Question 1
The final stage of evolution of the most massive stars is a:
Answer
- black hole.
- main-sequence star.
- red giant.
- white dwarf.
Question 2
Based on the observed red shifts in the spectral lines of distant galaxies, astronomers conclude that:
Answer
- Earth is the center of the universe.
- the universe is contracting.
- the universe is expanding.
- the universe is in a steady state.
Question 3
Which of the following astronomers derived two basic laws of planetary motion, then later added a third?
Answer
- Galileo
- Kepler
- Copernicus
- Brahe
Question 4
The discovery that the universe appears to be expanding led to a widely accepted theory called:
Answer
- the Big Bang.
- Hubble's Law.
- Einstein's Law.
- the Doppler Effect.
Question 5
__________ galaxies are sometimes called dwarf galaxies, being typically smaller than spiral galaxies.
Answer
- Elliptical
- Irregular
- Normal
- Barred
Question 6
__________ has a hot, turbulent atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide.
Answer
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Mercury
- Venus
Question 7
Which theory held that the Earth was a sphere that stayed motionless at the center of the universe?
Answer
- Geocentric
- Big Bang
- Stationary
Question 8
According to the Ptolemaic (Greek) model of the universe, how many "heavenly" bodies could be observed wandering along the background of stars?
Answer
Question 9
Which main-sequence stars are the least massive?
Answer
Question 10
Which of the following is a FALSE statement?
Answer
Stars that appear the brightest are of the first magnitude, while the faintest stars visible to the unaided eye are of the sixth magnitude.
Most stars have such small parallax shifts that accurate measurement is always possible.
Stellar parallax is the extremely slight back-and-forth shifting in the apparent position of a nearby star due to the orbital motion of the Earth.
Emission nebulae are gaseous masses that consist largely of hydrogen.
Question 11
Describe the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram. How is it useful in classifying stars? Where do stars tend to cluster on the diagram? Where on the H-R diagram does a star spend most of its life?
Answer
Question 12
Discuss stellar evolution (describing each stage in brief). What forces are opposing one another throughout the life of a star and how do they influence the various stages in the life cycle of a star?