Astronomy Practice Exam Quiz! Trivia
.
- 1.
In order to gather information about Mars, NASA has several satellites and rovers collecting information about the surface and its features. Mars Global Survey collected several spectra samples from the surface of Mars (Spectra A, B, C). Spectra of samples are pictured. What elements are present in spectra A?
- A.
Sodium and Lithium
- B.
Hydrogen and Lithium
- C.
Sodium and Helium
- D.
Hydrogen and Helium
Correct Answer
A. Sodium and Lithium -
- 2.
In order to gather information about Mars, NASA has several satellites and rovers collecting information about the surface and its features. Mars Global Survey collected several spectra samples from the surface of Mars (Spectra A, B, C). Which element is detected in all three samples?
- A.
Helium
- B.
Hydrogen
- C.
Sodium
- D.
Lithium
Correct Answer
D. Lithium -
- 3.
What is the currently accepted theory for the formation of the moon?
- A.
The moon formed by spinning off the Earth early in history
- B.
The moon formed at the same time as Earth
- C.
The moon was captured by the Earth’s gravity
- D.
The moon formed from a collision between another body and the Earth
Correct Answer
D. The moon formed from a collision between another body and the Earth -
- 4.
There are many hazards to consider when faced with the challenges of colonizing the moon. Check all of the hazards that apply to moon colonization.
- A.
Lack of food and resources
- B.
Radiation exposure
- C.
Never being able to return to Earth
- D.
Extreme temperature fluctuations
- E.
Lack of liquid water
Correct Answer(s)
A. Lack of food and resources
B. Radiation exposure
D. Extreme temperature fluctuations
E. Lack of liquid water -
- 5.
In a young solar system, new materials are added to planets by
- A.
Convection
- B.
Impacts and collisions of smaller objects
- C.
Nuclear fusion
- D.
supernovas
Correct Answer
B. Impacts and collisions of smaller objects -
- 6.
Leftovers from the formation of the solar system include
- A.
Asteroids
- B.
Meteorites
- C.
Comets
- D.
Moons
Correct Answer(s)
A. Asteroids
B. Meteorites
C. Comets
D. Moons -
- 7.
Which depicts the best representation of largest to smallest when considering the scale and structure of the universe?
- A.
Galaxy, nebula, solar system, star
- B.
Galaxy, star, nebula, solar system
- C.
Star, solar system, nebula, galaxy
- D.
Solar system, nebula, star, galaxy
Correct Answer
A. Galaxy, nebula, solar system, star -
- 8.
Which of the following is true when comparing the lifecycle of the sun as pictured to that of a massive star?
- A.
The sun will eventually form a black hole
- B.
Both stars will supernova
- C.
The sun will contract white dwarf
- D.
Both may turn into neutron stars
Correct Answer
C. The sun will contract white dwarf -
- 9.
What can you infer about the temperature of the sun as it goes through its lifecycle?
- A.
The temperature of the sun will increase with age
- B.
The temperature will fluctuate as the sun goes through different stages
- C.
The temperature of the sun will remain constant
- D.
The temperature will decrease with age
Correct Answer
B. The temperature will fluctuate as the sun goes through different stages -
- 10.
Using the chart, infer the temperature the sun will be when it is in the white dwarf stage.
- A.
Over 30,000 K
- B.
7500-10,000 K
- C.
6000 - 7500 K
- D.
3700 -5200 K
Correct Answer
B. 7500-10,000 K -
- 11.
What determines whether a main sequence star becomes a black hole or a black dwarf?
- A.
The age of the star
- B.
Where the star forms
- C.
The mass of a star
- D.
Whether it has planets or not
Correct Answer
C. The mass of a star -
- 12.
As the mass of a star increases, which of the following paths is a star most likely to follow?
- A.
There is no relationship between mass and the path of a star
- B.
Main sequence, red giant, white dwarf, black dwarf
- C.
Main sequence, supergiant, supernova, black hole
- D.
Main sequence, supergiant, white dwarf, black dwarf
Correct Answer
C. Main sequence, supergiant, supernova, black hole -
- 13.
The horsehead nebula is a cold, dark cloud of gas. What would have to happen to a nebula in order to form a star and solar system? Check all that apply.
- A.
The nebula must collapse
- B.
The nebula rotates and flattens into a disk
- C.
The gas particles in the center gain energy and heat up
- D.
Nebulas are not related to solar system formation
Correct Answer(s)
A. The nebula must collapse
B. The nebula rotates and flattens into a disk
C. The gas particles in the center gain energy and heat up -
- 14.
If a star has a temperature of about 6500 K and an absolute magnitude of +3, what kind of star is it?
- A.
Blue Star
- B.
Yellow star
- C.
Red dwarf
- D.
Supergiant
- E.
White dwarf
Correct Answer
B. Yellow star -
- 15.
In a star like our sun, what sequence of letters from the HR diagram best depicts its lifecycle?
- A.
B-A-C
- B.
D-A-C
- C.
D-E-A
- D.
E-A-B
Correct Answer
B. D-A-C -
- 16.
There is a balance between the force of gravity and the force of the reaction from fusion that keeps a star stable, which is called hydrostatic equilibrium. What could happen if this relationship becomes unbalanced?
- A.
The star may break free of its galaxy
- B.
Helium atoms begin breaking apart
- C.
Stars never lose hydrostatic equilibrium
- D.
The star may supernova due to an increased energy of fusion of heavier elements
Correct Answer
D. The star may supernova due to an increased energy of fusion of heavier elements -
- 17.
Based on the data given, what inference can you make about sunspots?
- A.
Although sunspots follow a predictable pattern, there is no connection of sunspots and solar storms.
- B.
Solar storms were probably more prevalent in 1980 than in 1910
- C.
Solar storms were probably more prevalent in 1965 than in 1935
- D.
Sunspots follow an unpredictable cycle
Correct Answer
B. Solar storms were probably more prevalent in 1980 than in 1910 -
- 18.
Based on the data given, what prediction would you make for sunspot numbers in the year 2000?
- A.
You cannot predict the number of sunspots based on the given data
- B.
Sunspots would be at the midrange mark, possibly from 50-100 sunspots
- C.
Sunspots would be near a maximum, with over 100 sunspots.
- D.
Sunspots would be hovering at or near the zero mark
Correct Answer
C. Sunspots would be near a maximum, with over 100 sunspots. -
- 19.
A solar flares are the result of the release of magnetic energy that has built up in the sun’s atmosphere. Solar flares emit radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays. This radiation is blasted from the surface of the sun and travels throughout space. Based on the information given, what effects would you expect to see on Earth from strong solar flares?
- A.
Power and electrical disturbances
- B.
Problems with radio communications
- C.
Satellite and cell phone disturbances
- D.
Changes in the rotation of Earth
Correct Answer(s)
A. Power and electrical disturbances
B. Problems with radio communications
C. Satellite and cell phone disturbances -
- 20.
If a massive star like a blue star is 7,300,000 years old, what element is most likely being created from fusion?
- A.
Iron
- B.
Silicon
- C.
Carbon
- D.
Hydrogen
Correct Answer
C. Carbon -
- 21.
Our sun is predicted to last about 13 billion years, much longer than a blue giant star. What best describes the reason for the sun’s longer life span?
- A.
Due to the sun’s lower mass, it fuses hydrogen at a slower rate than a blue giant star
- B.
The sun will have a similar life span to a blue giant star
- C.
Due to the sun’s lower mass, it fuses hydrogen at a faster rate
- D.
Due to the sun’s higher mass, it fuses hydrogen at a slower rate
Correct Answer
A. Due to the sun’s lower mass, it fuses hydrogen at a slower rate than a blue giant star -
- 22.
Which descriptions below, best describe fusion as it happens in our sun?
- A.
Hydrogen and oxygen atoms undergo a combustion reaction
- B.
Hydrogen atoms combine to make helium atoms
- C.
Helium atoms split apart to form hydrogen atoms
- D.
Hydrogen and oxygen atoms combine to make water molecules
Correct Answer
B. Hydrogen atoms combine to make helium atoms -
- 23.
Edwin Hubble used the Doppler effect to determine that the Universe is expanding. He found that light from distant galaxies was shifted toward lower frequencies or the red end of the spectrum. Based on the spectrums, which of the galaxies are moving away from earth?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
None
Correct Answer(s)
B. 2
C. 3 -
- 24.
Which Galaxy is moving the fastest from earth?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
Speed cannot be determined from the information given
Correct Answer
C. 3 -
- 25.
The graph demonstrates Hubble’s Law by comparing the speed a galaxy is traveling (relative to the earth) to its distance from earth. Which best describes the relationship seen on the graph?
- A.
As the distance of a galaxy from earth increases, its speed decreases
- B.
As the distance of a galaxy from earth decreases, its speed increases
- C.
As the distance of a galaxy from earth increases, its speed increases
- D.
There is no relationship between galaxy speed and distance
Correct Answer
C. As the distance of a galaxy from earth increases, its speed increases -
- 26.
If a galaxy is traveling 17,000 km/s, what would you predict its distance from earth to be?
- A.
90 million light years
- B.
100 million light years
- C.
120 million light years
- D.
You cannot determine distance of a galaxy from the information given
Correct Answer
B. 100 million light years -
- 27.
What was contained in the singularity that gave rise to the Big Bang?
- A.
Electrons in a highly excited state
- B.
Gamma rays
- C.
All the mass, energy and time in the universe
- D.
One atom of every element in our universe
Correct Answer
C. All the mass, energy and time in the universe -
- 28.
What does the initial moments after the Big Bang have in common with our universe today?
- A.
The universe was extremely hot then and it is still extremely hot now
- B.
The universe then could not sustain life then and cannot sustain life now
- C.
All the stars, galaxies, and planets that exist today were formed just a few moments after the Big Bang
- D.
The universe began expanding then and is still expanding today
Correct Answer
D. The universe began expanding then and is still expanding today -
- 29.
Cosmic Background Radiation, discovered in the 1960’s, was determined to be leftover energy from The Big Bang. How does the existence of Cosmic Background Radiation support the Big Bang Theory?
- A.
The universe is at a steady state and doesn’t change temperature
- B.
The early universe was exceptionally hot and as it expands, the gas within it cools
- C.
The universe expands and contracts causing periods of warming and cooling
- D.
The early universe was at frigid temperatures and rose over time
Correct Answer
B. The early universe was exceptionally hot and as it expands, the gas within it cools -
- 30.
What is the accepted theory regarding the end of the universe?
- A.
It will expand and cool completely
- B.
It will contract in the Big Crunch
- C.
It will expand infinitely and never end
- D.
There is no widely accepted theory of the end of the universe
Correct Answer
D. There is no widely accepted theory of the end of the universe -
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Mar 20, 2022Quiz Edited by
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Mar 04, 2016Quiz Created by
MrsHubbsScience
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