Astro 120 Final exam questions and
answers already graded a+ 2025
What problem has precession caused for many of the schools of astronomy?
CORRECT ANSWERS The constellations are no longer lined up with the astrological
signs that are named after them; since astrology was set up, the two have slipped one
sign apart.
Astrology and Astronomy CORRECT ANSWERS Differ in that astronomy is true
science, but astrology is a belief system that has failed all rigorous tests.
What part of the sun are pressure and temperature the largest? CORRECT ANSWERS
the center
Why do sunspots appear dark? CORRECT ANSWERS they are cooler than their
surroundings
During fusion reactions in the Sun, the four hydrogen nuclei which are fused together
are more massive than the helium nucleus that they make. What happens to the
missing mass? CORRECT ANSWERS it is converted to energy
How far in the future will the Sun run out of fuel? CORRECT ANSWERS 5 billion years
What process is responsible for starting the formation of a new star? CORRECT
ANSWERS the gravitational collapse of part of a cloud of interstellar material
Where in the solar system nebula would you expect to find planets like the Earth form,
and why? CORRECT ANSWERS In the inner regions, where heavy elements can
condense but ices are vaporized
What is one of the least important clues about the formation of the planets? CORRECT
ANSWERS the outer planets have rings
The age of the Earth approximately CORRECT ANSWERS 4,500,000,000
The solar system formed... CORRECT ANSWERS in much less than one billion years
One of the best proofs that our theory of how the solar system formed is correct is that
astronomers now observe...? CORRECT ANSWERS disks around other stars which
show evidence of gaps where planets may be forming
Most of the planets that have been discovered orbiting other solar-type stars have
masses that are...? CORRECT ANSWERS between 1 and 3 Earth masses
answers already graded a+ 2025
What problem has precession caused for many of the schools of astronomy?
CORRECT ANSWERS The constellations are no longer lined up with the astrological
signs that are named after them; since astrology was set up, the two have slipped one
sign apart.
Astrology and Astronomy CORRECT ANSWERS Differ in that astronomy is true
science, but astrology is a belief system that has failed all rigorous tests.
What part of the sun are pressure and temperature the largest? CORRECT ANSWERS
the center
Why do sunspots appear dark? CORRECT ANSWERS they are cooler than their
surroundings
During fusion reactions in the Sun, the four hydrogen nuclei which are fused together
are more massive than the helium nucleus that they make. What happens to the
missing mass? CORRECT ANSWERS it is converted to energy
How far in the future will the Sun run out of fuel? CORRECT ANSWERS 5 billion years
What process is responsible for starting the formation of a new star? CORRECT
ANSWERS the gravitational collapse of part of a cloud of interstellar material
Where in the solar system nebula would you expect to find planets like the Earth form,
and why? CORRECT ANSWERS In the inner regions, where heavy elements can
condense but ices are vaporized
What is one of the least important clues about the formation of the planets? CORRECT
ANSWERS the outer planets have rings
The age of the Earth approximately CORRECT ANSWERS 4,500,000,000
The solar system formed... CORRECT ANSWERS in much less than one billion years
One of the best proofs that our theory of how the solar system formed is correct is that
astronomers now observe...? CORRECT ANSWERS disks around other stars which
show evidence of gaps where planets may be forming
Most of the planets that have been discovered orbiting other solar-type stars have
masses that are...? CORRECT ANSWERS between 1 and 3 Earth masses
