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OU ASTR 1514 FINAL EXAM STUDY
GUIDE ACTUAL QUESTIONS 2026 WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS.
1. Which of the following provides the best evidence that the
Milky Way's halo formed before its disk? - correct answer-the
prevalence of Population II stars in the halo
2. Galaxies are classified by their - correct answer-visual
appearance
3. The disks of spiral galaxies appear blue because - correct
answer-they contain active regions of star formation.
4. An elliptical galaxy has: - correct answer-old stars and
random orbits.
5. Why can Type Ia supernovae be used to determine a
galaxy's distance? - correct answer-Most Type Ia
supernovae have approximately the same luminosity.
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6. The Tully-Fisher method of determination of distances to
galaxies is based on the correlation between - correct
answer-rotational speed and luminosity.
7. The spectra of most galaxies tell us that - correct answer-
galaxies appear to be moving away from us.
8. According to Hubble's law, as the distance of a galaxy
____________ its _______________ increases. - correct
answer-increases; velocity away from us
9. Quasars were first discovered in which region of the
electromagnetic spectrum? - correct answer-radio
10. Quasars and AGNs are most likely powered by - correct
answer-accreting supermassive black holes.
11. Why is rapid variability (over the course of weeks) a strong
argument that quasars are powered by supermassive black
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holes? - correct answer-Variability allows astronomers to
estimate the size of the emitting region.
12. We interpret the presence of more quasars in the past
than today to indicate that - correct answer-there were more
galaxy-galaxy interactions in the past.
13. More massive galaxies tend to have __________
supermassive black holes at their centers. - correct answer-
more massive
14. Which physical phenomenon allows astronomers to probe
the Universe's past? - correct answer-the finite speed of light
15. How did the first galaxies in the Universe differ from those
around us today? - correct answer-They were bluer and
much less massive.
16. The cosmological principle says that - correct answer-the
universe is approximately the same everywhere.
OU ASTR 1514 FINAL EXAM STUDY
GUIDE ACTUAL QUESTIONS 2026 WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS.
1. Which of the following provides the best evidence that the
Milky Way's halo formed before its disk? - correct answer-the
prevalence of Population II stars in the halo
2. Galaxies are classified by their - correct answer-visual
appearance
3. The disks of spiral galaxies appear blue because - correct
answer-they contain active regions of star formation.
4. An elliptical galaxy has: - correct answer-old stars and
random orbits.
5. Why can Type Ia supernovae be used to determine a
galaxy's distance? - correct answer-Most Type Ia
supernovae have approximately the same luminosity.
, Page | 2
6. The Tully-Fisher method of determination of distances to
galaxies is based on the correlation between - correct
answer-rotational speed and luminosity.
7. The spectra of most galaxies tell us that - correct answer-
galaxies appear to be moving away from us.
8. According to Hubble's law, as the distance of a galaxy
____________ its _______________ increases. - correct
answer-increases; velocity away from us
9. Quasars were first discovered in which region of the
electromagnetic spectrum? - correct answer-radio
10. Quasars and AGNs are most likely powered by - correct
answer-accreting supermassive black holes.
11. Why is rapid variability (over the course of weeks) a strong
argument that quasars are powered by supermassive black
, Page | 3
holes? - correct answer-Variability allows astronomers to
estimate the size of the emitting region.
12. We interpret the presence of more quasars in the past
than today to indicate that - correct answer-there were more
galaxy-galaxy interactions in the past.
13. More massive galaxies tend to have __________
supermassive black holes at their centers. - correct answer-
more massive
14. Which physical phenomenon allows astronomers to probe
the Universe's past? - correct answer-the finite speed of light
15. How did the first galaxies in the Universe differ from those
around us today? - correct answer-They were bluer and
much less massive.
16. The cosmological principle says that - correct answer-the
universe is approximately the same everywhere.
