Nature of Science
A student thinks that there are two variables (X and Y) that may affect the result of her experiment. She decides to change only variable X and let variable Y stay the same. What can the student find out about the effects of variables X and Y?
A. If variable X affects the result of her experiment.
B. If variable Y affects the result of her experiment.
C. If both variables X and Y affect the result of her experiment.
D. She cannot find out if either variable X or variable Y affects the result of her experiment.
A. If variable X affects the result of her experiment.
Edgar reads about the big bang theory of the formation of the universe. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the big bang theory?
A. It explains how the universe formed.
B. It is a claim posed by an individual.
C. It could change as new evidence or information is discovered.
D. It is supported by scientific evidence and is agreed upon in the scientific community
B. It is a claim posed by an individual.
Manuel learned how scientists use models to understand the natural world. He learned that even though some models are very simple, they still can be helpful. To demonstrate this point, Manuel built a model showing Earth and the Sun and showed it to the class. The diagram below shows what Manuel constructed.
What is a benefit of Manuel’s model in helping others in the class understand the universe?
A. The model describes how Earth receives solar energy.
B. The model indicates the relative size of Earth and the Sun.
C. The model indicates the distance between Earth and the Sun.
D. The model describes the orbit that Earth follows around the Sun.
B. The model indicates the relative size of Earth and the Sun.
Daniela is stargazing with her grandmother. Daniela's grandmother points out a star called Rigel Kentaurus, which she says is one of the closest stars to our solar system. Daniela's grandmother tells her that Riel Kentaurus is about 4.2 light-years away. Which of the following is the correct way for Daniela to understand this information?
A. A beam of light traveling from Earth to Rigel Kentaurus would take a little more than 4 years to get there.
B. The diameter of Rigel Kentaurus is just about four times bigger than the diameter of our Sun.
C. It takes a little more than 4 years for Rigel Kentaurus to make one orbit around the center of the galaxy.
D. The light coming from Rigel Kentaurus is approximately four times brighter than the light from our Sun.
A. A beam of light traveling from Earth to Rigel Kentaurus would take a little more than 4 years to get there.
Stephanie is listening to the news and hears that Earth has recently experienced an increase in radiation from the Sun. She might reasonably conclude that what occurred recently on the Sun to result in this increase in radiation?
A. An increase in solar flares.
B. An increase in the Sun’s mass.
C. A slowing of the Sun’s rotation.
D. An increase in the height of prominences.
A. An increase in solar flares.
A chemist took part in a mission to the moon and discovered a new element present on the surface and classifies it. What method is he most likely to use to in his pursuit of scientific explanation?
A. He uses experimentation.
B. He collects samples from the surface.
C. He compares its properties to other elements he knows.
D. He measures it and draws a model for its chemical composition
C. He compares its properties to other elements he knows.
The universe contains galaxies, planets, stars, and solar systems. Which of the following statements is most true?
A. Not all galaxies contain stars.
B. Not all stars are a part of the Universe.
C. Our solar system contains several stars.
D. Our solar system contains only one star.
D. Our solar system contains only one star.
Which of the following accurately presents the hierarchy, from largest to smallest components?
A. Galaxy → universe → solar systems → planets
B. Universe → galaxies → solar systems → planets
C. Galaxy → solar systems → universes → planets
D. Solar systems → universe → galaxies → planet
B. Universe → galaxies → solar systems → planets
Makayla is describing how far away the nearest galaxy is from the Milky Way. Because she is describing distances between extremely large objects, like galaxies, Makayla must use which of the following units of distance?
A. Astronomical Unit
B. Kilometer
C. Light-year
D. Parsec
C. Light-year
Which of the following correctly orders the Sun’s layers from the innermost layer to the outermost layer?
A. Core, Convective Zone, Radiative Zone, Corona, Chromosphere
B. Core, Radiative Zone, Convective Zone, Chromosphere, Corona
C. Corona, Chromosphere, Convective Zone, Radiative Zone, Core
D. Corona, Convective Zone, Radiative Zone, Chromosphere, Core
B. Core, Radiative Zone, Convective Zone, Chromosphere, Corona
Many telescopes have been launched into orbit around Earth or sent out into deep space. What is an advantage of using these telescopes rather than an Earth-bound telescope to gather images?
A. Orbiting telescopes usually last longer because it is cold in deep space.
B. Telescopes launched into space are usually smaller than the ones found on Earth.
C. The images are usually clearer because they do not have to look through our atmosphere.
D. It is easier for scientists to make adjustments to an orbiting telescope than to a fixed telescope.
C. The images are usually clearer because they do not have to look through our atmosphere.
Which of the following best identifies a difference between apparent magnitude and absolute brightness in stars?
A. Two stars can have the same absolute brightness but different apparent magnitudes, depending on how far away they are.
B. The absolute brightness of a star will remain constant over the life of a star, but its apparent magnitude will change daily.
C. The measurement of the absolute brightness of a star depends on the position of the observer; apparent magnitude does not.
D. Absolute brightness is always given as a numerical value; apparent magnitude has no numeric value.
A. Two stars can have the same absolute brightness but different apparent magnitudes, depending on how far away they are.
The universe is composed of billions of galaxies close to and far from the Milky Way. Evidence that all distant galaxies are moving further from our position on Earth is found from which of the following?
A. The shapes of the different galaxies
B. Shifts in the spectra received on Earth
C. Information about the orbit of other planets
D. Data collected on the composition of stars
B. Shifts in the spectra received on Earth
Which of the following is the most accurate description of all known spaces?
A. The universe contains billions of galaxies, and each galaxy contains billions of stars.
B. The galaxy contains thousands of universes, and each universe contains millions of stars.
C. The universe contains hundreds of galaxies, and each galaxy contains thousands of stars.
D. The galaxy contains hundreds of universes, and each universe contains thousands of stars.
A. The universe contains billions of galaxies, and each galaxy contains billions of stars.
What property of the Sun is illustrated by the model below?
A. How strong the magnetic fields are
B. How the radiative and convective zones work
C. How long it takes for sunspots and solar flares to form
D. How the sun rotates faster at the equator than the poles
D. How the sun rotates faster at the equator than the poles
Being the hub of space exploration, people from different parts of the world move to Florida. What effect will this have in Florida?
A. Increases in cultures
B. Decrease in employment
C. Decrease in tourism
D. Increase in financial debt
A. Increases in cultures
The Hertz-Sprung Russell diagram is used for classifying stars based on the relationship between their brightness and their temperature and color. Which of the following is a trend among the main sequence stars?
A. Most of the stars are white or red.
B. The larger stars emit light that is blue.
C. The hotter the star, the more brightly it burns.
D. Stars dimmer than the Sun are always smaller and cooler.
C. The hotter the star, the more brightly it burns.
Distances in space are vast. Why is it necessary to use units, such the light-year and astronomical units, when discussing characteristics of the universe? Provide an example of an appropriate time to use a light-year and astronomical unit.
Because of the distances, Scientists developed the astronomical unit to measure distances between the planets in our Solar System. Scientists also developed light-years to measure objects in the galaxy and beyond!
Which of the following best describes a galaxy?
A. A collection of all matter that exists.
B. A particle of debris in the solar system that does not act as a satellite of any planet.
C. A visible body of liquid or frozen droplets suspended above a planetary surface.
D. A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity.
D. A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity.
True or False:
The Sun is the center of our Solar System.
True
The earth spins on an....
AXIS
Based on the H-R diagram, which star is brighter than our Sun but has a lower temperature?
A. Sirius A
B. Sirius B
C. Aldebaran
D. Alpha Centauri B
C. Aldebaran
TRUE OR FALSE:
It takes 24 hours or 1 day for the EARTH to complete an entire ROTATION or SPIN.
TRUE!
Ricardo is researching celestial bodies in space. He describes a set of objects as relatively small and that have a gaseous, or solid, rocky surface. What is Ricardo researching?
A. Planets
B. Stars
C. Galaxies
D. Solar Systems
A. Planets
The path around the Earth around the sun is the Earth's...
ORBIT