CHAPTER 1: Our Place in the Universe
CONCEPT MAP
I. Definition of Astronomy (MC: 1)
I. Cosmic Address (MC: 17; SA: 6, 7)
A. Earth
B. Solar System (TF: 1; SA: 1)
i. Classical and Dwarf Planets (TF: 2; MC: 2, 11, 20; SA: 8)
C. Milky Way Galaxy (MC: 3, 12, 18, 20)
D. Local Group (TF: 9; MC: 19, 20)
E. Virgo Supercluster (TF: 9; MC: 20)
F. Local Universe (TF: 8)
II. Scale of the Universe
A. Distance Compared to Time (MC: 4, 5, 21, 22; SA: 5)
i. Speed of Light (MC: 13)
ii. Light-Year (MC: 6, 7, 8, 14, 18)
III. Origin and Evolution of the Universe
A. Big Bang
i. H, He, Trace Li, Be, B Formed (TF: 7; MC: 9)
ii. Age of the Universe (MC: 10)
B. Heavier Elements Were Made in Stars (TF: 3, 4; MC: 15; SA: 2, 9)
IV. Tools of Astronomy (SA: 3)
A. Satellites (TF: 5; MC: 16)
, B. Telescopes (TF: 5; MC: 16; SA: 4)
C. Computers (TF: 6,)
V. Scientific Method (TF: 13; MC: 27; SA: 16)
A. Hypothesis (MC: 28)
i. Falsifiable (TF: 10, 11; MC: 23, 26)
B. Theory (TF: 14; MC: 26, 28)
C. Principle
i. Occam’s Razor (MC: 30)
ii. Cosmological Principle (TF: 12; MC: 29, 31; SA: 10, 11)
VI. Scientific Revolutions
A. Newton to Einstein (MC: 24, 25; SA: 12)
VII. Challenges to Science
A. Repeatable Experiments
VIII. Patterns in the Sky (TF: 15; MC: 32; SA: 13)
A. Rising and Setting of Sun (SA: 15)
B. Seasons (SA: 15)
IX. Mathematics (MC: 33, 35; SA: 14)
A. Units (MC: 38, 39, 40)
B. Scientific Method (MC: 34, 36, 37)
,TRUE/FALSE
1. Our Sun is the most massive and luminous star in the Milky Way.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.B
2. Pluto is the only dwarf planet in our Solar System.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.B.i
3. The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the
center of our Sun.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Conceptual
TOP: IV.B
4. Nuclear fusion is the process through which new elements are created in stellar interiors.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: IV.B
5. The invention of satellites advanced astronomy because telescopes on satellites can explore
wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, that cannot penetrate the Earth’s
atmosphere.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: V.A | V.B
, 6. Computers are an important technological advance used in astronomy in the 21st century.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: V.C
7. Human beings are composed almost entirely of the same elements that were created in the
Big Bang.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 OBJ: Applied
TOP: IV.A.i
8. There are nearly 100 times more galaxies in the universe as there are stars in the Milky
Way.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.F
9. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.
ANS: T DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.D | II.E
10. If a scientific theory cannot be tested, it is assumed to be true.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.2 OBJ: Conceptual
TOP: VI.A.i
11. A crucial component of a scientific theory is that it is able to be tested by observations and
thus proven true or false.
CONCEPT MAP
I. Definition of Astronomy (MC: 1)
I. Cosmic Address (MC: 17; SA: 6, 7)
A. Earth
B. Solar System (TF: 1; SA: 1)
i. Classical and Dwarf Planets (TF: 2; MC: 2, 11, 20; SA: 8)
C. Milky Way Galaxy (MC: 3, 12, 18, 20)
D. Local Group (TF: 9; MC: 19, 20)
E. Virgo Supercluster (TF: 9; MC: 20)
F. Local Universe (TF: 8)
II. Scale of the Universe
A. Distance Compared to Time (MC: 4, 5, 21, 22; SA: 5)
i. Speed of Light (MC: 13)
ii. Light-Year (MC: 6, 7, 8, 14, 18)
III. Origin and Evolution of the Universe
A. Big Bang
i. H, He, Trace Li, Be, B Formed (TF: 7; MC: 9)
ii. Age of the Universe (MC: 10)
B. Heavier Elements Were Made in Stars (TF: 3, 4; MC: 15; SA: 2, 9)
IV. Tools of Astronomy (SA: 3)
A. Satellites (TF: 5; MC: 16)
, B. Telescopes (TF: 5; MC: 16; SA: 4)
C. Computers (TF: 6,)
V. Scientific Method (TF: 13; MC: 27; SA: 16)
A. Hypothesis (MC: 28)
i. Falsifiable (TF: 10, 11; MC: 23, 26)
B. Theory (TF: 14; MC: 26, 28)
C. Principle
i. Occam’s Razor (MC: 30)
ii. Cosmological Principle (TF: 12; MC: 29, 31; SA: 10, 11)
VI. Scientific Revolutions
A. Newton to Einstein (MC: 24, 25; SA: 12)
VII. Challenges to Science
A. Repeatable Experiments
VIII. Patterns in the Sky (TF: 15; MC: 32; SA: 13)
A. Rising and Setting of Sun (SA: 15)
B. Seasons (SA: 15)
IX. Mathematics (MC: 33, 35; SA: 14)
A. Units (MC: 38, 39, 40)
B. Scientific Method (MC: 34, 36, 37)
,TRUE/FALSE
1. Our Sun is the most massive and luminous star in the Milky Way.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.B
2. Pluto is the only dwarf planet in our Solar System.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.B.i
3. The heavy elements that make up most of Earth were formed via nuclear fusion in the
center of our Sun.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Conceptual
TOP: IV.B
4. Nuclear fusion is the process through which new elements are created in stellar interiors.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: IV.B
5. The invention of satellites advanced astronomy because telescopes on satellites can explore
wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, that cannot penetrate the Earth’s
atmosphere.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: V.A | V.B
, 6. Computers are an important technological advance used in astronomy in the 21st century.
ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: V.C
7. Human beings are composed almost entirely of the same elements that were created in the
Big Bang.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 OBJ: Applied
TOP: IV.A.i
8. There are nearly 100 times more galaxies in the universe as there are stars in the Milky
Way.
ANS: F DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.F
9. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.
ANS: T DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 OBJ: Factual
TOP: II.D | II.E
10. If a scientific theory cannot be tested, it is assumed to be true.
ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: 1.2 OBJ: Conceptual
TOP: VI.A.i
11. A crucial component of a scientific theory is that it is able to be tested by observations and
thus proven true or false.
