Astronomy Exam Questions With Complete Solutions.
Rank the galaxies from left to right based on the amount of time it has taken their
light to travel to Earth, from the longest time to the shortest time:
5 billion light-years
800 million light-years
10 billion light-years
230 million light-years
2 billion light-years
70 million light-years
10 billion light years, 5 billion light years, 2 billion light years, 800 million light years, 230
million light years, 70 million light years
Rank the galaxies from left to right based on the age of the universe at the time
these galaxies emitted the light we receive from them today, from oldest (closest
to today) to youngest (further back in time)
5 billion light-years
800 million light-years
10 billion light-years
230 million light-years
2 billion light-years
70 million light-years
70 million light years, 230 million light years, 800 million light years, 2 billion light years,
5 billion light years, 10 billion light years
an astronomical unit is:
a. Earth's average distance from the sun
b. any large astronomical distance
c. any planet's average distance from the sun
d. none of the above
a
,The star Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. If it explodes tonight,
a. we won't know about it until 600 years from now
b. we'll know it immediately because it will be brighter than the full moon in the
sky
c. we'll know because debris from the explosion will rain down on us from space
d. none of the above
a
which of the following correctly lists our "cosmic address" from small to large?
a. Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster,
universe
b. Earth, solar system, local group, local supercluster, milky way galaxy, universe
c. Earth, milky way galaxy, solar system, local group, local supercluster, universe
a
The fact that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, with more distant ones
moving faster, helped us to conclude that:
a. the universe is expanding
b. galaxies repel each other like magnets
c. our galaxy lies near the center of the universe
a
Put the following into perspective: the size of our solar system; the distance to
nearby stars; the size of the Milky Way Galaxy; the size of the observable
universe. Rank from largest to smallest.
The Milky Way Galaxy
Distances to nearby stars
The observable universe
Solar System
The observable universe, milky way galaxy, distances to nearby stars, solar system
Consider the indicated events in the history of the universe that have helped to
make human life possible. Rank the events based on when they occurred, from
longest ago to most recent.
earliest life on earth
, earliest humans
the universe begins to expand
elements such as carbon and oxygen first exist
dinosaurs go extinct
the big bang
nuclear fusion begins in the sun
1. universe begins to expand and the big bang
2. elements such as carbon and oxygen first exist
3. nuclear fusion begins in the sun
4. earliest life on earth
5. dinosaurs go extinct
6. earliest humans
According to current scientific estimates, when did the Big Bang occur?
about 14 billion years ago
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a
single year, about when did Earth form?
a. very early in January
b. in mid-February
c. in June
d. in early September
e. in mid-December
d
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a
single year, about when did life arise on Earth?
a. in late January
b. in mid-August
c. in September
d. in mid-December
e. just a few hours before midnight on December 31
c
Rank the galaxies from left to right based on the amount of time it has taken their
light to travel to Earth, from the longest time to the shortest time:
5 billion light-years
800 million light-years
10 billion light-years
230 million light-years
2 billion light-years
70 million light-years
10 billion light years, 5 billion light years, 2 billion light years, 800 million light years, 230
million light years, 70 million light years
Rank the galaxies from left to right based on the age of the universe at the time
these galaxies emitted the light we receive from them today, from oldest (closest
to today) to youngest (further back in time)
5 billion light-years
800 million light-years
10 billion light-years
230 million light-years
2 billion light-years
70 million light-years
70 million light years, 230 million light years, 800 million light years, 2 billion light years,
5 billion light years, 10 billion light years
an astronomical unit is:
a. Earth's average distance from the sun
b. any large astronomical distance
c. any planet's average distance from the sun
d. none of the above
a
,The star Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. If it explodes tonight,
a. we won't know about it until 600 years from now
b. we'll know it immediately because it will be brighter than the full moon in the
sky
c. we'll know because debris from the explosion will rain down on us from space
d. none of the above
a
which of the following correctly lists our "cosmic address" from small to large?
a. Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster,
universe
b. Earth, solar system, local group, local supercluster, milky way galaxy, universe
c. Earth, milky way galaxy, solar system, local group, local supercluster, universe
a
The fact that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, with more distant ones
moving faster, helped us to conclude that:
a. the universe is expanding
b. galaxies repel each other like magnets
c. our galaxy lies near the center of the universe
a
Put the following into perspective: the size of our solar system; the distance to
nearby stars; the size of the Milky Way Galaxy; the size of the observable
universe. Rank from largest to smallest.
The Milky Way Galaxy
Distances to nearby stars
The observable universe
Solar System
The observable universe, milky way galaxy, distances to nearby stars, solar system
Consider the indicated events in the history of the universe that have helped to
make human life possible. Rank the events based on when they occurred, from
longest ago to most recent.
earliest life on earth
, earliest humans
the universe begins to expand
elements such as carbon and oxygen first exist
dinosaurs go extinct
the big bang
nuclear fusion begins in the sun
1. universe begins to expand and the big bang
2. elements such as carbon and oxygen first exist
3. nuclear fusion begins in the sun
4. earliest life on earth
5. dinosaurs go extinct
6. earliest humans
According to current scientific estimates, when did the Big Bang occur?
about 14 billion years ago
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a
single year, about when did Earth form?
a. very early in January
b. in mid-February
c. in June
d. in early September
e. in mid-December
d
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a
single year, about when did life arise on Earth?
a. in late January
b. in mid-August
c. in September
d. in mid-December
e. just a few hours before midnight on December 31
c
