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75 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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A light year is shorter than: (a) a year. (b) the distance to the sun. (c) the distance to the nearest star (other than the sun) (d) a century
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(c) the distance to the nearest star
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Which of the following constellations can never be seen from Norman? (a) cassiopeia. (b) Orion. (c) Ursa Minor. (d) Pavo
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(d) Pavo
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The apparent visual magnitude (mv) of Sirius is -1.5 while that of Rigel is +0.1. Which of the follwing is true? (a) Rigel looks brighter than Sirius. (b) Rigel is closer to us than Sirius. (c) Rigel looks redder than Sirius. (d) Sirius looks brighter than Rigel
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(d) Sirius looks brighter than Rigel
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Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse: (a) are all at practically the same distance from us. (b) form the asterism called the "winter triangle." (c) all have practically the same color. (d) are members of the Pleiades cluster.
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(b) form the asterism called the "winter triangle."
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Later this semester, on the date of the vernal equinox: (a) the sun will be above our horizon for 12 hours. (b) the sun will be on the ecliptic. (c) the sun will be on the celestial equator. (d) all of the above are correct.
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(d) all of the above are correct
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From here, Polaris can be seen: (a) only in the fall and spring. (b) 35 degrees above the north horizon. (c) 47 degrees from the celestial equator. (d) only with a telescope.
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(b) 35 degrees above the north horizon
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The third quarter moon sets at: (a) sunrise. (b) midnight. (c). noon. (d) sunset
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(c) noon
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The moon, as viewed from Earth, drifts through the constellations at the rate of: (a) about 1 degree per day. (b) about 13 degrees per day. (c) about 13 degrees per month. (d) none of the above, the moon doesn't drift through the constellations at all.
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(b) about 13 degrees per day
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A billion years from now: (a) Earth's rotation period will be longer. (b) the moon's orbital period will be longer. (c) the tides will be weaker. (d) all of the above are correct
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(d) all of the above are correct
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The maximum length of a total solar eclipse (if you stay at one place) is 7.5: (a) seconds. (b). minutes. (c) hours. (d) days.
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(b) minutes
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This shape could be a: (a) partial lunar eclipse. (b) partial solar eclipse. (c) phase of the moon. (d) any of the above
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(c) phase of the moon
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The heliocentric model of Copernicus didn't work much better than the geocentric model of Ptolemy because: (a) Copernicus's model didn't differ from Ptolemy's model in any significant respect. (b) Copernicus stayed with circles. (c) Copernicus misunderstood Newton's law of gravity. (d) Copernicus was dying when he worked out his model
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(b) copernicus stayed with circles.
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One implication of Kepler's second law (equal areas in equal times) is that: (a) a planet moves in an elliptical orbit with the sun at the center of the major axis of the ellipse. (b) a planet moves in its orbit at constant speed (uniform motion). (c) all planets take the same amount of time to orbit the sun. (d) a planet moves faster when it is close to the sun and slower when it is far from the sun.
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(d) a planet moves faster when it is close to the sun and slower when it is far from the sun
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The first person on Earth to view the phases of Venus was (a) Hipparchus. (b) Aristotle. (c) Tycho Brahe. (d) Galileo
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(d) Galileo
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Newton's first law of motion about inertia, basically says that: (a) once a person has made up her mind, she won't change it. (b) it's not possible to accelerate while going uphill. (c) it takes a force to change a motion. (d) the gravitational force exerted by a bowling ball on a golf ball is greater than the force exerted by the golf ball on the bowling ball.
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(c) it takes a force to change a motion
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A satellite that moves in a circular orbit about Earth: (a) constantly accelerates, straight ahead. (b) constantly accelerates in the opposite direction. (c) constantly accelerates, in the direction toward Earth. (d) does not accelerate at all.
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(c) constantly accelerates, in the direction toward Earth
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Which of the following are in the correct order, starting from long wavelengths? (a) infrared, radio, optical, ultraviolet, gamma-ray, x-ray. (b) optical, infrared, radio, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma-ray. (c) radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma-ray. (d) ultraviolet, infrared, radio, optical, gamma-ray, x-ray.
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(c) radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma-ray.
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A radio photon might have a wavelength of: (a) a meter. (b) a micron. (c) 400 nanometers. (d) 10 nanometers
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(a) a meter
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Which of the following is false? (a) x-rays and radio waves travel at the same speed. (b) an x-ray photon has more energy than a radio photon. (c) the mass of an infrared photon is zero. (d) Earth's atmosphere transmits only the visual part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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(d) Earth's atmosphere transmits only the visual part of the electromagnetic spectrum
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Which of the following is the least concern to an astronomer using a large ground-based telescope? (a) light gathering power. (b) resolving power. (c) magnifying power. (d) atmospheric limitations
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(c) magnifying power.
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The focal arrangement that was used for the first reflecting telescope is called: (a) prime. (b) Newtonian. (c) Cassegrain. (d) coude
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(b) Newtonian
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As a consequence of the tidal interaction between Earth and the moon: (a) the moon rotates on its axis in the same amount of time as it orbits Earth. (b) Earth rotates on its axis in the same amount of time as the moon orbits Earth. (c) both of the above are correct. (d) neither of the above are correct
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(a) the moon rotates on its axis in the same amount of time as it orbits Earth
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The resolving power of a two-dish radio interferometer depends on the: (a) diameter of the dishes. (b) elevation above sea level. (c) distance between the two dishes. (d) amount of turbulence in the atmosphere.
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(c) distance between the two dishes.
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"De Revolutionibus..." was written by: (a) Ptolemy (b) Copernicus (c) Galileo (d) Newton
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(b) Copernicus
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The escape velocity from near the surface of the earth is 11 km/sec. The escape velocity from near the surface of the moon is: (a) 60 km/sec. (b) 11 km/sec. (c) 2.4 km/sec. (d) not yet known
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(c) 2.4 km/sec
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A star that has the same radius as the sun, but whose photosphere has a temperature of 50,000 degrees Kelvin: (a) looks bluer than the sun (assuming that the star is not reddened by interstellar dust). (b) has a higher luminosity than the sun. (c) both of the above. (d) neither of the above.
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(c) both of the above
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A nucleus that contains two protons and one neutron is: (a) 3H (also known as "tritium"). (b) 3He (a stable but rare form of helium). (c) 6Li (an isotope of lithium, the element that has an atomic number of three). (d) impossible
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(b) 3He (a stable but rare form of helium).
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Which of the following is true? (a) an atom with its electron in its "ground state can spontaneously emit a photon as its electron makes a transition to an"excited" state. (b) an atom with its electron in an excited state can spontaneously emit a photon as it electron makes a transition to a less excited state. (c) both of the above are true. (d) neither of the above are true.
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(b)
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A star of spectral type O has weaker absorption lines of neutral hydrogen than a star of spectral type A: (a) but we don't yet know why. (b) because O-type stars contain practically no hydrogen. (c) because hydrogen is all locked up in H2 molecules in the O-type star. (d) because hydrogen is practically all ionized in the O-type star
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(d)
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the sun's chromosphere is: (a) more dense than the photosphere. (b) hotter than the photosphere. (c) thicker than the corona. (d) hotter than the corona
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(b)
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The first step of the proton-proton cycle of hydrogen fusion is:
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(d)
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Which of the following products of hydrogen fusion immediately escapes into space at high velocity? (a) a gamma ray. (b) a neutrino. (c) a positron. (d) a helium nucleus
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(b) a neutrino
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A star that has a parallax of O.1, is at a distance from the sun of: (a) 0.1 parsec (b) 0.1 light years. (c) 10 light years. (d) 10 parsecs
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(d) 10 parsecs.
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If we took a proper census of all stars within 62 parsecs of the sun, we would find that the majority of these stars are: (a) main sequence stars. (b) red giants. (c) supergiants. (d) white dwarfs
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(a) main sequence stars.
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The radius of a typical white dwarf is: (a) larger than the radius of the sun. (b) about the same as the radius of the sun. (c) about the same as the radius of the earth. (d) much smaller than the radius of the earth.
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(c) about the same as the radius of the earth.
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The contraction of a pre-main-sequence star stops when: (a) the central temperature rises to about 10 to the 7th degrees Kelvin. (b) the central density rises to about 10 to the 9th grams per cubic centimeter. (c) the electrons become degenerate. (d) helium begins to fuse.
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(a)
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A reflection nebula looks bluer than the star that illuminates it because the: (a) nebula is hotter than the star. (b) nebula is closer to us than the star. (c) dust in the nebula reflects blue light better than red. (d) dust in the nebula transmits blue light better than red.
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(d) dust in the nebula transmits blue light better than red.
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The main-sequence lifetime of a star that has one solar mass is: (a) 10 to the 7th years. (b) 10 to the 10th years. (c) 10 to the 12th years. (d) unpredictable.
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(b) 10 to the 10th years.
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The processes that make an emission nebula shine are -----, recombination, and cascade: (a) pressurization. (b) fusion. (c) contraction. (d) ionization.
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(d) ionization
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The core of the sun eventually will consist of carbon and oxygen, produced by (a) hydrogen fusion. (b) helium fusion. (c) the CNO cycle. (d) iron disintegration.
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(b) helium fusion.
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The person who received a Nobel prize for the discovery that the maximum mass of a white dwarf is 1.4 solar masses was: (a) Annie Cannon. (b) Henry Norris Russell (c) Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. (d) Albert Einstein
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(c) Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
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The element from which no nuclear energy can be extracted is: (a) nitrogen. (b) neon. (c) iron. (d) uranium
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(c) iron
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Where does the escape velocity exceed the speed of light? (a) at the surface of a white dwarf. (b) at the center of a neutron star. (c) outside the event horizon of a black hole. (d) inside the event horizon of a black hole.
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(d) inside the event horizon of a black hole.
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A single star that has 5 solar masses when it arrives on the main sequence will end up as a: (a) white dwarf. (b) neutron star. (c) black hole. (d) nuclear-powered supernova
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(a) white dwarf.
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If matter flows into a black hole: (a) the radius of the black hole's event horizon increases. (b) the radius of the black hole's event horizon decreases. (c) the radius of the black hole's event horizon doesn't change. (d) the black hole explodes.
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(a) the radius of the black hole's event horizon increases.
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A nuclear-powered supernova involves sudden fusion of: (a) hydrogen near the surface of a white dwarf. (b) helium near the center of a red giant. (c) carbon and oxygen near the center of a white dwarf. (d) iron near the surface of a neutron star.
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(c) carbon and oxygen near the center of a white dwarf.
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If we are to measure the mass of a star, the star must: (a) be on the main sequence. (b) in a binary system. (c) within 62 parsecs of us. (d) pulsating
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(b) in a binary system
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Iron nuclei disintegrate into protons and neutrons: (a) during the main-sequence phase of a massive star. (b) when a black hole explodes. (c) when the core of a massive star undergoes catastrophic collapse. (d) never - iron disintegration is not possible.
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(c) when the core of a massive star undergoes catastrophic collapse.
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Suppose you foolishly step onto a white dwarf that has the mass of the sun but the radius of the Earth. How much will you weigh? (a) the same as you weigh on Earth. (b) 1.4 times more than you weigh on Earth. (c) 300,000 times more than you weigh on Earth. (d) you would be weightless since you would be so far from the gravitational pull of the Earth.
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(c) 300,000 times more than you weigh on Earth.
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The age of the globular clusters in our Galaxy is: (a) about 13 million years. (b) about 13 billion years. (c) too old to estimate. (d) probably infinite.
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(b) about 13 billion years.
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The total mass of the matter that is nearer to the center of our Galaxy than we are is about: (a) 3 thousand solar masses. (b) 3 million solar masses. (c) 100 billion solar masses. (d) 100 trillion solar masses.
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(c) 100 billion solar masses.
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The time required for the sun to complete one orbit around the center of our Galaxy is about: (a) 3x10 to the fifth years. (b) 0.24 Gyr. (c) 4.6 Gyr. (d) 15 Gyr.
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(b) 0.24 Gyr
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the existence of the disk of our Galaxy: (a) is in considerable doubt. (b) was discovered by Harlow Sagittarius. (c) is a consequence of matter flowing out of a monster black hole. (d) is a consequence of the rotation of the gas cloud that contracted to form our Galaxy.
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(d) is a consequence of the rotation of the gas cloud that contracted to form our Galaxy.
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Our Galaxy is: (a) an irregular galaxy. (b) a spiral galaxy. (c) an elliptical galaxy. (d) a dwarf galaxy.
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(b) a spiral galaxy.
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An E0 galaxy looks circular rather than elliptical. What is its true shape? (a) spherical. (b) prolate ellipsoid (like a football). (c) oblate ellipsoid (like an M&M candy). (d) it could be any of the above.
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(d) it could be any of the above.
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If you know the value of the Hubble constant you can: (a) win a Nobel Prize. (b) predict the fate of the cosmic expansion. (c) make a rough estimate of how long the universe has been expanding. (d) solve the flatness problem.
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(c) make a rough estimate of how long the universe has been expanding.
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We observe that the velocities of galaxies, relative to us, are proportional to the distances of the galaxies from us. This particular observation tells us that the observable universe: (a) is centered on us. (b) is undergoing a uniform expansion. (c) has been expanding forever. (d) will eventually contract and finally collapse.
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(b) is undergoing a uniform expansion.
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The main argument for building the Hubble Space Telescope was to use it to: (a) measure distances to galaxies and determine the value of the Hubble constant. (b) watch for violations of the nuclear test ban treaty. (c) search for life on Mars. (d) see through the dust to the center of our Galaxy.
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(a) measure distances to galaxies and determine the value of the Hubble constant.
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We observe quasars only at large distances from us. This tells us that: (a) our Galaxy repels quasars. (b) Quasars are things of the past. (c) quasars are things of the future. (d) the universe does not obey the cosmological principle.
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(b) quasars are things of the past.
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It may be that someone, somewhere, is observing our galaxy and seeing: (a) it as it will be a billion years from now. (b) an elliptical galaxy. (c) an AGN. (d) nothing but a collection of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
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(c) an AGN
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Synchrotron radiation can be emitted by: (a) electrons moving near the speed of light. (b) any electrons. (c) any opaque object. (d) any transparent object.
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(a) electrons moving near the speed of light.
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Which of the following was believed by Einstein? (a) particles that have zero mass must travel faster than the speed of light. (b) if we could travel near the speed of light we could get into the past. (c) if we had better telescopes we could see into the future. (d) there is no absolute standard of rest.
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(d) there is no absolute standard of rest.
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We can: (a) travel through space faster than the speed of light. (b) see the future. (c) get into the past. (d) see the past.
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(d) see the past.
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The Cosmic Microwave Background was emitted: (a) about 10 to the -35 seconds after the big bang. (b) minutes after the big bang. (c) when the temperature of the universe was about 3000 K. (d) when the temperature of the universe was 2.7 K.
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(c) when the temperature of the universe was about 3000 K.
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The assumption that the universe beyond our horizon is much like the universe within our horizon is: (a) the cosmological principle. (b) universality. (c) relativity. (d) obviously wrong
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(a) the cosmological principle
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If the volume of the universe is finite, rather than infinite, then: (a) the age of the universe must be infinite. (b) general relativity must be the correct theory of gravity. (c) space must be curved. (d) the universe does not evolve.
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(c) space must be curved.
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The best way to think about cosmic expansion is: (a) galaxies are moving through space. (b) space is expanding and carrying galaxies with it. (c) the universe is actually static but the light from other galaxies gets tired on its way, loses energy, and therefore appears to be redshifted. (d) it's best not to think about it at all.
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(b) space is expanding and carrying galaxies with it.
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Big-Band nucleosynthesis: (a) took place just a few minutes after the big bang. (b) formed most of the iron in the universe. (c) is still occurring. (d) can be seen in the Hubble Deep Field.
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(a) took place just a few minutes after the big bang.
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At a redshift of one, the universe: (a) was half its present size. (b) did not yet contain galaxies. (c) was not yet expanding. (d) will be twice as old as it is now.
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(b) did not yet contain galaxies.
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The "horizon problem" refers to the fact that: (a) we don't understand why we can't see anything beyond our astronomical horizon. (b) we don't understand we are seeing galaxies beyond our astronomical horizon. (c) the cosmic microwave background is so smooth. (d) the cosmic microwave background is so irregular (non-smooth).
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(c) the cosmic microwave background is so smooth.
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If inflation occurred, then: (a) the cosmic microwave background should be extremely irregular. (b) we should find that on the large scale, space is indistinguishable from flat. (c) it occurred throughout the first three minutes after the big bang. (d) it occurred during a transition from a less symmetrical to a more symmetrical state.
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(b)
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Tiny fluctuations in the brightness of the cosmic microwave background from place to place on the sky tell us that: (a) the early universe was perfectly smooth. (b) the expansion of the universe is currently decelerating. (c) our observations are wrong. (d) space is indistinguishable from flat.
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(d) space is indistinguishable from flat.
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Observations of very remote thermonuclear supernovae indicate that: (a) when the universe was half its present age, light travelled faster than it does now. (b) when the universe was half its present age, it was contracting. (c) the expansion of the universe is decelerating. (d) the expansion of the universe is accelerating.
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(d) the expansion of the universe is accelerating.
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Einstein introduced the cosmological constant into general relativity because he though that the universe was: (a) expanding. (b) contracting. (c) hilarious. (d) static
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(d) static
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In the sun, how is energy transported from the center to the surface? (a) by conduction, all the way. (b) by radiation in the core and by convection in the envelope. (c) by convection in the core and conduction in the envelope. (d) by radiation, all the way.
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(b) by radiation in the core and by convection in the envelope.
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