ASTRO 101 UMICH ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
ASSURED SUCCESS NEWEST 2026/27
How does light tell us what things are made of
Chemical fingerprints
-- each type of atom has a unique set of energy levels
-- each transition corresponds to a unique photon energy,
frequency, and wavelength
-- downward transitions produce emission lines; upward
transitions produce absorption lines
How does light tell us the temperature of planets and stars
Nearly all large or dense objects emit a continuous spectrum
that depends on temperature
The spectrum of that thermal radiation tells us the object's
temperature
Blue light
Hotter, closer
Red light
Cooler, further
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,Light spectrum from shortest to longest wavelength
Gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared,
microwaves, radio waves
How does light tell us the speed of a distant object
The doppler effect tells us how fast an object is moving toward
or away from us
Closer = higher pitch (blue light)
Further = lower pitch (red light)
Star
Large, glowing ball of gas that generates heat and light
through nuclear fusion
Planet
A moderately large object that orbits a star, ade spherical by
gravity, (mostly) shines by reflected light
Moon (or satellite)
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,An object that orbits a planet
Asteroid
A relatively small and rocky object that orbits a star
Comet
A relatively small and icy object that orbits a star
Solar (star) system
A star and all the material that orbits it, including its planets
and moons
Nebula
Interstellar cloud of gas, ice and dust
Galaxy
A great "island" of stars in space, held together by gravity and
orbiting a common center
Universe
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, The sum total of all matter and energy; that is, everything
within and between all galaxies
The farther away we look in the distance...
The further back we look in time
Light year
The distance light travels in one year, about 6 trillion miles (10
trillion km)
Atoms
Building blocks of all chemical elements
Where do we come form
We are "star stuff"
How we came to be
Big bang, first stars, stellar death, 2nd gen stars
Big bang
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ASSURED SUCCESS NEWEST 2026/27
How does light tell us what things are made of
Chemical fingerprints
-- each type of atom has a unique set of energy levels
-- each transition corresponds to a unique photon energy,
frequency, and wavelength
-- downward transitions produce emission lines; upward
transitions produce absorption lines
How does light tell us the temperature of planets and stars
Nearly all large or dense objects emit a continuous spectrum
that depends on temperature
The spectrum of that thermal radiation tells us the object's
temperature
Blue light
Hotter, closer
Red light
Cooler, further
Page 1 of 38
,Light spectrum from shortest to longest wavelength
Gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared,
microwaves, radio waves
How does light tell us the speed of a distant object
The doppler effect tells us how fast an object is moving toward
or away from us
Closer = higher pitch (blue light)
Further = lower pitch (red light)
Star
Large, glowing ball of gas that generates heat and light
through nuclear fusion
Planet
A moderately large object that orbits a star, ade spherical by
gravity, (mostly) shines by reflected light
Moon (or satellite)
Page 2 of 38
,An object that orbits a planet
Asteroid
A relatively small and rocky object that orbits a star
Comet
A relatively small and icy object that orbits a star
Solar (star) system
A star and all the material that orbits it, including its planets
and moons
Nebula
Interstellar cloud of gas, ice and dust
Galaxy
A great "island" of stars in space, held together by gravity and
orbiting a common center
Universe
Page 3 of 38
, The sum total of all matter and energy; that is, everything
within and between all galaxies
The farther away we look in the distance...
The further back we look in time
Light year
The distance light travels in one year, about 6 trillion miles (10
trillion km)
Atoms
Building blocks of all chemical elements
Where do we come form
We are "star stuff"
How we came to be
Big bang, first stars, stellar death, 2nd gen stars
Big bang
Page 4 of 38
