ISP 205 Exam 1 Questions with correct
answers 2026
Based on observations of the universal expansion, the age of the universe is about - correct-
answers -14 billion years old
Suppose the Sun were to suddenly shrink in size but its mass remained the same. According to the
law of conservation of angular momentum, what would happen? - correct-answers -the sun would
rotate faster than it does now
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based
telescopes?
A. It is significantly closer to the stars.
B. It can observe infrared and ultraviolet light, in addition to visible light.
C. It never has to close because of bad weather.
D. Stars do not twinkle when observed from space.
E. Observers on the ground can use it at any time of day (that is, not only during their night.) -
correct-answers -A
, Suppose a comet orbits the Sun on a highly eccentric orbit with an average (semi major axis)
distance of 1 AU. How long does it take to complete each orbit, and how do we know? - correct-
answers -Kepler's third law says that the comet's orbit should take 1 year.
The planet Mars is red in color. How would you expect Mars' VISIBLE light spectrum to be different
from the visible light spectrum of the Sun? - correct-answers -The two spectra would have similar
shapes, except Mars' spectrum would be missing a big chunk of the blue light that is present in the
Sun's spectrum.
Suppose you observe a distant galaxy and determine that the light you're collecting from that
galaxy was emitted ten billion years ago and is just reaching you now. What can you conclude
about the galaxy? - correct-answers -The light you're collecting is showing you what the galaxy
looked like when it was less than four billion years old
You are standing on the North Pole. Which way is Polaris, the North star? - correct-answers -
directly overhead
From laboratory measurements, we know that a particular spectral line formed by hydrogen
appears at a wavelength of 434.1 nanometers (nm). The spectrum of a particular star shows the
same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 432.9 nm. What can we conclude? - correct-
answers -The star is moving toward us
It is night and you determine that Polaris, the North Star, is very close to the horizon. Where are
you most likely to be? - correct-answers -near the equator
Suppose it is a crescent moon, as seen from Earth. How would the Earth appear to someone on the
Moon at this time? - correct-answers -most of the side of Earth facing the Moon is bright
The force of gravity is an inverse square law that can be expressed as
answers 2026
Based on observations of the universal expansion, the age of the universe is about - correct-
answers -14 billion years old
Suppose the Sun were to suddenly shrink in size but its mass remained the same. According to the
law of conservation of angular momentum, what would happen? - correct-answers -the sun would
rotate faster than it does now
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based
telescopes?
A. It is significantly closer to the stars.
B. It can observe infrared and ultraviolet light, in addition to visible light.
C. It never has to close because of bad weather.
D. Stars do not twinkle when observed from space.
E. Observers on the ground can use it at any time of day (that is, not only during their night.) -
correct-answers -A
, Suppose a comet orbits the Sun on a highly eccentric orbit with an average (semi major axis)
distance of 1 AU. How long does it take to complete each orbit, and how do we know? - correct-
answers -Kepler's third law says that the comet's orbit should take 1 year.
The planet Mars is red in color. How would you expect Mars' VISIBLE light spectrum to be different
from the visible light spectrum of the Sun? - correct-answers -The two spectra would have similar
shapes, except Mars' spectrum would be missing a big chunk of the blue light that is present in the
Sun's spectrum.
Suppose you observe a distant galaxy and determine that the light you're collecting from that
galaxy was emitted ten billion years ago and is just reaching you now. What can you conclude
about the galaxy? - correct-answers -The light you're collecting is showing you what the galaxy
looked like when it was less than four billion years old
You are standing on the North Pole. Which way is Polaris, the North star? - correct-answers -
directly overhead
From laboratory measurements, we know that a particular spectral line formed by hydrogen
appears at a wavelength of 434.1 nanometers (nm). The spectrum of a particular star shows the
same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 432.9 nm. What can we conclude? - correct-
answers -The star is moving toward us
It is night and you determine that Polaris, the North Star, is very close to the horizon. Where are
you most likely to be? - correct-answers -near the equator
Suppose it is a crescent moon, as seen from Earth. How would the Earth appear to someone on the
Moon at this time? - correct-answers -most of the side of Earth facing the Moon is bright
The force of gravity is an inverse square law that can be expressed as
