Nature of Science
What does an astronomer study?
space
What is a light year?
The distance it takes for light to travel in one year
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.
A. The universe contains billions of galaxies, and each galaxy contains billions of stars.
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
What is at the center of our solar system?
A. the sun
B. Earth
C. Saturn
A. the sun
For an experiment, a student 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.
A. If variable X affects the result of her experiment.
If a star is 4.2 light years away, how long would it take for its light to reach us?
A little over 4 years
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 massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity.
C. A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity.
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.
What is the name of our galaxy?
The milky way
What is a benefit of the model in helping others 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.
When measuring the distance from Earth to a galaxy, which unit should we use?
Astronomical units or light years?
light years
Which of the following accurately presents the hierarchy, from largest to smallest?
A. Galaxy → universe → solar systems → planets
B. Universe → galaxies → solar systems → planets
C. Galaxy → solar systems → universes → planets
B. Universe → galaxies → solar systems → planets
What property of the Sun is illustrated by the model?
A. How the radiative and convective zones work
B. How long it takes for sunspots and solar flares to form
C. How the sun rotates faster at the equator than the poles
C. How the sun rotates faster at the equator than the poles
What is the name of a dwarf planet in our solar system?
Pluto
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.
When measuring the distance from the Earth to Saturn, which unit of measurement would we use?
Astronomical units or light years?
Astronomical units
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
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.
A. An increase in solar flares.
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
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.
Why do we not use kilometers in space?
It is too small of a unit of measurement
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 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
B. Core, Radiative Zone, Convective Zone, Chromosphere, Corona
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