Final Flashcards
When an atom absorbs a photon and its electron moves from a lower energy level to a higher one, the atom is said to be
Excited
What is an example of something that is NOT one of the primary steps of the Scientific Method?
Interpretations
If 2 numbers differ by a factor of 1,000, how many orders of magnitude do they differ by?
3
Celsius Scale
Boiling point of water is 100 degrees
Kelvin Scale
Temperature where all atomic motion stops is 0 degrees (i.e. absolute zero)
What is NOT a fundamental property of electromagnetic radiation?
Heat
If a light bulb is placed twice as far away from you,
it becomes fainter by a factor of 4
Fahrenheit scale
Freezing point of water is 32 degrees
Which of the following is NOT one of Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion?
The rotation axes of the planets are tilted as they orbit the Sun
Given that the moon is 1.5 light seconds away from the Earth and the Sun is 8.3 light minutes away from the Earth, which one of the following statements does not sound reasonable?
New York is 5 light minutes away from Los Angeles
What is NOT a technique we use to study light?
Stoichiometry
The apparent magnitude of the faintest star your eye can see
6
The apparent magnitude of the Earth’s Moon
-13
The apparent magnitude of the sun
-27
The apparent magnitude of Planet Venus
-4
Which of the following is not a cardinal point on the Celestial Sphere?
Vernal Equinox
What is the most important factor you should consider when deciding on a telescope to buy?
The diameter of the aperture
Which is NOT a celestial coordinate system used by astronomers to locate objects in the sky?
Lunar Coordinate System
Ursa Major
Constellation
The Big Dipper
Asterism
Pisces
Constellation
Orion’s Belt
Asterism
Winter Triangle
Asterism
Orion
Constellation
Summer Triangle
Asterism
The phenomenon of retrograde motion was explained by the heliocentric model as due to
An optical illusion because superior planets orbit the Sun slower than inferior planets
The father of modern science
Galileo
Devised three laws of planetary motion
Kepler
Devised laws of motion and universal gravitation
Newton
Heliocentric Universe
Sun in the center; Copernicus
Exquisite naked-eye observer
Brahe
Johannes Kepler relied on which of the following as he devised his laws of planetary motion?
The extensive observational database of Tycho Brahe
Which of the following is not a constituent of the Solar System?
Zodiac
Helioseismology – the study of how waves move through the Sun is important because
It helps us figure out the temperature, mass, and composition of the Sun
The primary cause of the seasons on the Earth is:
The tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the ecliptic
What two conditions must be satisfied for a lunar eclipse to happen?
One of the nodes of the Moon’s orbit coincides with full moon
Which of the following is not a feature on the surface of the Sun?
Corona
a synonym for a Brown Dwarf
a failed star
The elements heavier than Helium are known as “metals” in astronomy. Where do the metals in the Universe come from?
They are synthesized inside stars
What is the proper order in terms of increasing mass for the different types of star clusters?
Associations, open clusters, globular clusters
A “supernova” is just a bigger and brighter version of a “nova.”
FALSE
Which of the following stellar properties is NOT illustrated in the HR Diagram?
Sunspots
When the Sun reaches the very end of its life, it will become a….
White Dwarf
Space between the stars, i.e. interstellar space, is completely empty – it’s a pure vacuum
FALSE
Which is NOT a type of nebula?
Bright Nebula
Interstellar dust has the following effects on background starlight?
It makes the light from stars redder and fainter
hierarchical structures in order from smallest to largest in spatial scale
Star, Solar/Stellar System, Star Cluster, Galaxy, Galaxy Cluster, Supercluster of galaxies
Galaxies are primarily classified based on which of their properties?
Morphology
Why is “Dark Matter” referred to as “Dark?”
It does not give off any light of its own
With regard to the Big Bang, Cosmic Microwave Background, and Hubble Flow, which of the following statements is true
The Big Bang created the Universe, whose expansion is known as the Hubble Flow. The Cosmic Microwave Background is the radiation left over from the Big Bang.
The basic principle behind the phenomenon of gravitational lensing is that…
Gravity can bend light just as it can objects that have mass.
Which of the following is not true about the Magellanic Clouds
They are very far away from us so to be outside the Local Group of Galaxies
Which planet has no atmosphere?
Mercury
Which planet has no moon orbiting it?
Mercury and Venus
What creates the phases of the moon?
as the Moon orbits the Earth, the Sun lights up different parts of it
