The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang refers to the origin of which of the following?
A. Earth
B. Our solar system
C. The Milky Way galaxy
D. The universe
D. The universe
Our solar system is part of what galaxy?
A. Alpha Centauri galaxy
B. Betelgeuse galaxy
C. Milky Way galaxy
D. Andromeda galaxy
C. Milky Way galaxy
Which of the following terms is used to indicate the average distance between the Sun and Earth?
A. parsec
B. newton
C. light-year
D. astronomical unit
C. light-year
The motion of objects within galaxies is governed by
A. the force of magnetism.
B. the force of gravity.
C .the force of friction.
D. the force of tension.
B. the force of gravity.
Darren looks up at night and sees a bright object with a tail moving quickly across the sky. What is the most likely object that Darren saw?
A. an asteroid
B. a meteor
C. a comet
D. a cupid
C. a comet
The Big Bang Theory is how astronomers explain the formation of the universe.
True or False
True
Which of the following contains Earth's galaxy as well as many other galaxies?
A. nebula
B. Milky Way
C. the Local Group
D. a black hole
B. Milky Way
Why are the inner planets called terrestrial?
A. They have no atmosphere.
B. They are small and highly dense.
C. They have Earthlike oceans.
D. They are visible from Earth.
B. They are small and highly dense.
How are stars held together?
A.ionic forces
B. magnetic forces
C. electrical forces
D. gravitational forces
D. gravitational forces
The bright streak of light that we call a shooting star is actually
A. a meteoroid going through radioactive decay.
B. a meteoroid disturbing Earth's magnetic field.
C. a meteoroid reflecting the Sun's rays to Earth.
D. a meteoroid entering the atmosphere and burning up.
D. a meteoroid entering the atmosphere and burning up.
Which of these experiments would best replicate the big bang theory?
A. Dropping fragments of metal into a magnetized box
B. Turning on an underwater speaker in a water tank
C. Exploding a tightly packed substance inside a vacuum
D. Shaking sand particles in a mixture of oil and water
C. Exploding a tightly packed substance inside a vacuum
Which of the following is the correct order of these structures from largest to smallest?
A. Universe, solar system, galaxy, planet
B. universe, galaxy, solar system, planet
C. solar system, universe, planet, galaxy
D. planet, galaxy, solar system, universe
B. universe, galaxy, solar system, planet
Which statement best describes the differences between the inner planets and the outer planets?
A. The inner planets are large, gaseous bodies, while the outer planets are small, solid, rocky bodies.
B. The inner planets are small, solid, rocky bodies, while the outer planets are large, gaseous bodies.
C. The inner planets are collections of frozen gas and rocky particles, while the outer planets are fragments of rock.
D. The inner planets have thick, poisonous atmospheres, while the outer planets have no atmospheres at all.
B. The inner planets are small, solid, rocky bodies, while the outer planets are large, gaseous bodies.
Why do planets orbit the Sun?
A.The planets are drawn to the Sun's magnetic poles.
B. The planets are drawn to the Sun because there is no weight in space.
C. The planets are held in orbit by the gases from the Sun.
D. The planets are held in orbit because of the gravity created by the Sun.
D. The planets are held in orbit because of the gravity created by the Sun.
Which of the following is another name for meteors?
A. comets
B. shooting stars
C. meteorites
D. space fireballs
B. shooting stars
Scientists have documented that galaxies they observe seem to be moving farther away. Which concept best explains this?
A. Black holes because an unseen force is pulling objects away from the center of the universe
B. Big bang theory because the universe exploded from a single point in space and is always expanding
C. Gravitational force because objects are being drawn toward the edges of the universe
D. Solar system because the mass of the Sun pushes other galaxies away
B. Big bang theory because the universe exploded from a single point in space and is always expanding
Which of the following is NOT a part of our solar system?
A.the Sun
B. the Milky Way
C. Jupiter
D. Orion's Belt
D. Orion's Belt
Which of the following planets is NOT a gas giant?
A. Saturn
B. Neptun
C. Mars
D. Jupiter
C. Mars
The planet Jupiter has dozens of moons. The moons orbit Jupiter because Jupiter
A. exerts a greater gravitational pull than any of its moons.
B. goes through more phases than any of its moons.
C. tilts more on its axis than any of its moons.
D. has a smaller orbit than any of its moons.
A. exerts a greater gravitational pull than any of its moons.
Which of the following are closely monitored by scientists in order to avoid a potential collision?
A. planets
B. meteorites
C. asteroids
D. satellites
B. meteorites
What evidence exists to support the big bang theory?
A.Earth orbits the Sun.
B.Earth rotates on its axis.
C.The universe is still constantly expanding.
D.All objects in the universe are always growing.
C. The universe is still constantly expanding.
In which galaxy and in which location can Earth's solar system be found?
A. at the edge of the irregular Andromedanear
B. the central bulge of the elliptical Milky Way
C. at the tip of one of Andromeda's spiral arms
D. in the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms
D. in the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms
Which planets are considered to be gas giants?
A. Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus
B. Neptune, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter
C. Saturn, Mercury, Earth, Venus
D. Uranus, Jupiter, Mars, Earth
A. Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus
Within the solar system, planets orbit the Sun. What causes planets to orbit the Sun rather than the Sun to orbit the planets?
A. The Sun has a greater diameter than the planets.
B. The Sun has a greater mass than the planets.
C. The Sun is the center of the solar system.
D. The Sun is the center of the universe.
B. The Sun has a greater mass than the planets.
What causes a meteor shower?
A. Earth passes through the orbit of a comet.
B. A large asteroid comes near Earth.
C. Small asteroids come near Earth.
D. Earth enters the Oort cloud.
A. Earth passes through the orbit of a comet.