Quiz
Chapter1
On a 1-to-10 billion scale, how big is the Sun?
→ 14 cm
On a 1-to-10 billion scale, how far away is Earth from the Sun?
→ 15 meters
What is the average distance from Earth to the Sun in kilometers?
→ 150 million kilometers
What conclusion did Hubble come to regarding to the movement of galaxies?
→ The universe is expanding
How often does Earth orbit the Sun?
→ Earth orbits the Sun once a year
How many galaxies are estimated to exist in the observable universe?
→ There are about 100 billion galaxies
What is the speed of light in kilometers per second?
→ Light travels at 300,000 km/s
How do the number of stars in the Milky Way compare to grains of sand on Earth?
→ There are my be as many stars as grains of sand
What is the estimated age of the universe?
→ The universe is 14 billion years old
How many galaxies does the Milky Way belong to?
→ The Milky Way is one of 100 billion galaxies
What is comet?
→ Comets orbit stars and are icy
What is observable universe?
→ Light from 12 billion light-years away shows the universe as it was 2 billion years ago
What is planet in our solar system?
→ Planets shine only by reflected light
What does the observation of the Orion Nebula illustrate about how we see the universe?
→ Orion Nebula appears as it was 1500 years ago
What is true about the Milky Way Galaxy?
→ The Milky Way contains 100 billion stars
What is our observation of distant galaxies?
→ The farther we look, the older the universe appears
What did Hubble’s observations lead to regarding the movement of galaxies?
→ The more distant a galaxy, the faster it moves away from us.
How long ago did the light we see from a galaxy 12 billion light-years away travel?
→ 12 billion years ago
What structure is Earth a part of?
→ Local Group of galaxies
How often does the Sun revolve around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy?
→ The Sun revolves around the Milky Way every 230 million years
Approximately how long would it take to count the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy at a rate of one star per second?
→ More than 3000 years to count Milky Way stars at one per second
What significant revolution changed the perception of Earth’s position in the universe?
→ Copernican Revolution
Approximately how many galaxies are estimated to be in the observable universe?
→ 100 billion
What is the radius of the observable universe?
→ 14 billion light-years
Chapter3
What occurs during a lunar eclipse?
→ The Moon passes into Earth’s shadow
Why don’t we experience on eclipse at every new and full moon?
→ Because of the tilt of the Moon’s orbit
What is the measurement of a full circle in degrees?
→ 360 degrees
How many arcseconds are in 1 degree?
→ 3600 arcseconds
Why does modern science trace its roots to the Greeks?
→ Greek philosophers were the first to model nature
What was significant about ancient Greek models of nature?
→ They explained patterns without myths
What explains the apparent retrograde motion of planets?
→ Retrograde motion is a result of Earth’s movement
What event marked Copernicus’ significant shift in astronomical models?
→ Copernican Revolution
What was the primary model proposed by Copernicus?
→ Sun-centered model with circular orbits
How did Tycho Brahe contribute to the Copernican revolution?
→ By providing detailed measurement
What is one of Kepler’s laws of planetary motion?
→ Planets sweep out equal areas in equal times
What was a major contribution of Galileo to the Copernican revolution?
→ Galileo proved the Earth revolves around the Sun
Which of Kepler’s law states that the orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus?
→ Kepler’s First Law
Is the geocentric model entirely outdated?
→ Some geocentric principles apply in magnetospheric physics?
Who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system?
→ Nicholaus Copernicus
What contribution did Tycho Brahe make to astronomy?
→ Provided precise data for planetary orbits
Which of Kepler’s laws states that planets move in elliptical orbits?
→ First Law
What shape is the orbit of each planet according to Kepler’s First Law?
→ Ellipse
According to Kepler’s Second Law, what do planets do as they travel around their orbit?
→ They sweep out equal areas in equal times.
What does Kepler’s Third Law express about the relationship between the distance of planets from the Sun and their orbital speed?
→ Closer planets orbit faster.
What was the main characteristic of the Ptolemaic model of the universe?
→ Geocentric
Which ancient civilization is credited with the first attempts to model nature scientifically?
→ Greeks
What was one main reason the Greeks’ scientific models were significant?
→ They began to explain patterns in nature rationally.
What are the two types of eclipses that can occur?
→ Lunar and Solar
During which type of eclipse does the Earth cast a shadow on the Moon?
→ Lunar Eclipse
What causes a solar eclipse?
→ The Moon blocking sunlight from reaching the Earth
Which planet is known as the “Red Planet”?
→ Mars
Which planet has the most extensive ring system?
→ Saturn
What is the largest planet in our solar system?
→ Jupiter
Who is known for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation?
→ Issac Newton
Which scientist improved the telescope and supported the heliocentric model through his observation?
→ Galileo Galilei
Who developed the first accurate model of planetary motion, including elliptical orbits?
→ Kepler
What major observation did Galileo make that supported the heliocentric model?
→ The moons of Jupiter
What is a solar eclipse?
→ The Moon casts a shadow on the Earth
During which eclipse does the Sun appear to turn dark?
→ Solar Eclipse
What phase of the Moon must occur for a solar eclipse to take place?
→ New Moon
Which astronomer is known for his precise astronomical instruments and data collection?
→ Tycho Brahe
Who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation?
→ Issac Newton
What did Galileo improve that greately helped in astronomical observations?
→ The telescope