PHYS 1160 INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
EXAM SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Rank the following from largest to smallest.
Solar System
Local Group
Local Supercluster
Milky Way. Answer: Local Supercluster, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar
System
◉ What is the correct order in which things
occurred, according to the currently accepted
scientific theory of the creation of the universe?. Answer: Birth of the
Universe, Galaxies as Cosmic Recycling Plants, Life Cycle of Stars,
Earth and Life
◉ Why can't we see a galaxy 15 billion light-years away? (Assume the
universe is 14 billion years old.). Answer: Looking 15 billion light-years
away means looking to a time before the universe existed
,◉ When we look at the most distant observable objects in the universe,
we see them. Answer: as they were about 14 billion years ago
◉ Suppose you tried to count the more than 100 billion stars in our
galaxy, at a rate of one per second.... Answer: a few thousand years
◉ List the following astronomical distances in order from smallest to
largest?
1 light-year
1 AU
the size of the solar system. Answer: 1 AU, the size of the solar system,
1 light-year
◉ Which of the following distances is approximately equal to the
distance from the Sun to Earth?. Answer: 8 light-minutes
◉ The distance to the star nearest to the Sun is. Answer: about 4 light-
years
◉ The diameter of the Milky Way is about. Answer: 100,000 light-years
◉ Put these objects in the correct order, from nearest to farthest from
Earth:
Mars
,the nearest stars,
The Moon
the Sun
Pluto. Answer: The Moon, Mars, the Sun, Pluto, the nearest stars
◉ Put these objects in the correct order from nearest to farthest from
Earth:
Pluto
the Andromeda galaxy
the Milky Way
The Sun
Alpha Centauri. Answer: The Sun, Pluto, Alpha Centauri, the Milky
Way, the Andromeda galaxy
◉ In a scale model solar system that used a grapefruit to represent the
Sun, how far away should you put another grapefruit to represent Alpha
Centauri, the next nearest star?
a)10 feet
b)1,000 feet
c)about 1 mile
d)about 10 miles
e)about 2,000 miles. Answer: About 2,000 miles
, ◉ Which of the following ranks your different astronomical motions
from slowest to fastest?
A. rotation of Earth, motion of the Sun around the center
of the Milky Way, motion of Earth around the Sun
B. motion of the Sun around the center of the Milky Way,
motion of Earth around the Sun, rotation of Earth
C. motion of Earth around the Sun, rotation of Earth,
motion of the Sun around the center of the Milky Way.
D. rotation of the Earth, motion of Earth around the Sun, motion of the
Sun around the center of the Milky Way. Answer: rotation of the Earth,
motion of Earth around the Sun, motion of the Sun around the center of
the Milky Way
◉ Ever since the Big Bang,
A. galaxies have been gradually falling back toward each
other.
B. space has been static and galaxies are not moving very
much relative to each other.
C. space has continued to expand, with all stars and
galaxies moving away from each other.
D. space has continued to expand, with clusters of galaxies moving away
from each other, but stars remaining in galaxies and galaxies remaining
in clusters.. Answer: space has continued to expand, with clusters of
EXAM SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Rank the following from largest to smallest.
Solar System
Local Group
Local Supercluster
Milky Way. Answer: Local Supercluster, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar
System
◉ What is the correct order in which things
occurred, according to the currently accepted
scientific theory of the creation of the universe?. Answer: Birth of the
Universe, Galaxies as Cosmic Recycling Plants, Life Cycle of Stars,
Earth and Life
◉ Why can't we see a galaxy 15 billion light-years away? (Assume the
universe is 14 billion years old.). Answer: Looking 15 billion light-years
away means looking to a time before the universe existed
,◉ When we look at the most distant observable objects in the universe,
we see them. Answer: as they were about 14 billion years ago
◉ Suppose you tried to count the more than 100 billion stars in our
galaxy, at a rate of one per second.... Answer: a few thousand years
◉ List the following astronomical distances in order from smallest to
largest?
1 light-year
1 AU
the size of the solar system. Answer: 1 AU, the size of the solar system,
1 light-year
◉ Which of the following distances is approximately equal to the
distance from the Sun to Earth?. Answer: 8 light-minutes
◉ The distance to the star nearest to the Sun is. Answer: about 4 light-
years
◉ The diameter of the Milky Way is about. Answer: 100,000 light-years
◉ Put these objects in the correct order, from nearest to farthest from
Earth:
Mars
,the nearest stars,
The Moon
the Sun
Pluto. Answer: The Moon, Mars, the Sun, Pluto, the nearest stars
◉ Put these objects in the correct order from nearest to farthest from
Earth:
Pluto
the Andromeda galaxy
the Milky Way
The Sun
Alpha Centauri. Answer: The Sun, Pluto, Alpha Centauri, the Milky
Way, the Andromeda galaxy
◉ In a scale model solar system that used a grapefruit to represent the
Sun, how far away should you put another grapefruit to represent Alpha
Centauri, the next nearest star?
a)10 feet
b)1,000 feet
c)about 1 mile
d)about 10 miles
e)about 2,000 miles. Answer: About 2,000 miles
, ◉ Which of the following ranks your different astronomical motions
from slowest to fastest?
A. rotation of Earth, motion of the Sun around the center
of the Milky Way, motion of Earth around the Sun
B. motion of the Sun around the center of the Milky Way,
motion of Earth around the Sun, rotation of Earth
C. motion of Earth around the Sun, rotation of Earth,
motion of the Sun around the center of the Milky Way.
D. rotation of the Earth, motion of Earth around the Sun, motion of the
Sun around the center of the Milky Way. Answer: rotation of the Earth,
motion of Earth around the Sun, motion of the Sun around the center of
the Milky Way
◉ Ever since the Big Bang,
A. galaxies have been gradually falling back toward each
other.
B. space has been static and galaxies are not moving very
much relative to each other.
C. space has continued to expand, with all stars and
galaxies moving away from each other.
D. space has continued to expand, with clusters of galaxies moving away
from each other, but stars remaining in galaxies and galaxies remaining
in clusters.. Answer: space has continued to expand, with clusters of
