Astronomy Final Exam
From center outward, which of the following lists the "layers" of the sun in the correct order? a. core, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona b. core, radiation zone, convection zone, corona, chromosphere, photosphere c. core, convection zone, radiation zone, corona, chromosphere, photosphere d. core, corona, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere
a. core, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona
Lunar eclipses can occur only during a .... a. full moon b. third quarter moon c. first quarter moon d. new moon
a. full moon
Overtime, the star-gas-star cycle leads the gas in the Milky Way to... a. have a greater abundance of heavy elements b. become denser and have a greater abundance of heavy elements c. have a lower abundance of heavy elements d. become denser and hotter
a. have a greater abundance of heavy elements
What is the upper limit to the mass of a white dwarf? a. 1 solar mass b. 1.4 solar masses c. 2 solar masses d. There is an upper limit, but we do not yet know what it is
b. 1.4 solar masses
The age of our solar system is approximately... a. 14 billion years b. 4.6 billion years c. 3.8 million years d. 10,000 years e. 4.6 million years
b. 4.6 billion years
What is the approximate wavelength range of human vision? a. 4000 nanometers to 7000 nanometers b. 400 nanometers to 700 nanometers c. 400 meters to 700 meters d. 4 to 7 femtometers e. 4 to 7 meters
b. 400 nanometers to 700 nanometers
The Sun's average surface (photosphere) temperature is about.... a. 1,000 K b. 5,800 K c. 37,000 K d. 1,000,000 K
b. 5,800 k
What type of star is our Sun? a. An intermediate-mass star b. A low-mass star c. A high-mass star
b. A low-mass star
Which of the following statements about degeneracy pressure is not true? a. Degeneracy pressure keeps any protostar less than 0.08 solar mass from becoming a true, hydrogen-fusing star b. Degeneracy pressure varies with the temperature of the star c. Degeneracy pressure is a consequence of the laws of quantum mechanics d. Degeneracy pressure can halt graviational contraction of a star even when no fusion is occurring in the core
b. Degeneracy pressure varies with the temperature of the star
Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field? a. Mercury b. Earth c. Venus d. Mars
b. Earth
A reflecting telescope operates much like an eye using a primary mirror to gather light. a. True b. False
b. False
According to Wien's Law; hotter objects emit photons with an higher average energy, which means a longer average wavelength. a. True b. False
b. False
All the planets in the solar system have at least one moon. a. True b. False
b. False
All the planets in the solar system rotate in the same direction as they orbit the Sun. a. True b. False
b. False
Is the following equation Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation: F=(G*M1)/(d2) a. True b. False
b. False
Kepler's first law tells us that a planet's distance from the Sun varies during its orbit. It is the closest at the point call aphelion and farthest at the point called perihelion. a. True b. False
b. False
Mercury, because it is the closest planet to our Sun, is known to have a "runaway greenhouse" effect. a. True b. False
b. False
The remnant left behind by a white-dwarf supernova is a neutron star. a. True b. False
b. False
The frequency of a wave is: a. can be measured in cycles per second b. can be measured in hertz c. all of the choices are true d. equal to the speed of the wave divided by the wavelength of the wave
c. all of the choices are true
What causes the radio pulses of a pulsar? a. the neutron star undergoes periodic expolosions of nuclear fusion that generate radio pulses. b. the neutron star's orbiting companion periodically eclipses the radio waves that the neutron star emits c. as the neutron star spins, beams of radio radiation sweep through space. If one of the beams crosses the Earth, we observe a pulse. d. the vibration of the neutron star
c. as the neutron star spins, beams of radio radiation sweep through space. If one of the beams crosses the Earth, we observe a pulse.
Some type of lunar or solar eclipse (not necessarily a total eclipse) occurs... a. five times a month b. about once every 18 months c. at least four times a year d. about once a month
c. at least four times a year
The Moon's shadow always points directly... a. toward the Sun b. toward Earth c. away from the Sun d. away from Earth
c. away from the Sun
Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun? a. Phases of Venus b. Patterns of shadow and sunlight near the dividing line between the light and dark portions of the Moon's face c. Four moons on Jupiter d. The Milky Way is composed of many individual stars
Phases of Venus
What was the temperature in the solar nebula at the location of earth? a. approximately 600 Kelvin b. 2000 Kelvin c. 200 Kelvin
a. approximately 600 Kelvin
According to Kepler's third law, how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun? a. A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun b. A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis c. More massive planets must have more circular orbits d. More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speeds
a. A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun
Which of the following is not a major difference between the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system? a. Terrestrial planets contain large quantities of ice and jovian planets do not. b. Terrestrial planets are higher in average density than jovian planets. c. Jovian planets have rings and terrestrial planets do not. d. Terrestrial planets orbit much closer to the Sun than jovian planets
a. Terrestrial planets contain large quantities of ice and jovian planets do not.
What if anything is wrong with the planetary orbit shown? a. The Sun is not at one focus, as Kepler's first law requires b. The orbital path violates Kepler's third law c. There is nothing wrong with this orbit d. The shape of the orbit is not an ellipse, as Kepler's first law requires
a. The Sun is not at one focus, as Kepler's first law requires
Comets come from two reservoirs: The kuiper belt and the oort cloud. a. True b. False
a. True
Dust rains down on our planet whenever we cross a comet's orbit, producing a meteor shower. a. True b. False
a. True
Matter can emit, absorb, transmit, or reflect light. a. True b. False
a. True
Only comets that enter the inner solar system grow tails. A. True B. False
a. True
The angular distance between a pair of objects in the sky is the angle that appears to separate them a. True b. False
a. True
The tile of the Earth's axis remains close to 23.5 but the direction the axis points in space changes slowly with the 26,000-year cycle of precession. a. True b. False
a. True
When white light passes through a cool cloud of gas, we see an absorption line spectrum. a. True b. False
a. True
Which of the following statements is not one of Newton's Laws of Motion? a. What goes up must come down. b. In the absence of a net force acting upon it, an object moves with constant velocity c. The rate of change of momentum of an object is equal to the net force applied to the object d. For any force, there always is an equal and opposite reaction force.
a. What goes up must come down.
Suppose you visit another planet.... a. Your mass would be the same as on Earth, but your weight would be different b. Your mass and weight would be the same as they are on Earth c. your weight would be the same as on Earth, but your mass would be different
a. Your mass would be the same as on Earth, but your weight would be different
According to Newton's second law, the greater the force exerted on an object, the greater the object's ... a. acceleration b. mass c. velocity d. distance
a. acceleration
The Sun's location in the Milky Way Galaxy is... a. in the galactic disk, roughly halfway between the center and the outer edge of the disk b. very near the galactic center c. in the halo of the galaxy, about 28,000 light years above the galactic disk d. at the very outer edge of the galactic disk
a. in the galactic disk, roughly halfway between the center and the outer edge of the disk
Which forms of light are lower in energy and frequency than the light that our eyes can see? a. infrared and radio b. ultraviolet and x-rays c. visible light d. infrared and ultraviolet
a. infrared and radio
What is evidence that an impact killed the dinosaurs? a. Iridium b. crystal c. there are no more dinosaurs d. grass
a. iridium
As a solar mass protstar moves on to the main sequence, a. its surface temperature increases and its luminosity decreases b. its surface temperature and luminosity decrease c. its surface temperature and luminosity increase d. its surface temperature and luminosity remain the same
a. its surface temperature increases and its luminosity decreases
Rank the five terrestrial worlds in order of size from smallest to largest: a. moon, mercury, mars, venus, earth b. moon, mercury, venus, earth, mars c. mercury, venus, earth, moon, mars d. mercury, moon, mars, earth, venus e. mercury, moon, venus, earth, mars
a. moon, mercury, mars, venus, earth
How is the lifetime of a star related to its mass? a. more massive stars live much shorter lives than less massive stars b. more massive stars live slightly shorter lives than less massive stars c. more massive stars lives slightly longer lives than less massive stars d. more massive stars live much longer lives than less massive stars
a. more massive stars live much shorter lives than less massive stars
How often does a new moon occur? a. once a month b. twice a year c. once a year d. twice a month
a. once a month
What happens when the gravity of a massive star is able to overcome neutron degeneracy pressure? a. the core contracts and becomes a black hole b. the core contracts and becomes a ball of neutrons c. gravity is not able to overcome neutron degeneracy pressure d. the star explodes violently, leaving nothing behind
a. the core contracts and becomes a black hole
Carbon fusion occur in high-mass stars but not in low-mass stars because... a. the cores of low-mass stars never get hot enough for carbon fusion b. the cores of low-mass stars never contain significant amounts of carbon c. only high-mass stars do fusion by the CNO cycle d. carbon fusion can occur only in the stars known as carbon stars
a. the cores of low-mass stars never get hot enough for carbon fusion
The lithosphere of a planet is the layer that consists of a. the rigid rocky material of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle b. material above the crust c. the softer rocky material of the mantle d. the lava thought comes out of volcanoes e. material between the crust and the mantle
a. the rigid rocky material of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle
How does the interstellar obscure our view of most of the galaxy? a. the small mixture of dust grains in the interstellar medium absorbs visible light b. hydrogen gas produces so much visible light that the interstellar medium is opaque, blocking our view of anything beyond it c. molecules in the interstellar medium absorb all wavelengths of light d. dust reflects most light from distance regions of the galaxy back towards the source
a. the small mixture of dust grains in the interstellar medium absorbs visible light
What is a planets total orbital energy? a. the sum of its kinetic and gravitational potential energies b. only its kinetic energy c. none of the above d. only its potential energy
a. the sum of its kinetic and gravitational potential energies
A week after full moon, the Moon's phase is a. third quarter b. first quarter c. second quarter d. new
a. third quarter
Brown dwarfs, white dwarfs, and neutrons stars are all kept from collapsing by degeneracy pressure. a. true b. false
a. true
If one combined the number of moons from Saturn and Jupiter there would be more than 120 moons. a. true b. false
a. true
If the distance between us and a star is doubled, its apparent brightness will decrease by a factor of four. a. true b. false
a. true
Light is a form of Energy a. true b. false
a. true
Radiowaves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, xrays and gamma rays are all forms of light. a. true b. false
a. true
Regarding geological activity; Venus differs from that on Earth in at least 2 key ways: lack of erosion and lack of plate tectonics. a. true b. false
a. true
Stars spend about 90% of their lifetime on the main sequence... a. true b. false
a. true
The proton-proton chain converts four hyrdrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus plus energy. a. true b. false
a. true
Gamma rays have a very small... a. wavelength b. mass c. frequency d. energy
a. wavelength
What can we learn about a star from a life track on an H-R diagram? a. what surface temperature and luminosity it will have at each stage of its life b. where it is located c. when it will die d. how long ago it was born
a. what surface temperature and luminosity it will have at each stage of its life
Newton's second law of motion states that force equals mass times acceleration, or F=ma. Suppose you have already calculated the gravitational force, which we will call Fg, attracting Earth and the Moon. Then the amount of acceleration of Earth due to this force is... a. Fg divided by the acceleration of the Earth b. Fg divided by the mass of the Earth c. Fg divided by the mass of the Moon d. Fg divided by the acceleration of the Moon
b. Fg divided by the mass of the Earth
How do we know how old the Sun is... a. From Newton's version of Kepler's third law and the orbits of the planets b. From ages of solar system meteorites, based on radioactive elements c. from its speed and distance from us
b. From ages of solar system meteorites, based on radioactive elements
What is the Oort Cloud? a. It is a great cloud of gas that resides far beyond the orbit of Pluto. b. It is not really a cloud at all, but rather refers to the trillion or so comets thought to orbit the Sun at great distances. c. It is a giant storm in the atmosphere of Saturn d. It is another name for the cloud of gas from which our solar system was born.
b. It is not really a cloud at all, but rather refers to the trillion or so comets thought to orbit the Sun at great distances.
Which statement best describes the "duality of light" phenomena? a. Waves or particles have nothing to do with the "duality of light" phenomena. b. Light behaves as a wave, or as particles, depending on what we do with it, and we try to observe c. light has only particle characteristics d. light has only wave characteristics
b. Light behaves as a wave, or as particles, depending on what we do with it, and we try to observe
Which main sequence star has the lowest mass? a. M b. O c. can't answer with the information provided d. G
b. O
Earth is farthest from the Sun in July and closest to the Sun in January. During which Northern Hemisphere season is Earth moving fastest in its orbit? a. spring b. winter c. summer d. fall
b. Winter
How fast do techtonic plates move on Earth? a. about 1 mile per hour b. a few centimeters per year c. a few millimeters per century d. a few kilometers per century
b. a few centimeters per year
What is the Kuiper belt? a. region of the solar system that extends almost a fourth of the way to the nearest stars and contains a trillion comets with orbits going in all directions around the Sun. b. a region of the solar system beginning just beyond the orbit of Neptune that contains many icy comets c. the most prominent ring of Saturn that is visible in photographs d. a technical name for the asteroid belt
b. a region of the solar system beginning just beyond the orbit of Neptune that contains many icy comets
Compared to the star it evolved from , a red giant is a. the same temperature and brightness b. cooler and brighter c. cooler and dimmer d. hotter and dimmer
b. cooler and brighter
According to the universal law of gravitation, if double the distance between two objects, then the gravitational force between them... a. increases by a factor of 2 b. decreases by a factor of 4 c. increase by a factor of 4 d. decreases by a factor of 2
b. decreases by a factor of 4
How does a black hole form from a massive star? a. a black hole forms when two massive main-sequence stars collide b. during a supernova, if a star is massive enough for its gravity to overcome neutron degeneracy pressure in the core, the core will collapse to a black hole c. if enough mass is accreted by a white dwarf star that it exceeds the 1.4 solar mass limit, it will undergo a supernova explosion and leave behind a black-hole remnant d. Any star that is more massive than 8 solar masses will undergo a supernova explosion and leave behind a black hole remnant.
b. during a supernova, if a star is massive enough for its gravity to overcome neutron degeneracy pressure in the core, the core will collapse to a black hole
No visible light can escape a black hole, but things such as gamma rays, x-rays, and neutrinos can. a. true b. false
b. false
The Sun is located near the edge of our galaxy, approximately 100,000 light years from the galactic center. a. true b. false
b. false
The sun generates energy primarily by nuclear fission. a. true b. false
b. false
There is no limit to the mass with which a star can be born. a. true b. false
b. false
Triton is the largest moon in our solar system a. true b. false
b. false
What are the main constituents of the jovian planets? a. ammonia and methane b. hydrogen and helium c. ammonia and water d. nitrogen and methane e. rocky minerals and water, as on Earth
b. hydrogen and helium
Olympus Mons is... a. a large lava plain on the Moon b. a great canyon on Mars c. a huge shield volcano on Mars d. a huge stratovolcano on Mercury
c. a huge shield volcano on Mars
On a H-R diagram, stellar radii... a. are impossible to determine b. increase diagonally from the lower left to the upper right c. are the greatest in the lower left and least in the upper right d. decrease from left to right
b. increase diagonally from the lower left to the upper right
Which element is the dead end for cores of the most massive stars/ a. helium b. iron c. oxygen d. hydrogen
b. iron
How does a 12-month lunar calendar differ from our 12-month solar calendar? a. It does not have seasons b. it has about 11 fewer days c. Its new year always occurs in February instead of January 1 d. It uses a 23-hour rather than a 24-hour day
b. it has about 11 fewer days
What happens when a star like the sun exhausts its core hydrogen supply? a. it expands, becoming bigger but dimmer b. its core contracts, but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger and brighter c. its core contracts, but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger but cooler and therefore remains at the same brightness d. it contracts, becoming smaller and dimmer
b. its core contracts, but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger and brighter
The energy attributed to an object by virtue of its motion is known as ... a. mass-energy b. kinetic energy c. radiative energy d. potential energy
b. kinetic energy
Identify the correct sequence of life events for a high mass star. a. red supergiant, main sequence, neutron star, supernova b. main sequence, red supergiant, supernova, neutron star c. red supergiant, main sequence, supernova, neutron star d. main sequence, red supergiant, neutron star, supernova
b. main sequence, red supergiant, supernova, neutron star
Two stars that are the same constellation... a. must both be part of the same cluster of stars in space b. may actually be very far away from each other c. must both have been discovered about the same time
b. may actually be very far away from each other
The terrestrial planets in our solar system are: a. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Eris b. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and mars c. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Pluto d. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
b. mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
When considering light as made up of individual "pieces," each characterized by a particular amount of energy, the pieces are called.... a. wavicles b. photons c. gamma rays d. pulsars e. frequencies
b. photons
Which of the following best describes the lunar maria? a. mountainous regions on the moon b. relatively smooth, flat plains on the Moon c. frozen oceans of liquid water on the moon d. densely cratered regions on the Moon
b. relatively smooth, flat plains on the Moon
Mars has two moons that are similar in character to... a. particles in the rings of Saturn b. small asteroids c. earth's moon d. comets
b. small asteroids
A solar eclipse occurs when... a. the Sun's shadow falls on the Moon b. the Moon's shadow falls on Earth c. Earth's shadow falls on the Moon
b. the Moon's shadow falls on Earth
In winter, Earth's axis points toward the star Polaris. In spring... a. the axis points toward Vega b. the axis also points toward Polaris c. the axis points toward the Sun
b. the axis also points toward Polaris
What do we call the bright, sphere-shaped region of stars that occupies the central few thousand light-years of the Milky Way Galaxy? a. the galaxy's halo b. the galaxy's bulge c. a globular cluster d. the galaxy's disk
b. the galaxy's bulge
Based on observations, which of the following statements about stars in the Milky Way is generally true? a. the less massive the star, the older it is b. the older the star, the lower its abundance of heavy elements c. the older the star, the faster its orbital speed d. the younger the star, the higher its mass
b. the older the star, the lower its abundance of heavy elements
Which of the following models best explains why our galaxy has spiral arms? a. no model can explain the existence of the arms which rotate with the galaxy like the fins of a giant pinwheel toy b. the spiral arms are a wave of star formation caused by wave of density propagating outward through the disk of the galaxy c the spiral arms are composed of groups of stars that are bound together by gravity and therefore always stay together as the galaxy rotates. d. the spiral arms were imprinted on the galaxy at its birth. Ever since, like a coiling rope, the spiral arms have been wound tighter with each galactic rotation
b. the spiral arms are a wave of star formation caused by wave of density propagating outward through the disk of the galaxy
Assume you knew nothing else about the planets but what is shown in this diagram. What could you conclude? a. Saturn orbits the Sun faster than any other planet b. the square of a planets period in years is equal to the cube of its average distance from the Sun in AU c. the outer planets are more massive than the inner planets d. earth takes less than a third as long to orbit the Sun as Mars
b. the square of a planets period in years is equal to the cube of its average distance from the Sun in AU
Which main sequence star will have the shortest lifetime? a. G b. A c. O d. M
c. O
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the outer planets? a. their orbits are separated by relatively large distances b. they have very few, if any, satellites c. they are primarily made of hydrogen and helium d. they all have rings e. they are all large balls of gas
b. they have very few, if any, satellites
A star's luminosity is the a. apparent brightness of the star in our sky b. total amount of energy that the star radiates each second c. surface temperature of the star d. total amount of energy that the star will radiate over its entire lifetime
b. total amount of energy that the star radiates each second
When does a star become a main-sequence star? a. when a star becomes luminous enough to emit thermal radiation b. when the rate of hydrogen fusion in the stars core is high enough to sustain gravitational equilibrium c. the instant when hydrogen fusion first begins in the star's core d. when hydrogen fusion is occurring throughout the stars interior
b. when the rate of hydrogen fusion in the stars core is high enough to sustain gravitational equilibrium
The acceleration of gravity on Earth is approximately 10m/s2. If you drop a rock from a tall building, about how fast will it be falling after 3 seconds? a. 20 m/s b. 40 m/s c. 30 m/s d. 10 m/s
c. 30 m/s
Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one? a. None of the above or choices b. A scientific theory should be based on natural processes and should not invoke the supernatural or divine c. A scientific theory must make testable predictions that if found to be incorrect, could lead to its own modification or demise.
c. A scientific theory must make testable predictions that if found to be incorrect, could lead to its own modification or demise.
Which of the following is not true about a scientific theory? a. none of the above b. Even the strongest theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt c. A theory is essentially an educated guess
c. A theory is essentially an educated guess
HOw do we know the total mass of the Milky Way Galaxy that is contained within the Suns orbital path? a. by counting the number of stars visible in this region of the galaxy b. by using the law of conservation of angular momentum to calculate the orbital speeds of nearby stars c. by applying Newton's version of Kepler's third law (or the equivalent orbital velocity law) to the Sun's orbit around the center of the Galaxy d. by estimating the amount of gas and dust in between the stars
c. by applying Newton's version of Kepler's third law (or the equivalent orbital velocity law) to the Sun's orbit around the center of the Galaxy
What kind of pressure supports a white dwarf? a. radiation pressure b. thermal pressure c. electron degeneracy pressure d. neutron degeneracy pressure
c. electron degeneracy pressure
According to the textbook, how often might a Tunguska type event occur? a. several times per century b. never c. every few hundred years d. once in a thousand years e. once every 500 years
c. every few hundred years
When a spinning ice skater pulls in his arms, he spins faster because... a. there is less friction with the ice b. there is less friction with the air c. his angular momentum must be conserved, so reducing his radius must increase his speed of rotation d. there exists an unbalanced reaction force
c. his angular momentum must be conserved, so reducing his radius must increase his speed of rotation
Compared to the star it evolved from, a newly formed white dwarf is a. the same temperature and brightness b. cooler and brighter c. hotter and dimmer d. cooler and dimmer
c. hotter and dimmer
Momentum is defined as... a. mass times speed b. mass times acceleration c. mass times velocity d. a force times velocity
c. mass times velocity
Which of the following is not a method astronomers use to determine the physical conditions inside the Sun? a. detecting solar neutrinos generated in the sun's core b. measuring doppler shifts to observe solar vibrations c. observing x-ray images of the solar interior using satellites d. building mathematical models that use the law of physics
c. observing x-ray images of the solar interior using satellites
Suppose you try to bring two protons close together. Because of the electromagnetic force, the two protons will a. attract one another b. collide c. repel one another d. remain stationary
c. repel one another
What does temperature measure? a. the average mass of particles in a substance b. the total amount of heat in a substance c. the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance d. the total potential energy of particles in a substance
c. the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance
In the formula E=mc2 what does c represent? a. constellation b. celestial c. the speed of light d. the speed of sound
c. the speed of light
Suppose a comet orbits the Sun on a highly eccentric orbit with an average distance of 1 AU. How long does it take to complete each orbit and how do we know? a. It depends on the eccentricity of the orbit, as described by Kepler's first law b. Each orbit should take about 2 years, because the eccentricity is so large. c. It depends on the eccentricity of the orbit, as described by Kepler''s 2nd law d. 1 year, which we know from Kepler's third Law
d. 1 year, which we know from Kepler's third law
What happens to the energy in the Sun's convection zone? a. Energy is produced in the convection zone by thermal radiation b. Energy slowly leaks outward through the radiative diffusion of photons that repeatedly bounce off ions and electrons. c. Energy is produced in the convection zone by nuclear fusion d. Energy is transported outward by the rising of hot plasma and sinking of cooler plasma
d. Energy is transported outward by the rising of hot plasma and sinking of cooler plasma
If you want to make a rocket turn left, you need to... a. Spin the rocket counterclockwise b. Spin the rocket clockwise c. Fire an engine that shoots out gas to the left d. Fire an engine that shoots out gas to the right
d. Fire an engine that shoots out gas to the right
Who was/were the first person/people known to make models of nature? a. Scholars in Baghdad b. Americans c. Kepler d. Greeks
d. Greeks
Which of the following stars are brightest at ultraviolet wavelengths? a. M stars b. G and K stars c. A and F stars d. O and B stars
d. O and B stars
What do we mean by the interstellar medium? a. The dust that fills the halo of the Milky Way galaxy b. the name of an oracle who can channel messages from beings that live near the star called Vega c. The middle section of the Milky Way galaxy d. The gas and dust that lies in between the stars in the Milky Way galaxy
d. The gas and dust that lies in between the stars in the Milky Way galaxy
The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is... a. Earth b. Neptune c. Mercury d. Venus
d. Venus
Suppose you lived on the Moon. Which of the following would be true? a. Your mass would be less than your mass on Earth, but your weight would be the same it is on Earth b. Both your weight and your mass would be the same as they are on Earth. c. Both your weight and your mass would be less than they are on Earth d. Your weight would be less than your weight on Earth, but your mass would be the same as it is on Earth
d. Your weight would be less than your weight on Earth, but your mass would be the same as it is on Earth
Which planet has a ring system? a. Saturn b. netpune c. jupiter d. all of these planets have a ring system e. uranus
d. all of these planets have a ring system
When we say that jovian planets contain significant amounts of hydrogen compounds, we mean all of the following chemicals except... a. water b. methane c. ammonia d. carbon dioxide
d. carbon dioxide
From center to surface, which of the following correctly lists the interior layers of a terrestrial world? a. mantle, crust, core b. core, crust, lithosphere c. mantle, core, crust d. core, mantle, crust
d. core, mantel, crust
From shortest to longest wavelength, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? a. radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, gamma rays b. gamma rays, xrays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio c. visible light, infrared, xrays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio d. gamma rays, xrays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio e. infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, xrays, gamma rays, radio
d. gamma rays, x rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio
The processes responsible for virtually all surface geology are... a. accretion, differentiation, and radioactive decay b. convection, conduction, and radiation c. eruptions, lava flows, and outgassing d. impact cratering, volcanisms, tectonics, and erosions
d. impact cratering, volcanisms, tectonics, and erosion
Where are most heavy elements made? a. in the interstellar medium b. all were made in the Big Bank, when the universe first began c. all of the above d. in stars and supernovae
d. in stars and supernovae
Which moons are sometimes called the Galilean moons? a. Ganymede and Titan b. the moons that orbit their planet backward compared to their planets rotations, such as Neptunes moon Triton c. the moons orbiting Uranus, which was once named "planet Galileo" d. lo, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
d. lo, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
Which of the following describes the theory that begins with the idea that our solar system was born a cloud of gas that collapsed under its own gravity? a. theory of light b. blackholes c. theory of relativity d. solar nebula theory
d. solar nebula theory
Which of the following describes Tectonics? a. the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather b. the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface c. the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface d. the disruption of a planets surface by internal stresses
d. the disruption of a planets surface by internal stresses
In the formula E=mc2 what does E represent? a. the electric field produced by a charge b. the kinetic energy of a moving object c. the gravitational potential energy of an object held above the ground d. the mass-energy or potential energy stored in an object's mass
d. the mass-energy or potential energy stored in an object's mass
Why is a rose red? a. the rose emits red light b. the rose transmits red light c. the rose absorbs red light d. the rose reflects red light
d. the rose reflects red light
Suppose that two objects collide. Which of the following things is NOT the same both before and after the collision? a. the total angular momentum of the objects b. the total energy of the objects c. the total momentum of the objects d. the total temperature of the objects
d. the total temperature of the objects
The overall helium fusion reaction is: a. two helium nuclei fuse to form one beryllium nucleus b. two hydrogen nuclei fuse to form one helium nucleus c. four helium nuclei fuse to form one oxygen nucleus d. three helium nuclei fuse to form one carbon nucleus
d. three helium nuclei fuse to form one carbon nucleus
On a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, where on the main sequence would you find stars that have the greatest mass? a. upper right b. lower left c. lower right d. upper left
d. upper left
The difference between speed and velocity is that ... a. velocity is the same as acceleration but speed is different b. velocity is calculated using a physics equation c. they are expressed in different units d. velocity also includes a direction
d. velocity also includes a direction
Which is the densest planet in the solar system? a. mercury b. jupiter c. mars d. saturn e. earth
e. Earth
The planet closest in size to Earth is... a. Mars b. Uranus c. Neptune d. Mercury e. Venus
e. Venus
