Astro quiz 2
____________ is responsible for the tremendous volcanic activity on Io.
Tidal heating
If a material is transparent, then it a) transmits light well. b) emits light well. c) scatters light well. d) absorbs light well. e) reflects light well.
a
According to the universal law of gravitation, if you triple the distance between two objects, then the gravitational force between them will a) increase by a factor of 9. b) decrease by a factor of 9. c) increase by a factor of 3. d) decrease by a factor of 3. e) decrease by a factor of 6.
b
If you are standing on a scale in an elevator, what exactly does the scale measure? a) your mass b) the force you exert on the scale c) the gravitational force exerted on you by Earth
b
Momentum is defined as a) force times acceleration. b) mass times velocity. c) mass times speed. d) force times velocity. e) mass times acceleration.
b
Which of the following statements about X rays and radio waves is not true? a) X rays have shorter wavelengths than radio waves. b) X rays have higher frequency than radio waves. c) X rays and radio waves are both forms of light, or electromagnetic radiation. d) X rays travel through space faster than radio waves. e) X rays have higher energy than radio waves.
d
If a material is highly opaque, then it a) reflects most light. b) emits most light. c) scatters most light. d) transmits most light. e) absorbs most light.
e
What are the main constituents of the jovian planets? a) ammonia and water b) ammonia and methane c) rocky minerals and water, as on Earth d) nitrogen and methane e) hydrogen and helium
e
What quantities does angular momentum depend upon? a) momentum and angular velocity b) force, velocity, and radius c) mass and velocity d) force and radius e) mass, velocity, and radius
e
When a rock is held above the ground, we say it has some potential energy. When we let it go, it falls and we say the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Finally, the rock hits the ground. What has happened to the energy? a) It is lost forever. Energy does not have to be conserved. b) The rock keeps the energy inside it (saving it for later use). c) It is transformed back into gravitational potential energy. d) The energy goes into the ground and, as a result, the orbit of the earth about the Sun is slightly changed. e) The energy goes to producing sound and to heating the ground, rock, and surrounding air.
e
We see __________ when we look at a cloud of thin gas because we see only the wavelengths of light that correspond to the atomic transitions allowed in that gas.
emission line spectrum
Planet with lowest average density
Saturn
At which lunar phase(s) are tides most pronounced (e.g., the highest high tides)? a) new Moon b) full Moon c) both new and full Moons d) first quarter e) both first and third quarters
c
If your mass is 60 kg on Earth, what would your mass be on the Moon? a) 50 kg b) 10 kg c) 60 kg d) 10 lb e) 60 lb
c
From lowest energy to highest energy, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? a) visible light, infrared, X rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio b) gamma rays, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio c) infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays, radio d) radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays e) radio, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, gamma rays
d
Grass appears green because a) it transmits green light and emits other colors. b) it absorbs green light and emits other colors. c) it emits green light and absorbs other colors. d) it reflects green light and absorbs other colors.
d
How do astronomers think Jupiter generates its internal heat? a) nuclear fusion in the core b)radioactive decay c) internal friction due to its high rotation rate d) by contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy e) chemical processes
d
How much energy does Jupiter emit compared with how much it receives from the Sun? a) It emits half as much. b) It emits 10 times as much. c) It emits 10 percent as much. d) It emits twice as much. e) It emits 1 percent as much.
d
The planet closest in size to Earth is a) Mars. b) Mercury. c) the Moon. d) Venus. e) Pluto.
d
_____ is the most distant of Jupiter's 4 Galilean moons.
Callisto
planet with the highest average surface temperature
Venus
In the formula E = mc2, what does E represent? a) the kinetic energy of a moving object b) the mass-energy, or potential energy stored in an object's mass c) the electric charge of the object d) the gravitational potential energy of an object held above the ground e) the radiative energy carried by light
b
In which of the following cases would you feel weightless? a) while falling from an airplane with your parachute open b) while falling from a roof c) while walking on the Moon d) while traveling through space in an accelerating rocket e) none of the above
b
Which of the following is not a conserved quantity? a) angular momentum b) radiation c) energy d) momentum
b
According to the universal law of gravitation, if you double the masses of both attracting objects, then the gravitational force between them will a) decrease by a factor of 2. b) not change at all. c) increase by a factor of 2. d) increase by a factor of 4. e) decrease by a factor of 4.
d
As you found in Part A, your weight will be greater than normal when the elevator is moving upward with increasing speed. For what other motion would your weight also be greater than your normal weight? a) The elevator moves upward with constant velocity. b) The elevator moves downward with constant velocity. c) The elevator moves upward while slowing in speed. d) The elevator moves downward while slowing in speed. e) The elevator moves downward while increasing in speed.
d
Which of the following best describes the origin of ocean tides on Earth? a) Tides are caused on the side of Earth nearest the Moon because the Moon's gravity attracts the water. b) The Moon's gravity pulls harder on water than on land, because water is less dense than rock. c) Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational force of the Sun. d) Tides are caused by the difference in the force of gravity exerted by the Moon across the sphere of the earth. e) Tides are caused by the 23 1/2° tilt of the earth's rotational axis to the ecliptic plane.
d
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the inner planets? a) They are relatively smaller than the outer planets. b) Their orbits are relatively closely spaced. c) They all have solid, rocky surfaces. d) They all have substantial atmospheres. e) They have very few, if any, satellites.
d
Why is Jupiter denser than Saturn? a) It is made of a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks. b) Its core is much larger than Saturn's. c) It has a greater proportion of helium to hydrogen compared to Saturn. d) The extra mass of Jupiter compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn. e) It is unknown why this is so.
d
If an object's velocity is doubled, its momentum is a) unchanged. b) halved. c) dependent on its acceleration. d) quadrupled. e) doubled.
e
Most of it's surface is covered with liquid water
Earth
Strong evidence both from surface features and magnetic field data support the existence of a subsurface ocean on ______.
Europa
The largest moon in the solar system is _____.
Ganymede
The jovian moon with the most geologically active surface is _____.
Io
Jovian planet that orbits closest to the sun
Jupiter
Only rocky planet to have more than one moon
Mars
Planet that orbits closest to the sun
Mercury
is about 30 times as far from the sun as our own planet
Neptune
Listed following are various physical situations that describe how light interacts with matter.
Transmission: -Cell phone signals pass through walls. -Visible light meets clear glass. Absorption: -Visible light does not pass through a black wall. -Blue light hits a red sweatshirt. Reflection or scattering: -White light hits a white piece of paper. -Red light hits a red sweatshirt. Emission: -Light comes from a light bulb. -Light comes from your computer screen.
Rotational axis that is so tilted it lies nearly on the plane of it's orbit
Uranus
At which lunar phase(s) are tides least pronounced (e.g., the lowest high tides)? a) both first and third quarters b) both new and full Moons c) first quarter d) new Moon e) full Moon
a
Compared to red light, blue light has higher frequency and a) higher energy and shorter wavelength than red light. b) higher energy and longer wavelength than red light. c) lower energy and shorter wavelength than red light.
a
Consider Earth and the Moon. As you should now realize, the gravitational force that Earth exerts on the Moon is equal and opposite to that which the Moon exerts on Earth. Therefore, according to Newton's second law of motion __________. a) the Moon has a larger acceleration than Earth, because it has a smaller mass b) Earth has a larger acceleration than the Moon, because it has a larger mass c) the Moon and Earth both have equal accelerations, because the forces are equal
a
How do astronomers think Saturn generates its internal heat? a) by raining dense helium droplets from higher to lower altitudes, resembling the process of differentiation b) radioactive decay c) internal friction due to its high rotation rate d) nuclear fusion in the core e) chemical processes
a
Suppose an object is moving in a straight line at 50 miles/hr. According to Newton's first law of motion, the object will a) continue to move in the same way until it is acted upon by a force. b) continually slow down but never quite come to a complete stop. c) eventually slow down and come to a stop. d) continue to move in the same way forever, no matter what happens. e) continue to move in a straight line forever if it is in space, but slow and stop otherwise.
a
Suppose you are in an elevator. As the elevator starts upward, its speed will increase. During this time when the elevator is moving upward with increasing speed, your weight will be __________. a) greater than your normal weight at rest b) equal to your normal weight at rest c) less than your normal weight at rest
a
The allowed shapes for orbits under the force of gravity are a) ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. b) ellipses only. c) spirals, circles, and squares. d) ellipses, spirals, and parabolas. e) ellipses and spirals.
a
The force of gravity is an inverse square law. This means that, if you double the distance between two large masses, the gravitational force between them a) weakens by a factor of 4. b) also doubles. c) strengthens by a factor of 4. d) weakens by a factor of 2. e) is unaffected.
a
We can see each other in the classroom right now because we a) reflect visible light. b) emit thermal radiation. c) reflect infrared light. d) emit visible light. e) emit infrared light.
a
What would happen if the Space Shuttle were launched with a speed greater than Earth's escape velocity? a) It would travel away from Earth into the solar system. b) It would take less time to reach its bound orbit. c) It would travel in a higher orbit around Earth. d) It would be in an unstable orbit. e) It would orbit Earth at a faster velocity.
a
When light reflects off an object, what is the relation between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection? a) angle of incidence = angle of reflection b) It depends on the material that the light reflects off. c) angle of incidence - angle of reflection = 90° d) angle of incidence + angle of reflection = 90° e) angle of incidence + angle of reflection = 180°
a
Where does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun? a) in its core b) anywhere below the surface c) just above the visible surface d) on the surface e) all of the above
a
Where does the energy come from that your body uses to keep you alive? a) It comes from the foods you eat. b) It comes from the water you drink. c) It is in the air that you breathe. d) It is created during the time that you rest or sleep. e) It is produced from the radiative energy of the Sun on your skin.
a
We see ___________ when we look at a hot object (like a star) through a thin cloud of gas. Photons of certain specific wavelengths are caught by the gas.
absorption line spectrum
The belts and zones of Jupiter are a) alternating regions of charged particles in Jupiter's magnetic field. b) alternating bands of rising and falling air at different latitudes. c) cyclonic and anticyclonic storms. d) the thermosphere and stratosphere respectively. e) names for different cloud layers on Jupiter.
b
Which of the following statements about X rays and radio waves is not true? a) X rays and radio waves are both forms of light, or electromagnetic radiation. b) Neither X rays nor radio waves can penetrate the earth's atmosphere. c) X rays have higher frequency than radio waves. d) X rays have higher energy than radio waves. e) X rays have shorter wavelengths than radio waves.
b
Which of the following statements is not one of Newton's laws of motion? a) For any force, there always is an equal and opposite reaction force. b) What goes up must come down. c) In the absence of a net force, an object moves with constant velocity. d) The rate of change of momentum of an object is equal to the net force applied to the object. e) All of the above are Newton's laws of motion.
b
Which planet has the highest average surface temperature, and why? a) Mercury, because it is closest to the Sun b) Venus, because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere c) Mercury, because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere d) Jupiter, because it is so big e) Mars, because of its red color
b
Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io? a) Jupiter's strong gravity attracted the planetesimals more strongly than Io and thus none landed on its surface. b) Io did have impact craters but they have all been buried in lava flows. c) It is too small to have been bombarded by planetesimals in the early solar system. d) Io's thick atmosphere obscures the view of the craters. e) Any craters that existed have been eroded through the strong winds on Io's surface.
b
Considering Einstein's famous equation, E = mc2, which of the following statements is true? a) One kilogram of mass represents 1 joule of energy. b) It takes a large amount of mass to produce a small amount of energy. c) A small amount of mass can be turned into a large amount of energy. d) You can make mass into energy if you can accelerate the mass to the speed of light. e) Mass can be turned into energy, but energy cannot be turned back into mass.
c
Everything looks red through a red filter because a) the filter reflects red light and transmits other colors. b) the filter absorbs red light and emits other colors. c) the filter transmits red light and absorbs other colors. d) the filter emits red light and absorbs other colors.
c
From shortest to longest wavelength, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? a) gamma rays, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio b) visible light, infrared, X rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio c) gamma rays, X rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio d) radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays e) infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays, radio
c
How does Jupiter's core compare to Earth? a) It is about 10 times larger both in size and mass. b) It is the same size and mass. c) It is about the same size but is 10 times more massive. d) It is about 10 times larger in size and the same mass. e) Jupiter doesn't have a core—it is made entirely from hydrogen and helium.
c
If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light, we mean that it _________. a) emits ultraviolet light b) reflects ultraviolet light c) absorbs ultraviolet light d) transmits ultraviolet light
c
Radiative energy is a) energy used to power home radiators. b) heat energy. c) energy carried by light. d) energy from nuclear power plants. e) energy of motion.
c
Suppose you are in an elevator that is moving upward. As the elevator nears the floor at which you will get off, its speed slows down. During this time when the elevator is moving upward with decreasing speed, your weight will be __________. a) greater than your normal weight at rest b) equal to your normal weight at rest c) less than your normal weight at rest
c
What is Jupiter's Great Red Spot? a) a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter b) a large mountain peak poking up above the clouds c) a long-lived, high-pressure storm d) the place where Jupiter's aurora is most visible e) the place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface
c
What is aerobraking? a) the destruction of a spacecraft by the intense pressure as it descends into the atmosphere b) the gradual decrease of speed as a spacecraft leaves the solar system c) the technique of using a planetary atmosphere to change the orbit of a spacecraft d) the use of a planetary atmosphere to redirect a spacecraft to another planet e) the controlled landing of a spacecraft on a planetary surface
c
Which of the following is farthest from the Sun? a) an asteroid in the asteroid belt b) Neptune c) a comet in the Oort cloud d) a comet in the Kuiper belt e) Pluto
c
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the outer planets? a) Their orbits are separated by relatively large distances. b) They all have rings. c) They have very few, if any, satellites. d) They are primarily made of hydrogen and helium.
c
Which planet, other than Earth, has visible water ice on it? a) Jupiter b) Mercury c) Mars d) the Moon e) Venus
c
Why is a sunflower yellow? a) It emits yellow light. b) It absorbs yellow light. c) It reflects yellow light.
c
_______ is seen when we have a hot object emitting light across a broad range of wavelengths.
continuous spectrum
A skater can spin faster by pulling her arms closer to her body or spin slower by spreading her arms out from her body. This is due to a) Newton's third law. b) conservation of momentum. c)conservation of energy. d) conservation of angular momentum. e) the law of gravity.
d
Astronomers have decided that, rather than being a planet, Pluto is really just a large member of a) the asteroid belt. b) the moon system around Neptune. c) an extrasolar planetary system. d) the Kuiper belt. e) the Oort cloud.
d
Suppose you look at a spectrum of visible light by looking through a prism or diffraction grating. How can you decide whether it is an emission line spectrum or an absorption line spectrum? a) The only way to decide is to make a graph of the intensity of the light at every wavelength, and then analyze the graph carefully. b) The emission line spectrum is produced by electrons jumping up in energy level, while the absorption line spectrum is produced by electrons jumping down in energy level. c) An emission line spectrum consists of a long bright line, while an absorption line spectrum consists of a long dark line. d) An emission line spectrum consists of bright lines on a dark background, while an absorption line spectrum consists of dark lines on a rainbow background.
d
The fact that the Voyager spacecraft continue to speed out of the solar system, even though its rockets have no fuel, is an example of a) Newton's second law of motion. b) Newton's third law of motion. c) the universal law of gravitation. d) Newton's first law of motion. e) none of the above.
d
The wavelength of a wave is a) the distance between a peak of the wave and the next trough. b) equal to the speed of the wave times the wave's frequency. c) the distance between where the wave is emitted and where it is absorbed. d) the distance between two adjacent peaks of the wave. e) how strong the wave is.
d
What mechanism is most responsible for generating the internal heat of Io that drives the volcanic activity? a) bombardment b) differentiation c) radioactive decay d) tidal heating e) accretion
d
Where are most of the known asteroids found? a) in the Oort cloud b) between the orbits of the jovian planets c) in the Kuiper belt d) between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter e) between the orbits of the terrestrial planets
d
According to the universal law of gravitation, the force due to gravity is a) directly proportional to the distance between objects. b) directly proportional to the square of the distance between objects. c) inversely proportional to the distance between objects. d) not dependent on the distance between objects. e) inversely proportional to the square of the distance between objects.
e
How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related for photons of light? a) There is no simple relationship because different photons travel at different speeds. b) Longer wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy. c) Longer wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy. d) Longer wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy. e) Longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy.
e
How does the Space Shuttle take off? a) It achieves lift from its wings in the same way that airplanes do. b) It converts mass-energy to kinetic energy. c) The hot rocket exhaust expands the air beneath the shuttle, propelling it forward. d) Its rocket engines push against the launch pad propelling the shuttle upwards. e) Hot gas shoots out from the rocket and, by conservation of momentum, the shuttle moves in the opposite direction.
e
Standing on the surface of the Earth you drop a rock down a well and it falls for 5 seconds before hitting the bottom. How fast is it moving when it hits the bottom of the well? Neglect air resistance. a) 10 m/s b) It depends on how heavy it is. c) It depends on what shape it is. d) 15 m/s e) 50 m/s
e
The four Galilean moons around Jupiter are a) hydrogen and helium gas. b) all made of ice. c) very similar to asteroids. d) all made of rock. e) a mixture of rock and ice.
e
The frequency of a wave is a) measured in cycles per second. b) the number of peaks passing by any point each second. c) measured in hertz (Hz). d) equal to the speed of the wave divided by the wavelength of the wave. e) all of the above
e
Which of the following observations indicates that conditions on Mars may have been suitable for life in the past? a) Mars has polar caps made of "dry ice." b) There is a very deep and long canyon that extends across Mars. c) Mars has two small moons. d) There are very large extinct volcanoes on Mars. e) There are dried-up riverbeds on Mars.
e
You are standing on a scale in an elevator. Suddenly you notice your weight decreases. What do you conclude? a) The elevator is moving at a constant velocity upwards. b) Your diet is working. c) The elevator is moving at a constant velocity downwards. d) The elevator is accelerating upwards. e) The elevator is accelerating downwards.
e
The fact that Europa orbits Jupiter twice for every one orbit of Ganymede is an example of a(n) ____.
orbital resonance
