NSCI 111 ASTRONOMY TEST #5 7/05/2007 Dr.
Holmes NAME
ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS. THE WORTH OF EACH
QUESTION IS IN () AFTER THE QUESTION.
1. THE MILKY WAY:
a)
(2) Name two constellations that the Milky Way goes through in the sky or name
two stars in or near the Milky Way:
b)
(3) Approximately how many stars does the Milky Way galaxy contain?
c)
(3) What is the distance from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other end
(longest distance of disk)?
d)
(3) Draw a picture of the Milky Way galaxy and indicate approximately where we
are in the galaxy.
2. GALAXIES
a)
(6) What are the three major types of galaxies:
b)
(2) What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?
c)
(2) What type is the Andromeda galaxy?
d)
(3) How far away is the Andromeda galaxy from us?
3. THE LOCAL GROUP
a)
(2) What is the local group?
b)
(1) Roughly, how many are in the local group?
c)
(3) Who are its major "players" (give names):
4. QUASARS: (4) Briefly write what you know
about these things
5. GALACTIC DISTANCES
a)
(4) How are the distances to the nearer galaxies determined?
b)
(4) How are the distances to the farther galaxies determined?
c)
(4) How are the distances to the furthest galaxies determined?
6. (6) What are the three main cosmological
facts?
1.
2.
3.
7. a)
(4) Briefly describe the "Big Bang" theory:
b)
(9) Discuss how it explains the three main cosmological facts:
1.
2.
3.
8. a)
(4) According to the "Big Bang" theory, how old is the universe?
b)
(6) Describe two ways in which this age is determined:
1.
2.
9. Open/infinite vs Closed/finite Universe
a)
(6) In the context of the "Big Bang" theory, distinguish between an
"open" (infinite) and a "closed" (finite) universe.
OPEN:
CLOSED:
b)
(4) Indicate one method that, if we can actually get good enough measurements,
will tell what type our universe is.
10. (5) What is the main short-coming of the
steady state theory according to most astronomers?
11. TRUE or FALSE: (+1 for each correct; 0
for each blank; -1 for each wrong)
(or
subtracting from 100: -0 if correct, -1 if blank, -2 if wrong)
__T___a) New
stars, including O and B stars, form in the arms of spiral galaxies and in
irregular galaxies. They do not usually
appear in the central bulge of spiral galaxies or in elliptical galaxies.
__F___b) The
solar system is in one of the arms of the Andromeda galaxy.
__F___c) The
Large Magellanic Cloud is a spiral galaxy very much like our own and is about 200,000
light years away from us.
__T___d) There
appear to be clusters of galaxies, and there also appear to be clusters of clusters,
or SUPER‑clusters, of galaxies.
__T___e) There appear to be
both giant and dwarf elliptical galaxies.
__F___f) It
has been proven scientifically that a fourth dimension does exist and that
there are other "universes" in that dimension.
__F___g) It is
impossible to go faster than light.
Therefore it is impossible to travel 4 light years in less than 4 years
(as measured on the spaceship doing the traveling).
__T___h) It is
theoretically possible to have a finite universe without boundaries.
__F___i) Life
on earth is biochemical in nature, based on carbon for chemical bonding and
water for transport of heat and nutrients.
While carbon is a good element for chemical bonding, there are other elements that are equally as
good if not better.
__T___j) The
background temperature of space is about 3 K, the earth's temperature is about
300 K, and the sun's surface temperature is about 6,000 K. All of these temperatures can be determined
using the continuous spectrum and comparing relative energies in the different wavelengths
(colors) in that spectrum.