PHYS 1404 Final

Which of the following statements does not use the term light-year in an appropriate way? The Milky Way Galaxy is about 100,000 light-years in diameter. A light-year is about 10 trillion kilometers. It will take me light-years to complete this homework assignment. A light-year is a unit of distance, not of time. It will take the Voyager spacecraft about 20,000 years to travel just 1 light-year. It's about 4 light-years from here to Alpha Centauri.

...It will take me light-years to complete this homework assignment.

Science has one uniform way of conducting research called "the scientific method." True False

...false

Scientists manipulate their experiments to produce particular results. True False

...true

On the cosmic calendar in the textbook, in which the history of the universe is compressed into one year, how long is the average human life span? 0.2 hours 2 hours 2 minutes 200 seconds 0.2 second

.2 seconds

The following question refers to the diagram below. The levels represent energy levels in a hydrogen atom. Each level is labeled with its energy (above the ground state of Level 1) in units of electron/volts (eV). The labeled transitions represent an electron moving between energy levels. Which transition represents the electron that emits a photon with the highest energy? B A E C D

A

_______ was one of the first astronomers to show that Venus had a thick atmosphere capable of creating a greenhouse effect making its surface extremely hot. George Ellery Hale Andrew Fraknoi Neil deGrasse Tyson Big Daddy Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan

Which of the following played an important role in overturning the idea of an geocentric universe and about when? Aristotle and Ptolemy; about 400 years ago Newton and Einstein; about 100 years ago Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo; about 400 years ago Huygens and Newton; about 300 years ago Aristotle and Plato; about 2,000 years ago

Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo; about 400 years ago

The following question refers to the diagram below. The levels represent energy levels in a hydrogen atom. Each level is labeled with its energy (above the ground state of Level 1) in units of electron/volts (eV). The labeled transitions represent an electron moving between energy levels. Which transition, as shown, is not possible? D E A C B

D

The following question refers to the diagram below. The levels represent energy levels in a hydrogen atom. Each level is labeled with its energy (above the ground state of Level 1) in units of electron/volts (eV). The labeled transitions represent an electron moving between energy levels. Which transition represents an electron that is breaking free of the atom? D E A C B

E

A scientific law will not change because it has been proven true. True False

False

He discovered that Jupiter has moons. Aristotle Ptolemy Galileo Kepler Tycho Brahe

Galileo

The official body established by international treaty who has the responsibility of naming celestial objects. International Union of Astronomy International Astronomical Union Star Registry International Astrological Union NASA

International Astronomical Union

He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses. Ptolemy Tycho Brahe Copernicus Galileo Kepler

Kepler

In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse, what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse? The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun. Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra. The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located. Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra.

The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located.

Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere when it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere? The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun and receives more indirect sunlight. The Northern Hemisphere is "on top" of Earth and therefore receives more sunlight. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and receives more direct sunlight. The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere. It isn't: both hemispheres have the same seasons at the same time.

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and receives more direct sunlight.

What do we mean when we say "universe" All matter that occupies space and time. Any place in space. A small region of the multiverse without matter. The sum total of all matter and energy. The Milky Way Galaxy and surrounding galaxies.

The sum total of all matter and energy.

Einstein's general theory of relativity suggests that gravity is ________ a mixture of space influencing time and distance. the reason for seasons. a force that is related to mass. a consequence of the geometry of spacetime.

a consequence of the geometry of spacetime

What is a circumpolar star? a star that is visible from the Arctic or Antarctic circles a star that makes a daily circle around the celestial sphere a star that is close to the south celestial pole a star that is close to the north celestial pole a star that always remains above your horizon

a star that always remains above your horizon

The age of the universe is between 100 million and 160 million years. between 100 billion and 160 billion years. about 13.7 billion years. between 1 billion and 1.6 billion years.

about 13.7 billion years.

Why is a solar day longer than a sidereal day? How much longer is a solar day? Because the time required for the Sun to appear in the same position in the sky changes with the season. The solar day is approximately 24 hours longer than the sidereal day. Because of its orbit the Earth must approximately rotate an additional degree for the Sun to appear at the same position in the sky. Solar day is about 4 minutes longer than the sidereal day. Because the position of the Sun depends upon your location on Earth's surface and time is related to position. A solar day is about 1 minute longer than a sidereal day. Because our ordinary clocks are set to solar time, the solar day is longer. The solar day is about 1/365 of a full day longer than the sidereal day.

because of its orbit the earth must approximately rotate an additional degree for the sun to appear at the same position in the sky. solar day is about 4 mins longer than the sidereal day.

Which of the following wavelength regions cannot be studied with telescopes on the ground? radio waves only ultraviolet only both radio waves and ultraviolet both ultraviolet and X rays X rays only

both ultraviolets and x rays

How did Eratosthenes measure the circumference of the Earth? By measuring the size of the shadow cast by the Earth on the Moon during a solar eclipse. By timing how long it takes the Sun to return to the same position in the sky. By realizing that shadows at different latitudes produce angles that are proportional to Earth's circumference. By paying a soldier to walk around the world and count paces.

by realizing that shadows at different latitudes produce angles that are proportional to earth's circumference

According to the universal law of gravitation, if you triple the distance between two objects, then the gravitational force between them will increase by a factor of 3. increase by a factor of 9. decrease by a factor of 9. decrease by a factor of 6. decrease by a factor of 3.

decrease by a factor of 9

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he developed a scientifically accurate model of the universe. was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles. developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries. was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than Earth at the center. was the first to believe in an Earth-centered universe.

developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries

Which of the following cannot be explained by gigantic impacts and collisions in the solar system? Similarities and differences between Earth's the Moon's composition The rotation of Venus on its axis Differentiation of Earth's interior The odd spin of Pluto

differentiation of earths interior

A scientific law is a theory that has been extensively and thoroughly confirmed. True False

false

Nearly all galaxies show redshifts, so if you could see them up close they would all be red in color. Neither true nor false True False

false

Science is just about the facts, not human interpretations of them. True False

false

Science is partly based on beliefs, assumptions, and the non-observable. True False

false

Science proves facts true in a way that is definitive and final. True False

false

Science relies on deduction (x entails y) more than induction (x implies y). true False

false

Scientific laws are absolute or certain. True False

false

Scientific theories only change when new information becomes available. True False

false

To be scientific one must conduct experiments. True False

false

If the Moon is rising at midnight, the phase of the Moon must be third quarter. first quarter. waning crescent. waxing crescent. full.

first quarter

If the Moon is setting at 6 A.M., the phase of the Moon must be third quarter. waning crescent. full. new. first quarter.

full

Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon? full Moon first-quarter Moon half Moon new Moon waxing gibbous

half moon

What is the Sun mainly made of? carbon and nitrogen nearly equal portions of all the elements hydrogen and helium oxygen and carbon hydrogen and oxygen

hydrogen and helium

Differentiation is responsible for the formation of the core, mantle, and crust of a planet like Venus. a process that works on a planet or a moon or an asteroid with an interior hot enough to melt. the process of gravitational separation of materials of different density into layers in the interior of a planet or moon. I can't choose just one. All of these are correct answers.

i can't choose just one. all of these are correct answers.

If a star has a declination of +90 degrees, where in the sky is it? It is at your longitude of degrees above the northern horizon. It is the star straight overhead. It is directly on your northern horizon. It is at the north celestial pole. It is at the brightest spot in the sky.

it is at the north celestial pole

Which of the following is not an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes? It never has to close because of bad weather. It can observe infrared and ultraviolet light, as well as visible light. Stars do not twinkle when observed from space. It is closer to the stars. Observers on the ground can use it at any time of day (i.e., not only during their night).

it is closer to the stars

Grass (that is healthy) looks green because it reflects green light and absorbs other colors. it emits green light and absorbs other colors. it transmits green light and emits other colors. it absorbs green light and emits other colors.

it reflects green light and absorbs other colors

How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related for photons of light? Longer wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy. There is no simple relationship because different photons travel at different speeds. Longer wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy. Longer wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy. Longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy.

longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy.

At approximately what time would a first quarter Moon rise? noon 9 A.M. 6 P.M. midnight 6 A.M.

midnight

A gas heated to millions of degrees would emit mostly X rays. mostly radio waves. no light, because it is too hot. mostly infrared light. an equal amount of all wavelengths of light.

mostly x rays

From lowest energy to highest energy, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? gamma rays, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays visible light, infrared, X rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays, radio radio, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, gamma rays

radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, xrays, gamma rays

Which of the following is smallest? radius of a typical star 1 light-second 1 AU radius of a typical planet

radius of a typical planet

Using radioactive dating... scientists have been able to determine that the Earth and Moon are about 4.5 billion years old. scientists have developed a process that occurs in bombs astronomers have found a process of splitting nuclei to produce energy. you can find your match. astronomers have been able to measure the age of the universe.

scientists have been able to determine that the earth and moon are about 4.5 billions years old.

Suppose you live at latitude 40°N. Which of the following describes the conditions that make a star circumpolar? Stars are circumpolar if they have right ascension > 6 hr. Stars are circumpolar if they have declination > +50°. Stars are circumpolar if they have declination > +40°. Stars are circumpolar if they have right ascension No stars are circumpolar at this latitude.

stars are circumpolar if they have a declination of > 50°

If you were to write your entire address out, which of the following has your cosmic "address" in the correct order? street. city, state, country, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Milky Way, Local Galactic Supercluster street. city, state, country, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Local Galactic Supercluster, Milky Way street. city, state, country, Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Local Group, Local Galactic Supercluster street. city, state, country, Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Local Galactic Supercluster, Local Group street. city, state, country, Earth, Local Group, Local Galactic Supercluster, solar system, Milky Way

street, city, state, country, Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Local Group, Local Galactic Supercluster

Which of the following statements best describes the two principal advantages of telescopes over eyes? Telescopes can collect far more light with far better angular resolution. Telescopes can collect far more light with far greater magnification. Telescopes collect more light and are unaffected by twinkling. Telescopes can see farther without image distortion and can record more accurate colors. Telescopes have much more magnification and better angular resolution.

telescopes can collect far more light with far better angular resolutions

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude? The azimuth of the NCP is the same as your latitude. The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude. The altitude of the NCP is the same as your distance from the North Pole. The altitude of the NCP is your angular distance from the North Pole. The azimuth of the NCP is the angular distance from the North Pole.

the altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude

Suppose the date is June 21 and the Sun never sets, just touching your northern horizon at midnight. Where are you? the Tropic of Capricorn the Arctic Circle the Tropic of Cancer the Antarctic Circle the equator

the arctic circle

What is an astronomical unit? the length of time it takes Earth to revolve around the Sun the average distance from Earth to the Sun any basic unit used in astronomy the diameter of Earth's orbit around the Sun the average speed of Earth around the Sun

the average distance from the Earth to the Sun

Which of the following is not one of, nor follows directly from, Kepler's laws? As a planet moves around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times. The orbit of each planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. A planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers. More distant planets move at slower speeds.

the force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers

If one object has a large redshift and another object has a small redshift, what can we conclude about these two objects? The one with the large redshift is moving away from us faster than the one with the small redshift. The one with the large redshift is moving away from us, and the one with the small redshift is moving toward us. The one with the large redshift is moving toward us faster than the one with the small redshift. The one with the large redshift is hotter and therefore is putting out more radiation.

the one with the large redshift is moving away from us faster than the one with the small redshift

From laboratory measurements, we know that a particular spectral line formed by hydrogen appears at a wavelength of 121.6 nanometers (nm). The spectrum of a particular star shows the same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 121.8 nm. What can we conclude? The star is getting colder. The star is moving away from us. The star is moving toward us. The star is getting hotter. The "star" actually is a planet.

the star is moving away from us

What is the ecliptic? the Sun's daily path across the sky when the Moon passes in front of the Sun the constellations commonly used in astrology to predict the future the Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere the Moon's apparent path along the celestial sphere

the sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere

Astronomers may be interested in comets because they are the leftover remnants of the formation of Earth's core. they are composed of mostly hydrogen so they are differentiated like the terrestrial planets. they are composed of undifferentiated pristine material from the solar nebula. they are the only natural phenomena that cannot be explained by a flat Earth hypothesis. they have extremely long tails that can be dangerous to use on Earth.

they are composed of undifferentiated pristine material from the solar nebula

Which of the following is not a good reason to place observatories on remote mountain tops? to reduce light distortion to be able to observe at infrared wavelengths to reduce light absorption to reduce light pollution to be able to observe at radio wavelengths

to be able to observe at radio wavelengths

A scientific law describes relationships among observable phenomena but does not explain them. True False

true

An accepted scientific theory is an hypothesis that has been confirmed by considerable evidence and has endured all attempts to disprove it. True False

true

An experiment can prove a theory true. True False

true

Imagination and creativity are used in all stages of scientific investigations. True False

true

Science only produces tentative conclusions that can change. True False

true

Scientific theories are explanations and not facts. True False

true

Scientific theories are just ideas about how something works. True False

true

Scientists accept the existence of theoretical entities that have never been directly observed. True False

true

Scientists construct theories to guide further research. True False

true

Scientists invent explanations, models or theoretical entities. True False

true

Scientists usually expect an experiment to turn out a certain way. True False

true

Scientists' education, background, opinions, disciplinary focus, and basic guiding assumptions and philosophies influence their perception and interpretation of the available data. True False

true

When being scientific one must have faith only in what is justified by empirical evidence. True False

true

The solar nebula model of solar system formation can explain all the following except... why the rotation of Venus is retrograde. the fact that the Jovian planets have a high hydrogen content. why astronomers observe many circumstellar disks around stars. why all the planets orbit and the Sun rotates in the same direction.

why the rotation of venus is retrograde