Download Astronomy 104 Pass or fail test questions

Astronomy 104
(Make sure you are indeed in ASTR 104.
The ASTR 103 class has
a different set of questions!)
Pass or fail test questions
Students must pass this test once during
the semester, but may try three times.
The passing level is 90%.
Advice: Prepare so that you know all 100%
of the answers. Not passing this test will
result in failing the course!
The actual test will contain these same
questions, but both the questions and the
answers will be scrambled.
121.
Ignore this for your preparation.
122.
Ignore this for your preparation
123.
Ignore this for your preparation.
124.
How many stars are visible to the naked eye?
125.
126.
127.
128.
__ A.
A few million
__ B.
A few hundred
__ C.
A few billion
__ D.
A few thousand
What is an organic substance?
__ A.
One created by the bodies of living organisms.
__ B.
One that was naturally created, without human action.
__ C.
One containing complex molecules that include carbon atoms.
__ D.
One not containing chemicals.
Where do stars get their light?
__ A.
They reflect sunlight.
__ B.
They reflect light from their planets.
__ C.
They reflect light from the Galaxy.
__ D.
They glow on their own.
What is a galaxy?
__ A.
A chunk of ice falling into the Sun.
__ B.
A planet orbiting giant planets like Jupiter.
__ C.
A system formed by a large number of stars.
__ D.
Glowing gas illuminated by a few very hot stars.
What is a shooting star?
__ A.
A star hitting Earth.
__ B.
A comet hitting Earth.
__ C.
A dust particle hitting Earth.
__ D.
An inch-size rock or piece of ice hitting Earth.
2
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
Where is the Sun located?
__ A.
In the center of the Universe.
__ B.
__ C.
None of the other answers is correct because the Sun is not in the Galaxy at all, nor is it in
the center of the Universe.
Halfway from the center of the Galaxy, close to a spiral arm.
__ D.
In the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.
What is a light year?
__ A.
A time. Stars normally live for a light year of time.
__ B.
A time. Stars normally live a lot longer than for a light year of time.
__ C.
A distance. The closest star is a few million light years away (exclude the Sun).
__ D.
A distance. The closest star is a few light years away (exclude the Sun).
What causes the seasons? Pick the most important factor.
__ A.
The Sun is less active during the Winter, due to sunspots.
__ B.
The Sun is up for longer in the Summer than in the Winter.
__ C.
The Sun is closer to us in the Summer than in the winter.
__ D.
The Sun is higher up in the sky at noon in the Summer than in the Winter.
__ E.
The Sun is more active during the Summer, due to sunspots.
What are the dark areas on the Moon that form the "face" we can see with the naked eye?
__ A.
Lava-filled basins.
__ B.
Volcanic craters.
__ C.
Oceans of water.
__ D.
Impact craters.
How many craters can you see on the Moon by the naked eye?
__ A.
A few thousand.
__ B.
None, because they are too small for that.
__ C.
There are no craters on the Moon because there is no volcanism there.
__ D.
A few (5 to 10).
Which of the following does not get its light from the Sun?
__ A.
Venus.
__ B.
The moons of Jupiter.
__ C.
A star.
__ D.
A comet.
3
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
How does the Milky Way look like in the sky in a dark location?
__ A.
It is not visible without a telescope at all.
__ B.
It is a faint band of hazy light in a strip all around the sky.
__ C.
It is a tiny, faint patch of barely visible light.
__ D.
Like a bright cloud, looks twice as large as the Moon.
What is the most important measure of a telescope?
__ A.
Its diameter.
__ B.
Its focal length.
__ C.
Its resolving power.
__ D.
Its magnification.
The far side of the Moon is
__ A.
always dark.
__ B.
dark for two weeks a month.
__ C.
dark for six month in a row every year.
__ D.
never dark.
Why is it that the constellation of Orion cannot affect events in human life?
__ A.
Because Orion is more than a hundred light years away from us.
__ B.
Because constellations are not real objects.
__ C.
Because the shape of Orion changes very fast.
__ D.
Because Orion is not in the Zodiac.
Who discovered the law of universal gravitation?
__ A.
Johannes Kepler.
__ B.
Nicolaus Copernicus.
__ C.
Galileo Galilei.
__ D.
Isaac Newton.
Which of the following is a cause of weightlessness in a spaceship? (Note that some of the following
statements are incorrect! )
__ A.
There is no air in space.
__ B.
There is no magnetism in space.
__ C.
The rocket engine is working nonstop while the spaceship is in space.
__ D.
The spaceship is not supported on wheels or any other way.
How many spaceships have arrived at the closest star, Proxima Centauri?
__ A.
One, with humans.
__ B.
None.
__ C.
One, without humans.
__ D.
A few people have traveled there in the last decade.
4
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
What provides the energy of the Sun?
__ A.
It turns hydrogen into helium.
__ B.
It turns helium into carbon and oxygen.
__ C.
It is burns hydrogen into water.
__ D.
It is hot and cooling off, slowly giving off its already existing heat.
What is Copernicus famous for?
__ A.
He discovered that the Moon is revolving around Earth.
__ B.
He suggested that the planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun.
__ C.
He discovered the universal law of gravity.
__ D.
He discovered the mathematically precise laws of the motion of the planets.
Why doesn't the Moon fall down?
__ A.
Because the magnetism of earth keeps it.
__ B.
It is falling but it is also moving sideways.
__ C.
Because gravity does not act at such a distance.
__ D.
Because there is no air on the Moon.
Which of the following is a source of radiation? (Radiation is: invisible, energetic particles that can
be damaging to whatever gets in their way.)
__ A.
A strong magnet.
__ B.
A microwave oven.
__ C.
A high-voltage electric power line.
__ D.
A very loud speaker in a concert.
__ E.
None of these.
How large is the Universe?
__ A.
10 million light years
__ B.
10 billion light years
__ C.
10 trillion light years
__ D.
10 light years
How do we know black holes exist when no light can ever leave them?
__ A.
They still have their gravity.
__ B.
They block the llight of stars behind them.
__ C.
Light cannot leave them but radio signals can.
__ D.
They such in all sorts of stars from their vicinity.
5
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
What is a constellation?
__ A.
A bunch of stars held together by their gravity.
__ B.
A bunch of unrelated stars which form a shape due to perspective only.
__ C.
A bunch of stars held together by maganetic forces.
__ D.
A bunch of stars that were formed together.
How are stars, such as the Sun, born?
__ A.
They are erupted from volcanoes.
__ B.
When galaxies blow up.
__ C.
In supernova explosions.
__ D.
From a collapsing gas cloud.
How high does the space shuttle rise above see level?
__ A.
A hundred miles.
__ B.
A few billion miles.
__ C.
A few times ten thousand miles.
__ D.
A few million miles.
Will the Sun turn into a supernova?
__ A.
Yes, in a few hundred thousand years.
__ B.
Yes, in 5 billion years.
__ C.
No.
__ D.
Yes, as soon as it uses up all of its helium.
Which one is correct?
__ A.
Astronomy is the science of stars, astrology is predicting the future.
__ B.
Astrology is the science of stars, astronomy is predicting the future.
What is the largest magnification you would reasonably use with the largest telescope in the world,
located in Mauna Kea, Hawaii?
__ A.
arond 4,000,000
__ B.
around 4,000
__ C.
around 400
__ D.
around 40
How does a star look like in a good telescope?
__ A.
A small disk with a few surface features.
__ B.
A large disk with a lot of surface features.
__ C.
An irregular-shaped patch of light, with a few rays streching out in several directions.
__ D.
A bright dot.
6
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
Astronomy books are full of impressive pictures of deep-sky objects. Why can't we see them as well
in telescopes by visual observation?
__ A.
These pictures were taken from spacecraft, so that the stars are much closer.
__ B.
__ C.
These pictures were taken from spacecraft, so that the atmosphere does not disturb picture
taking.
When these pictures were taken, light was collected for many hours.
__ D.
These pictures were taken with large telescopes which can see much more small detail.
How many stars or planets have been discovered to host intelligent life (aliens; do not count Earth).
__ A.
None.
__ B.
A few.
__ C.
About twenty.
__ D.
Millions.
What is a black hole?
__ A.
A star with very strong gravity.
__ B.
A place where objects can jump from one galaxy to another.
__ C.
A star that is much fainter than its bright companion.
__ D.
A star with no fuel left to shine.
What causes the tides of the sea? (Pick the most important factor.)
__ A.
The magnetism of the Sun.
__ B.
The gravity of the Moon.
__ C.
The gravity of the Sun.
__ D.
The magnetism of the Moon.
What keeps people on the other side of Earth from falling down, away from Earth?
__ A.
The gravitational force between them and Earth.
__ B.
The effect of air.
__ C.
The magnetic force from Earth.
__ D.
People live only on one side of Earth. The other side is covered with oceans.
Which constellation is the closest of all to Earth?
__ A.
The Seven Sisters.
__ B.
Orion.
__ C.
This question makes no sense.
__ D.
Leo.
7
161.
162.
163.
In which of the following circumstances is it impossible for any liquid water to exist?
__ A.
No air pressure.
__ B.
Lack of oxygen in the atmosphere.
__ C.
No gravity.
__ D.
No magnetic field.
When the shape of the Moon is a letter D, the half of the Moon is not visible
__ A.
because the shape of the Moon is not a perfect circle.
__ B.
because the shadow of the Earth covers it.
__ C.
because it is night on that part of the Moon.
__ D.
because the Moon is located opposite to the Sun in the sky at that time.
Every year more than a hundred supernovae are discovered. How does a supernova appear in the sky?
__ A.
Supernovae are invisible, all that is detected is their gravity.
__ B.
It is a star that appears in a galaxy, shines as bright as the galaxy for a few weeks, then it
slowly fades.
It appears as a smoking sphere in a telescope, occasionally spitting out rays of light, and
then moves away from Earth within a few days.
It appears as a bright star zooming across the sky in a few seconds, then it suddenly
vanishes.
__ C.
__ D.
164.
165.
166.
Which of the following takes up most of the Solar System?
__ A.
The Sun
__ B.
Asteroids
__ C.
The planets combined
__ D.
Comets
__ E.
Empty space
What is ultraviolet (UV)?
__ A.
Pieces of dust zooming around in space.
__ B.
A type of light with shorter wavelength than blue.
__ C.
A type of telescope used in astronomy.
__ D.
Dangerous radiation from atomic reactors.
Which one is the closest star?
__ A.
The Sun.
__ B.
The Moon.
__ C.
Mars.
__ D.
Andromeda.
8
167.
What is aurora?
__ A.
Light from the Sun before dawn, scattered in the atmosphere.
__ B.
Light from the Sun before dawn, reflected on the surface of Earth.
__ C.
Light caused by charged particles originating in the Sun, hitting the atmosphere close to the
N and S poles.
Light caused by electric discharge between clouds.
__ D.
168.
Why can we not see the stars during the day?
__ A.
Because the bright blue glow of the sky overwhelms starlight.
__ B.
Because all stars set in the morning, the same way as the Sun sets in the evening. They come
up again after sunset.
Because stars reflect starlight, but during the day stars are not located in opposite direction
from the Sun.
Because the atmosphere of Earth blocks their light during the day.
__ C.
__ D.
169.
170.
171.
172.
What is the best time to observe the Moon early night?
__ A.
At last quarter.
__ B.
At new Moon.
__ C.
At full Moon.
__ D.
At first quarter.
How many galaxies are there in the Solar System?
__ A.
0
__ B.
1
__ C.
10
__ D.
A few thousand.
__ E.
Billions.
Which one is correct?
__ A.
Astrology is science, astronomy is fake.
__ B.
Both astronomy and astrology are branches of science.
__ C.
Astronomy is science, astrology is fake.
Do the laws of nature exclude interstellar travel?
__ A.
No, but we would need much a more effective energy source than we have now.
__ B.
No. In fact unmanned (robotic) spaceships have already visited a few stars.
__ C.
Yes, because the stars are so far away so that travel should take more than a few thousand
years at least.
No. In fact manned spaceships have already visited a few stars.
__ D.
9
173.
174.
175.
Has the big Bang theory been proven?
__ A.
It is uncertain because it is only a theory.
__ B.
It cannot be scientifically proven because it is a question of religious preference.
__ C.
It has been proven correct.
__ D.
It has been proven wrong.
What is the Sun mostly made of?
__ A.
Helium.
__ B.
Hydrogen.
__ C.
Metals.
__ D.
Rock.
__ E.
Oxygen.
What are Kepler's laws?
__ A.
They state the fact that the planets revolve around the Sun is explained by gravity.
__ B.
They state the fact that the planets revolve around the Sun.
__ C.
They derive the revolution of the planets around the Sun with mathematical accuracy from
the law of gravity.
They explain with mathematical accuracy how the planets revolve around the Sun.
__ D.
176.
177.
178.
Why does the Hubble Space Telescope make very good images?
__ A.
Because it can detect infrared radiation that the human eye cannot see.
__ B.
Because its lenses/mirrors are exceptionally good quality.
__ C.
Because it is in space, closer to the stars than we are.
__ D.
Because it is in space where there is no seeing.
Is the Sun smaller or bigger than a star?
__ A.
The Sun is one of the largest stars of all.
__ B.
The Sun is an average star.
__ C.
The Sun is one of the smallest stars of all.
__ D.
The Sun is the center of the Universe.
Why is Polaris special?
__ A.
Because it is the largest star in the sky.
__ B.
Because it is the brightest star in the sky.
__ C.
Because it is actually a planet.
__ D.
Because the axis of Earth points at it.
10
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
Where has the gold we have on Earth originally formed?
__ A.
Inside the Sun.
__ B.
Inside Earth.
__ C.
Inside a supernova.
__ D.
Inside a main sequence star.
How many stars are there in the Solar System?
__ A.
0
__ B.
1
__ C.
10
__ D.
A few thousand.
__ E.
Billions.
What is infrared (IR)?
__ A.
Pieces of dust zooming around in space.
__ B.
A type of telescope used in astronomy.
__ C.
Dangerous radiation from atomic reactors.
__ D.
A type of light with longer wavelength than red.
What is the light of the Milky Way in actual fact?
__ A.
The glow of the upper atmosphere due to cosmic radiation.
__ B.
A reflection of sunlight in Earth's atmosphere.
__ C.
The light of a few billion stars washed together.
__ D.
A reflection of sunlight on interstellar gas.
What instrument do you need to see the Milky Way?
__ A.
A radio antenna.
__ B.
None.
__ C.
Binoculars.
__ D.
A large telescope.
What percentage of the stars (of those that have been investigated) have planets around them?
__ A.
None: all planets revolve around the Sun, not other stars.
__ B.
About half.
__ C.
Only a few out of a hundred.
__ D.
All.
11
185.
186.
187.
188.
Did the Sun exist five thousand light years ago?
__ A.
No.
__ B.
This question makes sense, but no one knows the answer.
__ C.
This question makes no sense.
__ D.
Yes.
Which one is a correct phrasing of Kepler's I law?
__ A.
The shape of the orbit of the planets is an ellipse.
__ B.
A planet swipes equal areas in equal times.
__ C.
__ D.
A planet's distance from its star (a) is related to its period of revolution (T) and the mass of
the star (M) is a3 = M T 2 .
The motion of a planet is maintained by the force of the gravity of the Sun.
__ E.
Planets revolve around the Sun.
Which one is a correct phrasing of Kepler's III law?
__ A.
The shape of the orbit of the planets is an ellipse.
__ B.
A planet swipes equal areas in equal times.
__ C.
__ D.
A planet's distance from its star (a) is related to its period of revolution (T) and the mass of
the star (M) is a3 = M T 2 .
The motion of a planet is maintained by the force of the gravity of the Sun.
__ E.
Planets revolve around the Sun.
Which one is correct?
__ A.
Chemical processes cannot change one chemical element into another.
__ B.
Chemical processes can change one chemical element into another only at exceptionally high
temperature.
There are many common chemical processes that can change one chemical element into
another. These often occur in Nature.
There are many common chemical processes that can change one chemical element into
another. However, these do not occur in Nature, only in chemistry labs.
There is no way to change a chemical element into another at all, whether the process is
chemical or not. Even in atomic reactors chemical elements do not change.
__ C.
__ D.
__ E.
189.
How old is the Sun?
__ A.
4 million years
__ B.
4 billion years
__ C.
4 trillion years
__ D.
4 ,000 years
__ E.
400,000 years
12
190.
191.
192.
The diameter of the Earth is
__ A.
7,500 miles
__ B.
12,000 miles
__ C.
95 million miles
__ D.
4.1 light years
__ E.
14 billion light years
Where do planets get their light?
__ A.
They reflect sunlight.
__ B.
They are hot, so they glow, but they have no energy source inside.
__ C.
They use nuclear processes to keep their glowing heat.
__ D.
They reflect the light they receive from Earth.
__ E.
They use chemical processes to keep their glowing heat.
Why can non-nuclear radiation not affect humans at all? (Note the single exception of solar UV
radiation which causes sunburn.)
__ A.
__ B.
Because each individual particle has too little energy to cause damage, and only one can act at
a time.
Because all non-nuclear radiation is too weak to affect living organisms.
__ C.
Because there is no non-nuclear radiation present on Earth at all.
__ D.
Because there all non-nuclear radiation is electromagnetic, and only magnetizable materials
are affected.
__ E.
193.
194.
To change sulphur into gold, one needs to
__ A.
turn one type of atomic nucleus into another.
__ B.
change the number of electrons in an atom.
__ C.
turn one type of molecule into another.
__ D.
change the crystal structure of the solid substance through heating.
__ E.
use very strong acids.
The properties of chemical processes are explained by the fact that
__ A.
an atom consists of one proton, possibly several neutrons, and several electrons.
__ B.
an atom consists of an almost equal mixture of electrons, protons and neutrons.
__ C.
an atom consists of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.
__ D.
an atom consists of a mixture of electrons and protons.
__ E.
an atom consists of positively charged electrons and negatively charged nucleons.
13
195.
196.
Which direction does the Sun move in the sky from morning to evening?
__ A.
E to S to W
__ B.
E to Straight Up to W
__ C.
E to S to Straight Up to N to W
__ D.
S to N
__ E.
N to S
Laser is
__ A.
light.
__ B.
nuclear radiation.
__ C.
a beam of electrons.
__ D.
unknown radiation.
__ E.
a beam of atoms.
14