ASTRO CH 1: Our Place in the Universe

Apollo 11

1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became first people to walk on the moon

Apollo 15

1971 U.S.; Astronauts become first to drive a rover on the surface of the Moon

Voyager 1

1977; probe the farthest from Earth; flew past Jupiter and Saturn

What are the two criteria for a scientific hypothesis?

A scientific hypothesis must be an idea that is able to provide a possible specific explanation for an observation and is capable of being proven false (through predictions, experiments, and observations).

A hypothesis must always have one or more testable predictions. T/F

True

A scientific theory may eventually be proved wrong when scientists acquire new data. T/F?

True

If continual testing of a hypothesis shows it to be valid, it may become an accepted theory. T/F?

True

Spacecraft have landed on a comet and an asteroid. T/F

True

The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster, which contains thousands of galaxies. T/F?

True

One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri, whose distance is 4.4 light-years. The time it takes light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us is a. 4.4 years b. 600 years c. 8.3 minutes d. 1.25 seconds

a. 4.4 years

A light-year is a unit of measurement for a. distance b. speed c. mass d. time

a. distance

A scientific theory can be proved wrong if a. scientists gather new data that disprove its predictions b. it is based only on conjecture c. it cannot explain all phenomena d. cultural beliefs evolve to contradict it

a. scientists gather new data that disprove its predictions

The Local Group is the environment around a. the Milky Way that contains a few dozen galaxies b. the Milky Way that contains a few thousand galaxies c. the Sun that contains more than a billion stars d. the Sun that contains about a dozen stars

a. the Milky Way that contains a few dozen galaxies

The speed of light is about a. 30,000 km/s b. 300,000 km/s c. 20 km/s d. 5 million km/s

b. 300,000 km/s

If an event were to take place on the Sun, how long would it take for the light to reach us? a. 1 day b. 8 minutes c. 11 hours d. 1 second

b. 8 minutes

Light from the Sun takes about ___ to reach the Earth. a. 8 seconds b. 8 minutes c. 8 years d. 8 hours

b. 8 minutes

Which space mission is associated with this image? (rover on Mars) a. Voyager 1 b. Curiosity c. New Horizons d. Apollo 15

b. Curiosity

What is the closest star to the Sun? a. Alpha Centauri b. Proxima Centauri c. the Sun d. Eta Carinae

b. Proxima Centauri

Which of the following is a valid scientific hypothesis? a. Parts of the universe will never be discovered. b. Stars generate energy by burning coal. c. There are processes in nature that we will never understand.

b. Stars generate energy by burning coal.

Which space mission or craft has probed the farthest from the Earth? a. New Horizon b. Voyager 1 c. Curiosity d. Apollo 15

b. Voyager 1 (1st spacecraft to reach interstellar space; about 21.2 billion km)

Our place in the universe is a. between the center and edge b. a location and time c. at its edge d. at its center

b. a location and time

A hypothesis may become a theory a. if it makes at least one verifiable prediction b. after many repeated attempts to falsify it fail c. after it has been logically proved d. if a majority of scientists agree on its propositions

b. after many repeated attempts to falsify it fail

The scientific method is a process by which scientists a. test ideas of Aristotle b. gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong c. prove theories to be known facts d. show all theories to be wrong

b. gain confidence in theories by failing to prove them wrong

We are located approximately a. at the center of Milky Way b. halfway out from the center of the Milky Way c. near the center of Milky Way d. at farthest outskirts of Milky Way

b. halfway out from the center of Milky Way

The early universe was composed mainly of which two elements? a. hydrogen and oxygen b. hydrogen and helium c. carbon and oxygen d. carbon and iron

b. hydrogen and helium

Scientific notation allows us to a. change easy calculations into hard calculations b. write very large and very small numbers in a convenient way c. talk about science in an easy way d. explain science to engineers

b. write very large and very small numbers in a convenient way

Which of the following most closely approximates the number of stars in the Solar System? a. 2 b. 100 billion c. 1 d. 10 billion

c. 1

Our universe is approximately __________ years old. a. 14 thousand b. 14 trillion c. 14 billion d. 14 million

c. 14 billion

The distance to the nearest, large, spiral galaxy, Andromeda, is 2.5 million light-years. How long does it take light to travel from us to Andromeda? a. 1.2 thousand years b. 4.5 billion years c. 2.5 million years d. 360 years

c. 2.5 million years

Which of the following is a time? a. 500 light-years b. 8.3 light-minutes c. 4 hours d. 2.5 light-hours

c. 4 hours

After the Sun, the next nearest star to us is approximately __________ away. a. 4 light hours b. 4 light-seconds c. 4 light years d. 4 light minutes

c. 4 light years

Which of the following ranks the sizes of the listed objects in the correct order, from smallest to largest? a. Asteroid, Galaxy, Solar System, Universe b. Solar System, Galaxy, Asteroid, Universe c. Asteroid, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe d. Universe, Galaxy, Asteroid, Solar System

c. Asteroid, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe

Which of the following is the largest structure? a. Milky Way Galaxy b. Local Group c. Laniakea Supercluster d. Virgo Supercluster

c. Laniakea Supercluster

Which of the following represents a scientific way of looking at nature? a. All ideas are equally valuable and should be equally respected. b. Well-established ideas should never be checked or tested. c. Nature informs us about the usefulness of our ideas.

c. Nature informs us about the usefulness of our ideas.

Which statement is true? a. Spacecraft have landed on Titan and Pluto b. Spacecraft have landed on all 8 planets c. Spacecraft have landed on a comet and an asteroid d. 24 men have walked on the Moon

c. Spacecraft have landed on a comet and an asteroid

Which of the following is true? a. Our Solar System has nine planets b. The Milky Way Galaxy contains approximately 100 million stars c. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster, which contains thousands of galaxies d. The Local Group contains dozens of large spiral galaxies and a few dozen dwarf galaxies

c. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster, which contains thousands of galaxies

One of the central assumptions in astronomy is that the physical laws of nature a. change when objects move at high speed b. change throughout the age of the universe c. are the same everywhere in the universe d. depend on the mass of the objects involved

c. are the same everywhere in the universe

The most massive elements (such as those of the rocky planets like Earth) were formed a. in the core of Earth b. in the early universe c. inside stars and supernovae d. through meteor collisions

c. inside stars and supernovae

The language of science is a. Greek b. Latin c. mathematics d. Java

c. mathematics

Which of the following most closely approximates the number of stars in the Milky Way? a. 10 million b. 100 million c. 10 billion d. 100 billion

d. 100 billion

The number of planets in the Solar System is a. 12 b. 6 c. 9 d. 8

d. 8

Which of the following is false? a. A scientific theory may eventually be proved wrong when scientists acquire new data. b. If continual testing of a hypothesis shows it to be valid, it may become an accepted theory c. a hypothesis must always have one or more testable predictions d. All choices are true

d. All choices are true

Which space mission is associated with this image? (space rover with astronaut on Moon) a. Voyager 1 b. Curiosity c. New Horizons d. Apollo 15

d. Apollo 15

If you were to specify your address in the universe, listing your membership from the smallest to largest physical structures, it would be a. Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Fornax Supercluster, the Universe b. Earth, Solar System, Local Group, Milky Way, the Universe c. Earth, Local Group, Solar System, Andromeda, the Universe d. Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster, the Universe

d. Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster, the Universe

The statement "our universe is but one of a multitude of isolated universes" is best characterized as a a. hypothesis that is currently being tested b. physical law c. scientific fact d. speculative but unscientific idea because it is not testable and therefore not falsifiable

d. speculative but unscientific idea because it is not testable and therefore not falsifiable

What is the closest star to the Earth? a. Alpha Centauri b. Proxima Centauri c. Eta Carinae d. the Sun

d. the Sun

The cosmological principle states that a. the universe is expanding in all directions at the same rate b. a unique center of the universe exists c. physical laws may change from place to place in the universe d. there are no special locations or directions in the universe

d. there are no special locations or directions in the universe

Spacecraft have landed on Titan and Pluto. T/F?

False.; only landings include Earth's moon, Venus, Mars, Asteroid Eros, Saturn's moon Titan, Comet 9P, Asteroid Itokawa (never Pluto)

The Milky Way Galaxy contains approximately 100 million stars. T/F?

False; 100 billion stars

24 men have walked on the Moon. T/F?

False; 12 men

Our solar system had nine planets. T/F?

False; 8 planets

Spacecraft have landed on all 8 planets. T/F

False; not Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

The Local Group contains dozens of large spiral galaxies and a few dozen dwarf galaxies. T/F?

False; the group of more than 20 galaxies to which the MWG belongs, about half are elliptical galaxies, while remainder are spiral/irregular

What are the 4 basic steps for the scientific method?

First, you must identify an idea or observation that you want to explain. Next, you must form a hypothesis, that is both falsifiable and can provide a possible explanation for the observation you are focusing on. Afterwards, testable predictions must be made to try to disprove the hypothesis. Finally, tests, experiments, and observations based on the predictions must be made to see if your hypothesis is wrong or right.

Curiosity

Mars Rover; determine if Mars can carry microbial life

Who or what ultimately governs science?

Nature governs science.

New Horizon

Study Pluto and its moons; The first mission to the Kuiper Belt.