Astronomy Test 1 ( hw review)

The planet with twice Earth's mass orbiting at a distance of 1 AU from a star with the same mass as the sun: 1. 6 months 2. 1 year 3. 2 years 4. 3 months

1 year

How long does it take our solar system to complete one orbit around the Milky Way Galaxy? 1. 1 million years 2. 230 thousand years 3. 230 million years

230 million years

If Earth's rotation slowed down so that it completed exactly one rotation about its axis in 100 hours, what would be the typical time interval between sunrise and sunset? 1. 24 hours 2. 100 hours 3. 25 hours 4. 50 hours

50 hours

what do astronomers mean by a constellation? 1. A constellation is any random grouping of stars in the sky. 2. A constellation is a region in the sky as seen from Earth. 3. A constellation is a group of stars that are all located in about the same place in space. 4. A constellation is a group of stars related through an ancient story.

A constellation is a region in the sky as seen from Earth.

About how many stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear, dark night away from city lights? 1. several million 2. Approximately two thousand 3. a few hundred billion 4. a few dozen

Approximately two thousand

Dark matter can be detected only by its gravity, that affects other objects we can see. Why can't we see it directly by means of telescopes? 1. Dark matter concentrates in very small space areas 2. Dark matter does not emit light 3. Dark matter absorbs light

Dark matter does not emit light

When we see Saturn going through a period of apparent retrograde motion, it means: 1. Earth is passing Saturn in its orbit, with both planets on the same side of the Sun 2. Saturn is temporarily moving backward in its orbit of the Sun 3. Saturn and Earth must be on opposite sides of the Sun

Earth is passing Saturn in its orbit, with both planets on the same side of the Sun

An astronomical unit is: 1. any planet's average distance from the Sun 2. Earth's average distance from the Sun 3. any large astronomical distance 4. none of the above

Earth's average distance from the Sun

How do the speeds at which we are moving with Earth's rotation and orbit compare to the speeds of more familiar objects? 1. Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a car on the freeway, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a commercial jet. 2. Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis faster than a commercial jet travels, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun faster than the Space Shuttle orbits Earth. 3. Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis at about the speed of a commercial jet, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun at about the speed of a military jet.

Earth's rotation carries most people around the axis faster than a commercial jet travels, and Earth's orbit carries us around the Sun faster than the Space Shuttle orbits Earth.

Which of the following correctly lists our 'cosmic address' from small to large? 1. Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy,, Local Group, Local Supercluster, Universe 2. Earth, solar system, Local group, local supercluster, milky way galaxy, universe 3. Earth, milky way galazy, solar system, Local Group, Local supercluster, universe

Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe

Polaris is 10 degrees above your horizon. Where are you? 1. Latitude 80 degrees south 2. Latitude 10 degrees north 3. Latitude 10 degrees south 4. Latitude 80 degrees north

Latitude 10 degrees north

Could we see a galaxy that is 50 billion light years away? 1. No, because a galazy could not possibly be that far away 2. No, because it would be betond the bounds of our observable universe 3. Yes, if we had a big enough telescope

No, becuase it would be beyond the bounds of our observable universe.

What is the celestial sphere? 1. The celestial sphere is a model of how the stars are arranged in the sky relative to our Sun, which is in the middle of the sphere. 2. It represents a belief in an Earth-centered universe, and hence is no longer considered to have any use. 3. The celestial sphere is a representation of how the entire sky looks as seen from Earth. 4. the celestial sphere is a model that shows the true locations in space of the Sun and a few thousand of the nearest stars.

The celestial sphere is a representation of how the entire sky looks as seen from Earth.

Which of the following best describes why we say that light is an electromagnetic wave? 1. Light is produced only when massive fields of electric and magnetic energy collide with one another. 2. The term electromagnetic wave arose for historical reasons, but we now know that light has nothing to do with either electricity or magnetism. 3. Light can be produced only by electric or magnetic appliances. 4. The passage of a light wave can cause electrically charged particles to move up and down.

The passage of a light wave can cause electrically charged particles to move up and down.

Which person is weightless? 1. A child in the air as she plays on a trampoline 2. An astronaut on the Moon 3. A scuba diver exploring a deep- sea track

a child in the air as she plays on a trampoline

Radio waves are: 1. a form of sound 2. a form of light 3. a type of specturm

a form of light

If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light, we meant that it 1. absorbs ultraviolet light 2. reflects ultraviolet light 3. transmits ultraviolet light 4. emits ultraviolet light

absorbs ultraviolet light

If the Moon were closer to Earth, high tides would: 1. be higher than they are now 2. occur three or more times a day rather than twice a day 3. be lower than they are now 4. stay the same

be higher than they are now

The set of spectral lines that we see in a star's spectrum depends on the star's: 1. interior temperature 2. chemical composition 3. rotation rate

chemical composition

A star whose specturm peaks in the infrared is: 1. cooler than our Sun 2. hotter than our sun 3. larger than our Sun

cooler than our Sun

Because nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, we must be located at the center of the universe.

false

Consider the statement "There's no gravity in space" This statement is 1. false 2. false if you are close to a planet or moon, but true in between the planets

false

The obserable universe is the same size today as it was a few billion years ago

false

To make a rocket turn left, you need to: 1. fire an engine that shoots out gas to the right 2. spin the rocket clockwise 3. fire an engine that shoots out gas to the left

fire an engine that shoots out gas to the right

From shortest to longest wavelength, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? 1. radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays 2. infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, radio 3. ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, visible light, infrared, radio 4. gamma rays, x- rays ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio

gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio

A car is accelrating when it is: 1. traveling on a straight, flat road at 50 miles per hour 2. traveling on a straight uphill road at 30 miles per hour 3. going around a circular track at a steady 100 miles per hour

going around a circular track at a steady 100 miles per hour

The gravitional potential energy of a contracting interstellar cloud: 1. gradually grows larger 2. stays the same at all times 3. gradually transforms into other forms of energy

gradually transforms into other forms of energy

Compared to red light, blue light has higher frequency and 1. lower energy and shorter wavelength 2. higher energy and shorter wavelength 3. higher energy and longer wavelength

higher energy and shorter wavelength

As Earth goes around the Sun each year, Earth's rotation axis in the North point 1. tipped toward the galactic center, 23-1/2 degrees 2. in a direction that traces a cone of radius 23-1/2 degrees, crossing through Polaris and Vega 3. in the direction of the celestial pole, near Polaris, throughout the year 4. tipped toward the Sun, 23-1/2 degrees.

in the direction of the celestial pole, near Polaris, throughout the year

An atom that has fewer electrons than protons is called an 1. ion 2. molecule 3. isotope 4. attracter

ion

Compared to an atom as a whole, an atomic nucleus: 1. is very tiny but has most of the mass 2. is quite large and has most of the mass 3. is very tiny and has very little mass

is very tiny but has most of the mass

Some nitrogen atoms have seven neutrons and some have eight neutrons; these two forms of nitrogen are: 1. ions of each other 2. phases of each other 3. isotopes of each other

isotopes of each other

which of the following statements is true of green grass? 1. it transmits all colors of light except green. 2. it absorbs red light and reflects green light 3. It absorbs red light and emits green light 4. it means the lawn is healthy

it absorbs red light and reflects green light

If the Sun rises precisely due eat: 1. you must be located at Earth's equator 2. It must be the day of either spring or fall equinox 3. it must be the day of the summer solstice

it must be the day of either the spring or fall equinox

why is a sunflower yellow? 1. it emits yellow light 2. it absorbs yellow light 3. it reflects yellow light

it reflects yellow light

Suppose you know the frequency of a photon and the speed of light. What else can you determine about the photon? 1. the chemical composition of the object that emitted it 2. its wavelength and energy 3. its acceleration 4. its temperature

its wavelength and energy

The North Celestial Pole is 35∘∘ above your northern horizon. This tells you that you are at: 1. latitude 35∘ N 2. longitude 35∘ E 3. latitude 35∘∘ S.

latitude 35∘ N

How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related for photons of light? 1. Longer wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy 2. Longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy 3. Longer wavelemngth means higher frequency and higher energy 4. Longer wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy

longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy

Compared to their values on Earth, on another planet your 1. mass and weight would both be the same 2. weight would be the same but your mass would be different 3. Mass would be the same but your weight would be different

mass would be the same but your weight would be different

Two stars that are in the same constellation: 1. must both be part of the same cluster of stars in space. 2. must both have been discovered at about the same time. 3. may actually be very far away from each other.

may actually be very far away from each other

The moon orbits the sun 1. once a year 2. once a month 3. once a day

once a year

The age of our solar system is about: 1. one third of the age of the universe 2. three fourths of the age of the universe 3. two billion years less than the age of the universe

one third of the age of the universe

How long does it take the Earth to complete one orbit around the sun? 1. one day 2. one week 3. one year

one year

If Earth were twice as far from the Sun, the force of gravity attracting Earth to the Sun would be: 1. twice as strong 2. one-quater as strong 3. one-third as strong 4. half as strong

one-quater as strong

From lowest energy to highest energy, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation? 1. infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, radio 2. visible light, infrared, X-rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio 3. radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays 4. gamma rays, X-rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio 5. radio, X-rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, gamma rays

radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays

A spectral line that appears at a wavelength of 321 nmnm in the laboratory appears at a wavelength of 328 nmnm in the spectrum of a distant object. We say that the object's spectrum is: 1. redshifted 2. blueshifted 3. skewed

redshifted

white light hitting white paper is an example of 1. reflection or scattering 2. transmission 3. absorption 4. emission

reflection or scattering

the fact that we always see the same face of the moon tells us that the moon 1. does not rotate 2. rorates with the same period that it orbits the Earth 3. looks the same on both sides

rotates with the same period that it orbits Earth

A person located on the equator is orbiting the center of the Earth to the East at 1670 km/s. Relative to the center of the Earth, a person on the North Pole is 1. not moving at all 2. moving at the same velocity to the East, since they are both on the same planet in space 3. moving toward the South at the same velocity 4. stationary except spinning in place once per day

stationary, except spinning in place once per day

If there is going to be a total lunar eclipse tonight, then you know that: 1. the moon's phase is full 2. the moon's phase is new 3. the moon is unusually close to Earth

the Moon's phase is full

When we say the universe is expanding, we mean that: 1. Everything in the universe is growing in size 2. The average distance between galaxies is growing with time 3. The universe is getting older

the average distance between galaxies is growing with time.

In winter, Earth's axis poiints toward the star Polaris. In spring: 1. the axis also points toward Polaris 2. the axis points toward Vega 3. The axis points toward the Sun

the axis also points toward Polaris

The wavelength of a wave is 1. the distance between where the wave is emitted and where it is absorbed 2. equal to the speed of the wave times the wave's frequency 3. the distamce between two adjacent peaks of the wave 4. how strong the wave is

the distance between two adjacent peaks of the waves

The total number of stars in the observable universe is roughly equivalent to; 1. the number of grains of sand on all beaches on Earth 2. the number of grains of sand on Miami Beach 3. infinity

the number of grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth

What is the ecliptic? 1. the Sun's daily path from east to west in our sky 2. the path traced by the Moon's shadow on Earth during a solar eclipse 3. the path the Sun appears to trace around the celestial sphere each year 4. a half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south

the path the Sun appears to trace around the celestial sphere each year

What is the ecliptic plane? 1. the plane of the Sun's equator 2. the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun 3. the plane of the Milky Way Galaxy

the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun

If we represent the solar system on a scale that allows us to walk from the Sun to Pluto in a few minutes, then: 1. the planets would be the size of basketballs and the nearest stars would be a few milkes away 2. the planets would all be marble size or smaller and the nearest stars would be thousands of miles away. 3. the planets would be microscopic and the stars would be light years away

the planets would all be marble size or smaller and the nearest stars would be thousands of miles away

Compared to its angular momentum when it is farthest from the Sun, Earth's angular momentum when it is nearest to the Sun is 1. less 2. greater 3. the same

the same

The fact that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, with more distant ones moving faster, helped us to conclude that: 1. The universe is expanding 2. Galaxies repel each other like magnets 3. our galazy lies near the center of the universe

the universe is expanding

We see two stars separated by one degree on the celestial sphere. What can we infer about these stars? 1. They rise and set at about the same time. 2. They have similar luminosities. 3. They are very close together in space. 4. They were born about the same time.

they rise and set at about the same time

A week after full moon, the Moon's phase is: 1. first quater 2. third quater 3. new

third quater

Cell phone signals passing through walls is an example of 1. reflection or scattering 2. emission 3. absorption 4. transmission

transmission

The star Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. If it explodes tonight, 1. we won't know about it until 600 years from now 2. we'll know because debris from the explosion will rain down on us from space 3. we'll know it immediately because it will be brighter than the full moon in the sky

we won't know about it until 600 years from now.

If stars existed but galaxies did not: 1. we would probably still exist anyway 2. We would not exust because life on Earth depends on the light produced by galaxies 3. We would not exist because we are made of material that required recycling in galaxies

we would not exist because we are made of material that required recycling in galaxies

Beijing and Philadelphia have about the same latitude but very different longitudes. Therefore, tonight's night sky in these two places: 1. will look about the same 2. will have completely different sets of constellations 3. will have partially different sets of constellations

will look about the same