Astronomy 5 Practice Final UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Astronomy has shown us that the fundamental laws of physics are the same everywhere, and that
Earth is - CORRECT ANSWER - just one planet orbiting an ordinary star in a vast
universe
Extraterrestrial life is defined to be - CORRECT ANSWER - any kind of life found
anywhere beyond Earth
Occam's Razor is a philosophical principle that states if we have two models that agree equally
well with observations, then the ________ one is most likely to be
the correct one. - CORRECT ANSWER - simplest
Which one of these statements is NOT a hallmark of the Scientific Method?
a. Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on
natural causes.
b. Scientific models must make testable predictions about natural
phenomena.
c. Science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature
that explain observations as simply as possible.
d. Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on supernatural causes. -
CORRECT ANSWER - d. Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely
solely on supernatural causes.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution meets all the criteria of a scientific theory because: - CORRECT
ANSWER - After more than 100 years, the theory stands stronger than ever, having
successfully met every scientific challenge to its validity.
, In a search for life in the universe, which of the following is NOT relevant?
a. The universe is vast and old
b. The same physical laws operate throughout the universe
c. Carl Sagan believed that there is life elsewhere
d. The elements of life are widespread - CORRECT ANSWER - c. Carl Sagan believed
that there is life elsewhere
Radioactive dating of meteorites, relics from the era of formation of the Solar System, reveal that
Earth and the other planets formed _______ years ago. - CORRECT ANSWER - 4.6
Billion
The Solar System is mostly empty space. Consider a model in which the Sun, with a diameter of
1.4 million km, is reduced to the size of a grapefruit. This is a reduction of 10 billion to one.
Earth would be the size of a __________ located _____ m from the grapefruit. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Ball point; 15
On the same scale, if a grapefruit representing the Sun is placed in the center of Los Angeles,
roughly where would we put another grapefruit to represent the next nearest star system (Alpha
Centauri)? - CORRECT ANSWER - Washington, D.C.
According to the Nebular Theory, as a giant interstellar cloud forms a new star and planetary
system it _______, _________ and spins _______. - CORRECT ANSWER - Contracts;
heats up; faster
The Frost Line is an imaginary boundary in the early Solar Nebula beyond which - CORRECT
ANSWER - the temperature drops low enough for hydrogen compounds like water,
ammonia and methane to freeze out
Earth owes its habitability primarily to - CORRECT ANSWER - a combination of its size
and its distance from the Sun
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Astronomy has shown us that the fundamental laws of physics are the same everywhere, and that
Earth is - CORRECT ANSWER - just one planet orbiting an ordinary star in a vast
universe
Extraterrestrial life is defined to be - CORRECT ANSWER - any kind of life found
anywhere beyond Earth
Occam's Razor is a philosophical principle that states if we have two models that agree equally
well with observations, then the ________ one is most likely to be
the correct one. - CORRECT ANSWER - simplest
Which one of these statements is NOT a hallmark of the Scientific Method?
a. Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on
natural causes.
b. Scientific models must make testable predictions about natural
phenomena.
c. Science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature
that explain observations as simply as possible.
d. Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on supernatural causes. -
CORRECT ANSWER - d. Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely
solely on supernatural causes.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution meets all the criteria of a scientific theory because: - CORRECT
ANSWER - After more than 100 years, the theory stands stronger than ever, having
successfully met every scientific challenge to its validity.
, In a search for life in the universe, which of the following is NOT relevant?
a. The universe is vast and old
b. The same physical laws operate throughout the universe
c. Carl Sagan believed that there is life elsewhere
d. The elements of life are widespread - CORRECT ANSWER - c. Carl Sagan believed
that there is life elsewhere
Radioactive dating of meteorites, relics from the era of formation of the Solar System, reveal that
Earth and the other planets formed _______ years ago. - CORRECT ANSWER - 4.6
Billion
The Solar System is mostly empty space. Consider a model in which the Sun, with a diameter of
1.4 million km, is reduced to the size of a grapefruit. This is a reduction of 10 billion to one.
Earth would be the size of a __________ located _____ m from the grapefruit. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Ball point; 15
On the same scale, if a grapefruit representing the Sun is placed in the center of Los Angeles,
roughly where would we put another grapefruit to represent the next nearest star system (Alpha
Centauri)? - CORRECT ANSWER - Washington, D.C.
According to the Nebular Theory, as a giant interstellar cloud forms a new star and planetary
system it _______, _________ and spins _______. - CORRECT ANSWER - Contracts;
heats up; faster
The Frost Line is an imaginary boundary in the early Solar Nebula beyond which - CORRECT
ANSWER - the temperature drops low enough for hydrogen compounds like water,
ammonia and methane to freeze out
Earth owes its habitability primarily to - CORRECT ANSWER - a combination of its size
and its distance from the Sun
