Chapter 1

Question 1

What started everything and when?

Answer 1

The Big Bang

13.82 billion years ago

Question 2

What was it like when the universe started and today

Answer 2

Hot start with 10^30 K

and now cold with 3K

Question 3

What happened from the start to present

Answer 3

Forces existed, elementary particles formed, protons & atoms formed, galaxies, stars, us formed

Question 4

What was the first evidence of the Big Bang

Answer 4

Penzias and Wilson in 1965

Question 5

What is cosmic microwave background

Answer 5

Radiation from Big Bang that is faint glow in sky of microwaves

Question 6

What caused formation of atoms

Answer 6

Excited electrons used atom (3000K) to make light that has been background radiation

Question 7

What is order of formation of all things

Answer 7

Galaxies, stars, planets, humans

Question 8

How was everything started

Answer 8

Gravity separates into fundamental particles (quarks and electrons) where quarks combine to protons and neutrons that then combine to atomic nuclei to make atoms to make light to make matter into clouds to make galaxies and stars

Question 9

How do astronomers explore locally

Answer 9

Probes & Instruments

Question 10

How do astronomers explore the universe

Answer 10

Light

Question 11

How fast does light travel at a finite speed

Answer 11

300,000 km/s

186,000 mi/s

Question 12

What is the light travel time for the Moon

Answer 12

1 second; 243k miles

Question 13

How far is Sun from Earth

Answer 13

8 minutes light travel and 93 million miles

Question 14

What js a light-year

Answer 14

Distance light can travel in 1 year

Question 15

How far is a light year

Answer 15

10 trillion km

Question 16

What is scientific method

Answer 16

Observation | Hypothesis | Prediction | Test Prediction

Question 17

What is scientific theory

Answer 17

Explain variety of observations with principles
Supported by evidence
Has not failed in tests of validity
Makes predictions

Question 18

What can’t a scientific model include

Answer 18

Cannot include divine intervention | explanations rely on natural causes

Question 19

How does science progress

Answer 19

From developing and testing models of nature that explain observations

Question 20

What must a scientific model have

Answer 20

Testable predictions about natural phenomena

Question 21

What are patterns in stars

Answer 21

Constellations that define our origin

Question 22

What is the Celestial Sphere

Answer 22

Universe from Earth’s POV

Question 23

What is Local Sky

Answer 23

Universe from person’s POV

Question 24

Ultimate goal of scientific theory

Answer 24

Physical Law

Question 25

Hallmark#1

Answer 25

No divine intervention

Explanations for phenomena from natural causes

Question 26

Hallmark#2

Answer 26

Observations explained simply and through testing of models

Question 27

Hallmark#3

Answer 27

Must have testable predictions about natural phenomena that can be revised

Question 28

R*

Answer 28

Rate of star formation

Question 29

fp

Answer 29

Fraction of stars with planets

Question 30

ne

Answer 30

number of habitable planets

Question 31

fl

Answer 31

Fraction of habitable planets with life

Question 32

fi

Answer 32

Fraction of life planets with IQ

Question 33

fc

Answer 33

Fraction of intelligent civilizations that can communicate/have technology

Question 34

L

Answer 34

How long does civilization last