Astro 1 Final Exam PSU 2026/2027 Questions
and Correct Detailed Answers Already Graded A+
What are the 3 types of spectra and how is each produced - CORRECT
ANSWER-1.) continuous: hot, dense energy source
2.) emission: hot, low density gas cloud - bright lines on black background
3.) absorption: hot dense energy source with cooler low density cloud of gas
(stars)-black lines on rainbow background
When a star is moving away from us, what happens to its spectrum? - CORRECT
ANSWER-spectral lines are shifted to the red end of the spectrum (to the right)
Why does each chemical element have a different set of spectral lines? -
CORRECT ANSWER-excited atoms emit photons that correspond to certain
colors of light
what is light gathering power? - CORRECT ANSWER-ability to gather the most
light and make objects appear brighter
what is angular resolution? - CORRECT ANSWER-ability to distinguish clearly
between two small points in the sky
,What is a light year? - CORRECT ANSWER-distance that light travels in 1 year
What is the closest star to Earth besides the Sun? (4.2 ly away) - CORRECT
ANSWER-proxima centauri
What is the age of the universe? - CORRECT ANSWER-14 billion years
What is our cosmic address? What is the Local Group? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Earth, solar system, milky way galaxy, local group, local supercluster
Order of planets in our solar system - CORRECT ANSWER-Mercury, venus,
earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune
What is the fastest speed in the universe? - CORRECT ANSWER-speed of light
Typical composition of stars - CORRECT ANSWER-74% H, 25% He, 1% Metals
How old is the Sun/solar system? How much longer will it live? - CORRECT
ANSWER-4.5 billion, live to 10 billion
, What is a star? - CORRECT ANSWER-glowing ball of hot dense gas that
generates its own energy via nuclear fusion
What is the reason that we have seasons on Earth? - CORRECT ANSWER-tilt of
the earth's axis determines what hemisphere leans towards the sun
If Earth's orbit were a perfect circle, how would this affect seasons? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Would not because earth's orbit is already very close to a perfect circle
moon phases in order - CORRECT ANSWER-new moon, waxing crescent, first
quarter moon, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter moon,
waning crescent
How long does it take to complete all the phases? - CORRECT ANSWER-29.5
days
What are the two types of eclipses (only solar and lunar) and what phase does the
Moon need
to be in for each one of the eclipses to occur? - CORRECT ANSWER-lunar: earth
blocks sunlight from moon, full moon
and Correct Detailed Answers Already Graded A+
What are the 3 types of spectra and how is each produced - CORRECT
ANSWER-1.) continuous: hot, dense energy source
2.) emission: hot, low density gas cloud - bright lines on black background
3.) absorption: hot dense energy source with cooler low density cloud of gas
(stars)-black lines on rainbow background
When a star is moving away from us, what happens to its spectrum? - CORRECT
ANSWER-spectral lines are shifted to the red end of the spectrum (to the right)
Why does each chemical element have a different set of spectral lines? -
CORRECT ANSWER-excited atoms emit photons that correspond to certain
colors of light
what is light gathering power? - CORRECT ANSWER-ability to gather the most
light and make objects appear brighter
what is angular resolution? - CORRECT ANSWER-ability to distinguish clearly
between two small points in the sky
,What is a light year? - CORRECT ANSWER-distance that light travels in 1 year
What is the closest star to Earth besides the Sun? (4.2 ly away) - CORRECT
ANSWER-proxima centauri
What is the age of the universe? - CORRECT ANSWER-14 billion years
What is our cosmic address? What is the Local Group? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Earth, solar system, milky way galaxy, local group, local supercluster
Order of planets in our solar system - CORRECT ANSWER-Mercury, venus,
earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune
What is the fastest speed in the universe? - CORRECT ANSWER-speed of light
Typical composition of stars - CORRECT ANSWER-74% H, 25% He, 1% Metals
How old is the Sun/solar system? How much longer will it live? - CORRECT
ANSWER-4.5 billion, live to 10 billion
, What is a star? - CORRECT ANSWER-glowing ball of hot dense gas that
generates its own energy via nuclear fusion
What is the reason that we have seasons on Earth? - CORRECT ANSWER-tilt of
the earth's axis determines what hemisphere leans towards the sun
If Earth's orbit were a perfect circle, how would this affect seasons? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Would not because earth's orbit is already very close to a perfect circle
moon phases in order - CORRECT ANSWER-new moon, waxing crescent, first
quarter moon, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter moon,
waning crescent
How long does it take to complete all the phases? - CORRECT ANSWER-29.5
days
What are the two types of eclipses (only solar and lunar) and what phase does the
Moon need
to be in for each one of the eclipses to occur? - CORRECT ANSWER-lunar: earth
blocks sunlight from moon, full moon
