Astronomy 101 Final Exam questions and Verified
Answers
The Special Theory of Relativity - ANSWER 1. All motion is relative: no special frame of
reference exists from which an absolute standard of motion can be judged
2. The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what their state of motion
Einstein's theory of General Relativity predicts that
a. lengths appear to contract for moving objects
b. stars should collapse into black holes
c. gravity is caused by curved spacetime
d. time appears to slow for moving objects - ANSWER c. gravity is caused by curved spacetime
The first test of Einstein's theory of General Relativity was viewing the area around the eclipsed
sun to
a. more accurately measure the diameter of the Sun
b. measure the speed of light
c. see if the stars in that area appeared to change position
d. measure the passage of time on the Sun - ANSWER c. see if the stars in that area appeared to
change position
A person flies by the Earth in a spaceship at a substantial fraction of the speed of light. An
observer on Earth could measure that time on the spaceship
a. is slower than time on Earth
b. is faster than time on Earth
c. is the same as on Earth because the spaceship is not traveling at the speed of light
d. travels in a loop - ANSWER a. is slower than time on Earth
In the twin paradox, the twin who stays behind
, a. observes that time passes at the same rate for the twin the spaceship
b. observes time standing still for the twin who travels in the spaceship
c. observes time passing more slowly for the twin in the spaceship
d. observes time passing more quickly for the twin in the spaceship - ANSWER c. observes time
passing more slowly for the twin in the spaceship
An astronaut who fell into a black hole would be stretched because
a. black holes rotate rapidly, dragging and stretching spacetime around them
b. the force of gravity increases quickly over short distances
c. the force of gravity is very strong near a black hole
d. time is slower near the black hole's event horizon - ANSWER b. the force of gravity increases
quickly over short distances
What are the three basic directly observable structural compounds of the Milky Way? -
ANSWER The Galactic Disk, The Stellar Halo, The Bulge
If the Sun collapsed into a black hole today, how would it affect the Earth?
a. it would be dark
b. people, farm animals, and other small things would literally get sucked right off the Earth
c. Earth's orbit would widen
d. Earth's orbit would shrink - ANSWER a. it would be dark
The galactic disk of the Milky Way - ANSWER Located on the equatorial plane
A flattened distribution of stars and interstellar material within a galaxy
Distinguishes the Milky Way as a spiral galaxy. (Spiral arms: where the density of stars and gas
increases, higher concentration of massive blue stars)
The stellar halo of the Milky Way - ANSWER Surrounding the disk
Answers
The Special Theory of Relativity - ANSWER 1. All motion is relative: no special frame of
reference exists from which an absolute standard of motion can be judged
2. The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what their state of motion
Einstein's theory of General Relativity predicts that
a. lengths appear to contract for moving objects
b. stars should collapse into black holes
c. gravity is caused by curved spacetime
d. time appears to slow for moving objects - ANSWER c. gravity is caused by curved spacetime
The first test of Einstein's theory of General Relativity was viewing the area around the eclipsed
sun to
a. more accurately measure the diameter of the Sun
b. measure the speed of light
c. see if the stars in that area appeared to change position
d. measure the passage of time on the Sun - ANSWER c. see if the stars in that area appeared to
change position
A person flies by the Earth in a spaceship at a substantial fraction of the speed of light. An
observer on Earth could measure that time on the spaceship
a. is slower than time on Earth
b. is faster than time on Earth
c. is the same as on Earth because the spaceship is not traveling at the speed of light
d. travels in a loop - ANSWER a. is slower than time on Earth
In the twin paradox, the twin who stays behind
, a. observes that time passes at the same rate for the twin the spaceship
b. observes time standing still for the twin who travels in the spaceship
c. observes time passing more slowly for the twin in the spaceship
d. observes time passing more quickly for the twin in the spaceship - ANSWER c. observes time
passing more slowly for the twin in the spaceship
An astronaut who fell into a black hole would be stretched because
a. black holes rotate rapidly, dragging and stretching spacetime around them
b. the force of gravity increases quickly over short distances
c. the force of gravity is very strong near a black hole
d. time is slower near the black hole's event horizon - ANSWER b. the force of gravity increases
quickly over short distances
What are the three basic directly observable structural compounds of the Milky Way? -
ANSWER The Galactic Disk, The Stellar Halo, The Bulge
If the Sun collapsed into a black hole today, how would it affect the Earth?
a. it would be dark
b. people, farm animals, and other small things would literally get sucked right off the Earth
c. Earth's orbit would widen
d. Earth's orbit would shrink - ANSWER a. it would be dark
The galactic disk of the Milky Way - ANSWER Located on the equatorial plane
A flattened distribution of stars and interstellar material within a galaxy
Distinguishes the Milky Way as a spiral galaxy. (Spiral arms: where the density of stars and gas
increases, higher concentration of massive blue stars)
The stellar halo of the Milky Way - ANSWER Surrounding the disk
