Earth from space. B) burns up as it falls through the Earth's atmosphere. C) originated on the Moon, but was knocked onto the Earth by a massive impact. D) is drifting around in space.
D) is drifting around in space.
The particular feature of a comet that exhibits the most structure and always points away from the Sun is A) its coma, or gas cloud. B) its hydrogen envelope. C) its dust tail. D) its ion or gas tail.
D) its ion or gas tail.
Energy is transported from the center of the Sun to the surface by A) mostly convection; radiation only in the outer layers. B) convection in the thermonuclear core; radiation everywhere else. C) radiation in the thermonuclear core; convection everywhere else. D) mostly radiation; convection only in the outer layers.
D) mostly radiation; convection only in the outer layers.
Black holes are so named because A) all of their electromagnetic radiation is gravitationally redshifted to the infrared, leaving no light in the optical region. B) they emit a perfect blackbody spectrum. C) their only spectral lines are in the radio and infrared. D) no light or any other electromagnetic radiation can escape from inside them.
D) no light or any other electromagnetic radiation can escape from inside them.
While a star is on the main sequence, its energy comes primarily from: A) gravitational shrinking B) proton instability C) nuclear fission D) nuclear fusion
D) nuclear fusion
The ____________ is then given by the sum of the number of individual sunspots and ten times the number of groups. A) Jeans density B) Reynolds number C) Wiens factor D) sunspot number
D) sunspot number
A Type II supernova is A) the explosion of a red giant star as a result of a helium flash in the core. B) the collapse of a blue supergiant star to form a black hole. C) the explosion of a white dwarf in a binary star system after mass has been transferred onto it from its companion. D) the explosion of a massive star after silicon burning has produced a core of iron nuclei.
D) the explosion of a massive star after silicon burning has produced a core of iron nuclei.
The most common meteorites to hit the Earth are A) the carbonaceous chondrites. B) the stony-iron meteorites. C) the iron meteorites. D) the stony meteorites.
D) the stony meteorites.
Which nuclear chain reaction process is used by stars in the red giant stage of a star's life A) PP chain B) CVC cycle C) CNO cycle D) triple-action
D) triple-action