Space Quizzes (History, Stars, etc.) Flashcards

1
Q

What observations by Galileo rejected the Aristotelian geocentric model of the universe?

A

Observing four moons of Jupiter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which one is the experimental confirmations for predictions of the general relativity?

A

The precession of the perihelion of Mercury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who was the first to explain by mathematical methods the universal laws governing the motion of the planets?

A

Kepler

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What makes Charles Darwin’s work on evolution so unique and convincing?

A

The volume and strength of the data and using scientific methods to understand the data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What happens when anti-matter and matter interact with each other?

A

They annihilate each other, resulting in the conversion of matter to energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which statement is wrong?

  • Electrons are moving around the nucleus.
  • Atoms consist of electrons, protons, and neutrons.
  • Free neutrons decay to protons emitting an electron and a neutrino.
  • Protons and electrons have three quarks each
A

Protons and electrons have three quarks each

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The curvature of the universe is…

A

Flat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which of the following is wrong?

  • The disorder in a physical system is called entropy
  • There is more tendency for a physical system to evolve to higher state of disorder.
  • The entropy of a system is an invariant quantity over time.
  • There is more tendency for a physical system to evolve to higher entropy.
A

The entropy of a system is an invariant quantity over time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Electrons and positrons collide and produce…

A

Photons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which one is not a conservation law?

  • Conservation of angular momentum
  • Conservation of momentum
  • Conservation of energy
  • Conservation of entropy
A

Conservation of entropy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Two electrons mainly interact through the…

A

Electromagnetic force

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which of the four fundamental forces keeps atomic nuclei from falling apart?

A

Strong nuclear force

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Deuterium is formed by the combination of…

A

A proton and a neutron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Which of the following is not part of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (formation of elements heavier than Hydrogen isotopes)?

  • The fusion of a neutron with Deuterium to create Tritium
  • Proton-Neutron capture
  • The synthesis of elements to form 7Li or 7Be (each with an atomic number of 7)
  • The fusion of a neutron with 4He to create 5He
A

The fusion of a neutron with 4He to create 5He

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does the Big Bang Theory predict?

A

It predicts that about 75% of the mass of the baryonic matter ended up in Hydrogen with about 25% in He. Also, it predicts that about 380,000 years after the big bang, radiation decoupled from matter and the universe had a temperature of about 3000 Kelvin. Also, it predicts that temperature drops as the Universe expands.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is not true about the Cosmic Microwave Background?

  • It is the leftover radiation from the Big Bang.
  • Since decoupling, its temperature has dropped from 3000 K to a current value of about 3K.
  • It was first discovered by Penzias and Wilson in the 1940s.
  • The slight density contrasts in it are the initial perturbations which eventually grew into galaxies and galaxy clusters).
A

It was first discovered by Penzias and Wilson in the 1940s.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the chronological order (first to last) of Dark Ages, Big Bang, and Reionization?

A

Big Bang, Dark Ages, Reionization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the epoch of reionization.

A

High energy light, produced by early stars and galaxies, hit atoms and removed electrons from them, making the universe transparent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the order of the early stages of the formation of stars: Hot or cold molecular gas, protostar phase, gravitational collapse, formation of disk?

A

Cold molecular gas, gravitational collapse, formation of disk, protostar phase.

20
Q

Describe the Cosmic Dawn.

A

Occurs 510^8 years after the big bang.
Lasts about 500-600
10^6 years.
Refers to the era of reionization.
Is caused by the birth of young stars that produce UV photons.

21
Q

What is the theory of inflation?

A

Space underwent a rapid expansion in a very brief period in the early universe.

22
Q

What is the approximate age of the universe?

A

10 Gyr

23
Q

Which force is not described by the standard model?

A

Gravity

24
Q

Why do we call dark matter “dark”?

A

It emits no or very little electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength.

25
Q

Based on current evidence, a supercluster is most likely to have formed in regions of space where…

A

The density of dark matter was slightly higher than average when the universe was very young

26
Q

How are rotation curves of spiral galaxies determined beyond radii where starlight can be detected?

A

Through observations of the 21 cm line of atomic hydrogen

27
Q

What is meant by “dark energy”

A

The agent causing the universal expansion to accelerate

28
Q

I observe a galaxy that is 100 million light-years away: what do I see?

A

The light from the galaxy as it was 100 million years ago and it is redshifted.

29
Q

If the universe is open…

A

Material will get further and further apart, and eventually no new stars will form.

30
Q

How does gravitational lensing tell us about the mass of a galaxy cluster?

A

Using Einstein’s general theory of relativity, we can calculate the cluster’s mass from the precise way in which it distorts the light of galaxies behind it.

31
Q

How old is the universe and how do we know?

A

14 billion years old; the expansion of the universe appears to have started about this long ago.

32
Q

What are the 3 statements of critical density?

A
  • critical density is greater than 1 = the universe will recollapse.
  • critical density is less than 1 = the universe will expand forever.
  • critical density is equal to 1 = the density of th universe is critical;stable
33
Q

What are 3 examples of dark matter? What is one example of something that is not dark matter?

A

The planet Uranus, an isolated black hole, and a weakly interacting massive particle are examples of dark matter. The star Sirius A is not an example of dark matter.

34
Q

Which is not a type of galaxy? S0, SBc, E0, or Ir?

A

Ir is not a type of galaxy

35
Q

Describe Population I stars and their location

A

Population I stars are younger and bluer than other stars and they are found mainly in the outer regions of galaxies.

36
Q

The minimum temperature for Carbon fusions is higher or lower than the temperature needed for Helium fusion?

A

Higher

37
Q

In general, the heavier elements require higher or lower temperature to start fusion?

A

Higher

38
Q

Where have elements heavier than iron been produced?

A

Supernovae

39
Q

What is the main source of the heat and light from stars?

A

Nuclear reaction

40
Q

Where can elements heavier than carbon be produced?

A

Core of the massive stars

41
Q

What are 3 stages of a massive star? What is one stage that is not part of the massive star evolution?

A

Neutron star, red supergiant, and black hole are stages of a massive star evolution. Black dwarf is not a stage in the massive star evolution.

42
Q

What happens after the hydrogen-burning phase in a low mass star?

A

The core collapses

43
Q

What is the composition of the gas between stars?

A

98% Hydrogen and Helium, 2% heavier elements

44
Q

What is the definition of the escape velocity?

A

The minimum speed needed for a free object to escape from the gravitational influence of a massive object.

45
Q

Describe a white dwarf. What is one thing that does not describe a white dwarf?

A

A white dwarf has degenerate material, it is very dense, and it has a surface temperature of about 25000 K. A white dwarf does not have a very large radii.

46
Q

Describe a black hole.

A

Light cannot escape from a black hole. A black hole can have spin. A black hole does not lose its mass when there is a companion star close to it. As gas around a black hole spirals into the black hole, it emits X-ray.

47
Q

High mass stars most likely make what? Low mass stars turn into what?

A

High mass stars most likely make supernovae, and low mass stars most likely turn into white dwarfs.