Download E8B6_CRT_CR_MSTIPS_Final

Content Benchmark E.8.B.6
Students know the Sun is a medium-sized star located in the Milky Way Galaxy, part of which
can be seen as a glowing band of light spanning the clear night sky. W/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Given examples, compare the mass, brightness, and color of the Sun
to other stars.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. From Earth’s position in the Milky Way Galaxy, we are limited to observing the Milky Way
from a view
A. above the galaxy.
B. below the galaxy.
C. edge-on within the galaxy.
D. inside the central core of the galaxy.
2. The diameter of the Sun is
A. 19 times the diameter of Earth.
B. 109 times the diameter of Earth.
C. 1109 times the diameter of Earth.
D. 11,009 times the diameter of Earth.
3. Compared to other stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, the Sun’s diameter places it as one of the
A. micro-sized stars.
B. smallest-sized stars.
C. medium-sized stars.
D. largest-sized stars.
4. The Sun appears to our eyes as the brightest star in the sky because it
A. is visible during daytime, while other stars are visible only at night.
B. has a much hotter temperature than most stars, making it glow brighter.
C. emits yellow light, which is several times brighter than other colors.
D. is far closer than any other star, which makes it look the brightest.
5. Use the picture below to answer the question.
(From http://cass.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/MW.html)
The accompanying picture shows the Milky Way Galaxy stretching from side-to-side across
the mid-section of the photo. Each of the following statements accurately interprets
information which can be observed in the photo EXCEPT
A. more stars exist within the disk of the Milky Way Galaxy than are above or below it.
B. the Milky Way Galaxy contains a range of stars from high temperature to low temperature.
C. the Milky Way Galaxy is a barred-spiral galaxy which has several tentacle-like arms.
D. dense regions of dust and gas block light from stars in portions of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
6. Approximately 5 billion years into the future, the Sun will cease hydrogen fusion and will
begin helium fusion at a substantially higher core temperature. What effect will this change
in fuel have on the Sun’s diameter? The Sun’s diameter will
A. increase, because greater internal pressures expand the surface.
B. decrease, because more mass is burned at higher temperatures.
C. not be affected, because fusion creates only one size of star.
D. fluctuate wildly, because this will change the Sun into a pulsar.
7. Use the picture below to answer the question.
(From http://www.kheper.net/cosmos/stars/stars.htm)
The diagram above depicts stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. The size of the stars is an
indication of how massive they are. The number of stars of each size gives an idea of how
many stars of that mass are in the galaxy. Consider all the stars in the diagram as you answer
the question below. As compared to how massive the other sixty-two stars are, the Sun is
A. near the bottom 10% of stars.
B. near the top 10% of stars.
C. a star of very low mass.
D. a star of very high mass.
8. Use the chart below to answer the question.
(From http://outreach.atnf.csiro.au/education/senior/astrophysics/stellarevolution_hrintro.html)
The accompanying Hertzsprung-Russell diagram depicts the relationship between
temperature and absolute magnitude (brightness) of stars. Use this diagram to answer the
following question. When comparing the Sun to Rigel (see arrows on diagram), it is clear
that
A. the Sun has the same temperature and same absolute magnitude as Rigel.
B. the Sun has a warmer temperature and same absolute magnitude as Rigel.
C. the Sun has a warmer temperature and a higher absolute magnitude than Rigel.
D. the Sun has a cooler temperature and a lesser absolute magnitude than Rigel.
9. The graphic below displays the relationship between a star’s temperature and its color.
(From http://www.nightscapes.net/techniques/TechnicalPapers/StarColors.pdf)
What color would be exhibited by a star with a temperature of around 23,000K?
A. Red
B. Blue
C. White
D. Yellow
10. Use the chart below to answer the question.
(From http://outreach.atnf.csiro.au/education/senior/astrophysics/stellarevolution_hrintro.html)
The accompanying Hertzsprung-Russell diagram depicts the relationship between
temperature and absolute magnitude (brightness) of stars. Use this diagram to answer the
following question. The Sun is a yellow star. Based on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram,
what color would the Sun be if it cooled by 2000K?
A. Red
B. Blue
C. White
D. Yellow
Constructed Response E.8.B.6
1. Use the following table and information to answer the questions below. Brightness of stars is
traditionally expressed as magnitude. The more negative the value of magnitude, the brighter
the star. The more positive the value of magnitude, the dimmer the star. Two types of
magnitude are used when describing the brightness of stars. Apparent Magnitude is how
bright the stars seem as viewed from Earth. Absolute Magnitude is obtained by
mathematically placing all stars 32.62 light years (10 parsecs) from Earth, and calculating
how bright they would appear at that distance.
Star
Name
Sirius
Apparent Absolute Distance from Earth
Magnitude Magnitude
(light years)
-1.46
1.40
8.6
Arcturus
-0.04
0.20
34
Vega
0.03
0.60
25
Rigel
0.12
-8.61
1400
Procyon
0.38
2.60
11.4
Betelgeuse
0.50
-7.20
1400
Deneb
1.25
-7.20
1500
-26.40
4.80
1.58 x 10-5
Sun
(Derived from
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/courses/online/astro/course_documents/light_and_telescopes/light/magni
tude_distance.htm)
A. Using apparent magnitude, identify the brightest star and the dimmest star. Then, using
absolute magnitude, identify the brightest star and the dimmest star
B. Perform the following calculations.
i. Determine the absolute magnitude for the star with the brightest apparent magnitude
and calculate the difference between the two values.
ii. Determine the apparent magnitude for the star with the brightest absolute magnitude
and calculate the difference between the two values.
iii. Determine the absolute magnitude for the star with the dimmest apparent magnitude
and calculate the difference between the two values.
iv. Determine the apparent magnitude for the star with the dimmest absolute magnitude
and calculate the difference between the two values.
C. Compare the results obtained in the calculations above. Discuss why a star of high apparent
magnitude might have a low absolute magnitude and why a star of low apparent magnitude
might have a high absolute magnitude.
Content Benchmark E.8.B.6
Students know the Sun is a medium-sized star located in the Milky Way Galaxy, part of which
can be seen as a glowing band of light spanning the clear night sky. W/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. C, DOK level 1
2. B, DOK level 1
3. C, DOK level 1
4. D, DOK level 1
5. C, DOK level 1
6. A, DOK level 2
7. B, DOK level 2
8. D, DOK level 2
9. B, DOK level 2
10. A, DOK level 2
Constructed Response E.8.B.6 Score Rubric:
3 points
2 points
Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
Based on apparent magnitude, the Sun is the brightest star (-26.40) and
Deneb is the dimmest star (1.25). Absolute magnitude shows Rigel to
be the brightest star (-8.61) and the Sun to be the dimmest star (4.80).
Calculated differences between apparent magnitude and absolute
magnitude are as follows:
Brightest Apparent Magnitude Star (Sun): 31.20
Brightest Absolute Magnitude Star (Rigel): 8.73
Dimmest Apparent Magnitude Star (Deneb): 8.45
Dimmest Absolute Magnitude Star (Sun): 31.20
The biggest difference in magnitudes was 31.20 and is due to the
fact that the Sun is the star with both the brightest apparent
magnitude and dimmest absolute magnitude. The difference in
magnitudes for the brightest absolute star was very similar to the
difference in magnitudes for the dimmest apparent magnitude star;
both of those stars are over 1000 light years from Earth. Comparing
the apparent magnitudes and absolute magnitudes of the stars to
their distance from Earth reveals that low absolute magnitude stars
can appear to be very bright if they are quite close to Earth, while
high absolute magnitude stars can appear to be very dim if they are
quite far from Earth.
Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor
errors.
Response does not address all parts of the question.
1 point
The response is totally incorrect or no response provided.
0 points