TEST BANK
21st Century Astronomy Contents
FOURTH EDITION Assessment Guidelines Based on the Science of Learning vii
Chapter 1 Why Learn Astronomy? 1
Chapter 2 Patterns in the Sky—Motions of Earth 15
LAURA KAY ◆ STACY PALEN ◆ BRAD SMITH ◆ GEORGE BLUMENTHAL
Chapter 3 Motion of Astronomical Bodies 29
Chapter 4 Gravity and Orbits 44
Chapter 5 Light 59
Chapter 6 The Tools of the Astronomer 74
Chapter 7 The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems 88
Chapter 8 The Terrestrial Planets and Earth’s Moon 103
Chapter 9 Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets 120
Chapter 10 Worlds of Gas and Liquid—The Giant Planets 135
Chapter 11 Planetary Adornments—Moons and Rings 150
Chapter 12 Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies 164
Chapter 13 Taking the Measure of Stars 178
Chapter 14 Our Star—The Sun 191
Chapter 15 Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium 204
Chapter 16 Evolution of Low-Mass Stars 217
,Chapter 17 Evolution of High-Mass Stars 231 CHAPTER 1
Chapter 18 Relativity and Black Holes 245
Chapter 19 The Expanding Universe 261
Why Learn Astronomy?
Chapter 20 Galaxies 275
Chapter 21 The Milky Way—A Normal Spiral Galaxy 289
Chapter 22 Modern Cosmology 305
Chapter 23 Large-Scale Structure in the Universe 319
Chapter 24 Life 331 CONCEPT MAP
Sec 1.1
1. Astronomy
I. Definition
i. Astronomy loosely translated means “patterns among the stars” (MC: 1)
II. Your Place in the Universe
i. Your address: street, city, town, country, Earth, Sun, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster,
universe (MC: 3, SA: 1)
ii. Solar System: classical versus dwarf planets (TF: 1, 2, MC: 1–4, 7, SA: 2)
iii. Milky Way: contains 200 to 400 billion stars (MC: 3, 5–7)
iv. Local Group (MC: 3, 8)
v. Virgo Supercluster (TF: 3, MC: 3)
vi. Universe: contains hundreds of billions of galaxies, roughly as many stars as in the Milky Way (TF:
4)
vii. Much of the universe is made of dark matter, and all of space is permeated by dark energy (TF: 5,
MC: 9, 10)
III. Scale of the Universe
i. Speed of light, c 3 108 m/s (MC: 11)
ii. d v t (TF: 2, MC: 12–17)
iii. Light year is a measure of distance (TF: 6, MC: 12, SA: 3)
iv. Distance versus time comparison: circumference of the Earth versus snapping your fingers (MC: 19,
20, SA: 4–6)
IV. Origin and Evolution of Universe
, i. Age of universe: 13.7 billion years (MC: 21) 14, MC: 28, 35, SA; 12)
ii. Big Bang created the initial chemical elements: H, He, Li, Be, B (TF: 7, MC: 22, 23) iii. Scientific revolutions: e.g. Newton/gravity, Einstein/special and general relativity, and quantum me-
iii. Stars manufactured the other chemical elements from nuclear burning and explosions (TF: 7, 8, chanics (MC: 36, SA: 15)
MC: 24, 25, SA: 7) iv. “Modern Physics,” post-quantum mechanics
iv. Solar System formed III. Challenges to Science
v. Life evolved on Earth i. Cultural/philosophical/religious influences
ii. Scientific facts and theories need to be judged based on their predictions and observations alone
Sec 1.2
iii. Scientists never ignore data just because it doesn’t fit their theory
2. Science Involves Exploration and Discovery
Sec 1.4
I. Evolution of Astronomy from New Technology
i. Satellites, e.g., Sputnik, lunar exploration, Solar System exploration (TF: 10, MC: 26, SA: 8, 9) 4. Patterns Make Our Lives and Science Possible
ii. Space-based astronomy used for high spatial resolution and access to wavelengths blocked by the I. Patterns Point Out Underlying Scientific Principles
atmosphere (TF: 10, MC: 27, SA: 9, 10) i. Patterns point out underlying scientific principles (TF: 15, MC: 37, SA: 16, 17)
iii. Cross disciplines: astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, planetary science ii. Examples of patterns: rise/setting of Sun, seasons (MC: 38, SA: 16, 17)
iv. Computers: a new important tool for astronomers (SA: 9) II. Mathematical Tools
i. Mathematics is the “language of science,” a tool to quantify and compare patterns (MC: 39, SA: 18)
Sec 1.3
ii. Scientific notation (MC: 40–43)
3. Science Is a Way of Viewing the World
iii. Ratios and proportionalities (MC: 44–49)
I. Scientific Method
iv. Units (MC: 50, 51)
i. Scientific method (MC: 28, 29, SA: 11)
v. Reading a graph (MC: 52)
ii. Rational inquiry
vi. Slope of a line (MC: 53)
iii. Facts
Sec 1.5
iv. Hypothesis (MC: 28, 30, SA: 11)
v. Theory (MC: 28, 30, SA: 12) 5. Thinking Like an Astronomer
vi. Testable predictions/falsifiable (TF: 10, 11, MC: 28, SA: 11) I. What Is a Planet?
vii. Physical laws i. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 (TF: 2, MC: 54–56, SA: 19)
viii. Scientific principle
Sec 1.6
ix. Occam’s razor (MC: 31, 32)
6. Origins: An Introduction
x. Cosmological principle (TF: 12, MC: 33, 34, SA: 13, 14)
I. Astrobiology
II. Scientific Knowledge Changes and Evolves
i. Astrobiology: study of whether there is life elsewhere in the Solar System and the universe (MC: 57,
i. Scientific knowledge continually evolves, usually slowly and gradually, because of new information
SA: 20)
(MC: 28)
ii. Even when a theory is accepted as true, it may need revision later when new data comes along (TF:
, TRUE/FALSE 12. The Copernican principle states that there is nothing special about our local region of the universe.
1. Our Sun is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way. ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ix
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIii 13. One consequence of the principle of universality is that gravity works the same here on Earth as it does on
the planet Jupiter.
2. Pluto is the only dwarf planet in our Solar System.
ANS: T DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ix
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIii | 5Ii
14. Once a scientific theory is declared to be true, it is believed from that time onward.
3. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3IIii
ANS: T DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIiv | 1IIv
15. Science proceeds by presuming that observed patterns in nature can be attributed to an underlying
4. There are nearly 1,000 times more galaxies in the observable universe as there are stars in the Milky Way.
physical explanation.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIvi
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.4 MSC: Factual TOP: 4Ii
5. A great majority of the matter in our universe is not visible.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIvii MULTIPLE CHOICE
6. A light-year is a unit commonly used in astronomy as a measure of time. 1. The word astronomy means:
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIIiii a. “patterns among the stars”
b. “to study the stars”
7. Human beings are composed almost entirely of elements that were created in the Big Bang.
c. “discovering the universe”
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Applied TOP: 1IVii | 1IViii
d. “the movement of the stars”
8. The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the center of the Sun. e. “personality traits set by the stars”
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IViii ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1Ii
9. The invention of satellites advanced astronomy because telescopes on satellites can observe wavelengths
of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, that cannot penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.2 MSC: Factual TOP: 2Iii | 2Iiii
10. If a scientific theory cannot be tested, it is assumed to be true.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ivi
11. A crucial component of a scientific theory is that it is able to be tested by observations and thus proven true
or false.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ivi
21st Century Astronomy Contents
FOURTH EDITION Assessment Guidelines Based on the Science of Learning vii
Chapter 1 Why Learn Astronomy? 1
Chapter 2 Patterns in the Sky—Motions of Earth 15
LAURA KAY ◆ STACY PALEN ◆ BRAD SMITH ◆ GEORGE BLUMENTHAL
Chapter 3 Motion of Astronomical Bodies 29
Chapter 4 Gravity and Orbits 44
Chapter 5 Light 59
Chapter 6 The Tools of the Astronomer 74
Chapter 7 The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems 88
Chapter 8 The Terrestrial Planets and Earth’s Moon 103
Chapter 9 Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets 120
Chapter 10 Worlds of Gas and Liquid—The Giant Planets 135
Chapter 11 Planetary Adornments—Moons and Rings 150
Chapter 12 Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies 164
Chapter 13 Taking the Measure of Stars 178
Chapter 14 Our Star—The Sun 191
Chapter 15 Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium 204
Chapter 16 Evolution of Low-Mass Stars 217
,Chapter 17 Evolution of High-Mass Stars 231 CHAPTER 1
Chapter 18 Relativity and Black Holes 245
Chapter 19 The Expanding Universe 261
Why Learn Astronomy?
Chapter 20 Galaxies 275
Chapter 21 The Milky Way—A Normal Spiral Galaxy 289
Chapter 22 Modern Cosmology 305
Chapter 23 Large-Scale Structure in the Universe 319
Chapter 24 Life 331 CONCEPT MAP
Sec 1.1
1. Astronomy
I. Definition
i. Astronomy loosely translated means “patterns among the stars” (MC: 1)
II. Your Place in the Universe
i. Your address: street, city, town, country, Earth, Sun, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster,
universe (MC: 3, SA: 1)
ii. Solar System: classical versus dwarf planets (TF: 1, 2, MC: 1–4, 7, SA: 2)
iii. Milky Way: contains 200 to 400 billion stars (MC: 3, 5–7)
iv. Local Group (MC: 3, 8)
v. Virgo Supercluster (TF: 3, MC: 3)
vi. Universe: contains hundreds of billions of galaxies, roughly as many stars as in the Milky Way (TF:
4)
vii. Much of the universe is made of dark matter, and all of space is permeated by dark energy (TF: 5,
MC: 9, 10)
III. Scale of the Universe
i. Speed of light, c 3 108 m/s (MC: 11)
ii. d v t (TF: 2, MC: 12–17)
iii. Light year is a measure of distance (TF: 6, MC: 12, SA: 3)
iv. Distance versus time comparison: circumference of the Earth versus snapping your fingers (MC: 19,
20, SA: 4–6)
IV. Origin and Evolution of Universe
, i. Age of universe: 13.7 billion years (MC: 21) 14, MC: 28, 35, SA; 12)
ii. Big Bang created the initial chemical elements: H, He, Li, Be, B (TF: 7, MC: 22, 23) iii. Scientific revolutions: e.g. Newton/gravity, Einstein/special and general relativity, and quantum me-
iii. Stars manufactured the other chemical elements from nuclear burning and explosions (TF: 7, 8, chanics (MC: 36, SA: 15)
MC: 24, 25, SA: 7) iv. “Modern Physics,” post-quantum mechanics
iv. Solar System formed III. Challenges to Science
v. Life evolved on Earth i. Cultural/philosophical/religious influences
ii. Scientific facts and theories need to be judged based on their predictions and observations alone
Sec 1.2
iii. Scientists never ignore data just because it doesn’t fit their theory
2. Science Involves Exploration and Discovery
Sec 1.4
I. Evolution of Astronomy from New Technology
i. Satellites, e.g., Sputnik, lunar exploration, Solar System exploration (TF: 10, MC: 26, SA: 8, 9) 4. Patterns Make Our Lives and Science Possible
ii. Space-based astronomy used for high spatial resolution and access to wavelengths blocked by the I. Patterns Point Out Underlying Scientific Principles
atmosphere (TF: 10, MC: 27, SA: 9, 10) i. Patterns point out underlying scientific principles (TF: 15, MC: 37, SA: 16, 17)
iii. Cross disciplines: astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, planetary science ii. Examples of patterns: rise/setting of Sun, seasons (MC: 38, SA: 16, 17)
iv. Computers: a new important tool for astronomers (SA: 9) II. Mathematical Tools
i. Mathematics is the “language of science,” a tool to quantify and compare patterns (MC: 39, SA: 18)
Sec 1.3
ii. Scientific notation (MC: 40–43)
3. Science Is a Way of Viewing the World
iii. Ratios and proportionalities (MC: 44–49)
I. Scientific Method
iv. Units (MC: 50, 51)
i. Scientific method (MC: 28, 29, SA: 11)
v. Reading a graph (MC: 52)
ii. Rational inquiry
vi. Slope of a line (MC: 53)
iii. Facts
Sec 1.5
iv. Hypothesis (MC: 28, 30, SA: 11)
v. Theory (MC: 28, 30, SA: 12) 5. Thinking Like an Astronomer
vi. Testable predictions/falsifiable (TF: 10, 11, MC: 28, SA: 11) I. What Is a Planet?
vii. Physical laws i. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 (TF: 2, MC: 54–56, SA: 19)
viii. Scientific principle
Sec 1.6
ix. Occam’s razor (MC: 31, 32)
6. Origins: An Introduction
x. Cosmological principle (TF: 12, MC: 33, 34, SA: 13, 14)
I. Astrobiology
II. Scientific Knowledge Changes and Evolves
i. Astrobiology: study of whether there is life elsewhere in the Solar System and the universe (MC: 57,
i. Scientific knowledge continually evolves, usually slowly and gradually, because of new information
SA: 20)
(MC: 28)
ii. Even when a theory is accepted as true, it may need revision later when new data comes along (TF:
, TRUE/FALSE 12. The Copernican principle states that there is nothing special about our local region of the universe.
1. Our Sun is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way. ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ix
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIii 13. One consequence of the principle of universality is that gravity works the same here on Earth as it does on
the planet Jupiter.
2. Pluto is the only dwarf planet in our Solar System.
ANS: T DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ix
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIii | 5Ii
14. Once a scientific theory is declared to be true, it is believed from that time onward.
3. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3IIii
ANS: T DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIiv | 1IIv
15. Science proceeds by presuming that observed patterns in nature can be attributed to an underlying
4. There are nearly 1,000 times more galaxies in the observable universe as there are stars in the Milky Way.
physical explanation.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIvi
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.4 MSC: Factual TOP: 4Ii
5. A great majority of the matter in our universe is not visible.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIvii MULTIPLE CHOICE
6. A light-year is a unit commonly used in astronomy as a measure of time. 1. The word astronomy means:
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IIIiii a. “patterns among the stars”
b. “to study the stars”
7. Human beings are composed almost entirely of elements that were created in the Big Bang.
c. “discovering the universe”
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Applied TOP: 1IVii | 1IViii
d. “the movement of the stars”
8. The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the center of the Sun. e. “personality traits set by the stars”
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1IViii ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.1 MSC: Factual TOP: 1Ii
9. The invention of satellites advanced astronomy because telescopes on satellites can observe wavelengths
of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, that cannot penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.2 MSC: Factual TOP: 2Iii | 2Iiii
10. If a scientific theory cannot be tested, it is assumed to be true.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ivi
11. A crucial component of a scientific theory is that it is able to be tested by observations and thus proven true
or false.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Section 1.3 MSC: Conceptual TOP: 3Ivi
