FINAL EXAMINATION

1. On your [Scantron] answer sheet, fill in the letter indicating your examination
version by using the following information:
A
*B Your examination version is B
C
D
E
2. Whether a star will end its life as a black hole, a neutron star, or a white
dwarf depends on its
*A mass
B radius
C rotation rate
D surface temperature
E none of the above
3. A planetary nebula is
A a flat disk of material around a protostar
*B an expanding shell of gas around a dying star
C .the evaporation of a planet when a star becomes a red giant
D the final state of a star having a very small size
E is a disk around a planet
4. What is the approximate age of the star cluster in the diagram below?
A 2 million years
B 2 billion years
*C 10 billion years
D 100 billion years
E its age cannot be estimated from the HR diagram

5. In the diagram below, which point indicates the location on the HR diagram of
a one solar mass star when it undergoes helium flash?
A1
B2
C3
D4
*E 5

6. Using the same diagram, at what location would you find our Sun during most
of its lifetime?
A1
B2
C3
*D 4
E5
7. Again using the same diagram, which number corresponds to the location of
white dwarfs?
*A 1
B2
C3
D4
E5
8. Again using the diagram from before, where might you find a blue
supergiant?
A1
*B 2
C3
D4
E5
9. Younger stars have more heavy elements because
A old stars destroy heavy elements as they age

B young stars burn their nuclear fuels faster

*C the heavy elements were made in previous generations of stars
D heavy elements haven't had time to settle to the core of these younger stars
E all of the above
10.Population II stars: I ) are primarily found in the disk of the galaxy; II) contain
more heavy metals than Population I stars; III) are primarily old low mass
stars; IV) are located in globular clusters.
*A III and IV
B I and II
C II
D IV
E I, II and III
11.A megaparsec is equivalent to
A 3.26 light-years
B 206,265 light years
C 206,265 AU
*D 3,260,000 light-years
E the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy
12.The mass of a single galaxy might be found by
A the double galaxy method
*B the rotation curve method
C the cluster method
D any of the above methods
E none of the above methods
13.A Hubble galaxy classification diagram is shown.
Which of the labeled figures represents an Sa galaxy?
A1
B2
C3
D4

*E 5
14.Which galaxy is an SBa galaxy?
A1
*B 2
C3
D4
E5
15.Which galaxy is a type of elliptical galaxy?
*A 1
B2
C3
D4
E5
16.If H equals 50 km/sec/Mpc, then a galaxy with a radial velocity of 2000
km/sec probably has a distance of
A 2050 Mpc
B 1950 Mpc
*C 40 Mpc
D 0.025 Mpc
E 100,000 Mpc
17.The discovery of the gravitational lens effect for quasars
A shows that quasars were located within the local group of galaxies.
B shows that quasars were giant elliptical galaxies at very great distances.
*C shows that quasars are much further away than the distant galaxy that forms the
gravitational lens.
D proves Newton's theory of gravitation by showing that the photon was affected by
gravity.
E proves the existence of super massive black holes at the center of active galactic
nuclei.
18.What was the first evidence that quasars were different from any objects
observed before they were discovered?

A The first quasars were seen to have fuzz.

*B Quasars emitted radio energy like active galaxies, but appeared to be point
sources at visible light.
C Quasars showed significant gravitational lens effects.
D The spectra of quasars looked like that of an M dwarf.
E The large red shifts originally indicated that they were orbiting the center of the
Milky Way.
19.The assumption of homogeneity states that
A the universe looks the same at all epochs.
*B the universe looks the same from all locations over sufficiently great distances.
C the universe looks the same in all directions over sufficiently great distances.
D all the above.
E none of the above.
20.If galaxy A is four times more distant than galaxy B, then according to the
Hubble Law, galaxy A will recede ___________ than galaxy B.
A 16 times faster
*B 4 times faster
C 2 times faster
D 1.2 times faster
E 0.25 times faster
21.The universe is said to be closed if
I. gravity is strong enough to stop the expansion in a finite time.
II. the density of the universe is less than the critical density.
III. the universe is finite.
A I and II
*B I and III
C I, II and III
D II and III
E none of the above
22.The age of the universe can be determined if
A the universe is flat.

B the amount of dark matter in the universe can be accurately determined.

C the rate of recession of the galaxies in the Local Group can be accurately
determined.
D the temperature of the cosmic background radiation can be accurately
determined.
*E the Hubble constant and density of the universe can be accurately determined.
23.The center of the universe, the site of the big bang,
A could be located if we could find a galaxy which is not moving.
B is located in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius.
*C is not at any one location.
D is the one point in the universe everything is moving away from.
E was destroyed by the original explosion.
24.Which of the following can be used to estimate the distance of galaxies to the
greatest distances?
A cepheids
B supergiant stars
*C supernovae
D trigonometric parallax
E radar
25.Most astronomers believe that the energy-emitting regions of quasars are
very small because quasars
A are often bright in radio waves.
B do not emit very much light.
C do not expand with the universe.
D have very high redshifts.
*E show brightness variations over relatively short times.
26.The cosmic background radiation has a spectrum similar to that of
*A a blackbody at 3 K.
B a blackbody at 300 K.
C a Seyfert galaxy.
D the Sun.

E 1000 points of light.

27.Which of the following is evidence that the Steady State model is probably
wrong?
A galaxies are found throughout the universe.
*B the existence of the background radiation.
C the universe is expanding.
D all of the above.
E none of the above.
28.The condensation sequence suggests that __________ should condense closest
to the sun.
A Jovian planets
*B metals and metal oxides
C silicates
D ices of water, methane, and ammonia
E low density materials
29.A future news release might report that a new planet has been found around
a star very similar to our sun. This newly discovered planet is claimed to have
a mass 40 times that of Earth and is located nearly 25 AU from the star it
orbits. Which of the following would be a reasonable prediction about this
planet?
I. The planet will probably have a mean density of around 5 g/cm.
II. The planet will probably have a radius of around five to ten
times greater than Earth's.
III. The planet will probably have several satellites.
IV. The planet will probably have a composition that is mostly
hydrogen and helium.

A I & IV
B I, II, & III
*C II, III, & IV
D I, II, & IV
E I, II, III, & IV

30.The greenhouse effect occurs because

*A carbon dioxide is transparent to visible light and opaque to infrared radiation.
B carbon dioxide is transparent to infrared radiation and opaque to ultraviolet
radiation.
C ozone is transparent to ultraviolet radiation and opaque to infrared radiation.
D methane is transparent to infrared radiation and opaque to visible light.
E the sun emits more infrared radiation than ultraviolet radiation.
31.Earth possesses few visible craters and the moon possesses many. This is
because
A Earth formed later than the moon and, therefore hasn't encountered as many
meteoroids.
B the moon doesn't have an atmosphere that could burn up meteorites before
impacting.
C erosion and plate tectonics have slowly removed evidence of past cratering on
Earth.
D All of the above.
*E Only B and C above.
32.Which of the following represents the MANTLE of the Earth?
A
*B
C
D
E None of the above is the mantle.
33.How rapidly a planet loses its atmosphere depends on the planet's
I. mass
II. atmospheric composition
III. temperature
IV. rotation period

A I & II
B III & IV

*C I, II, & III

D II, III, & IV
E I, II, III, & IV
34.The rotation of Uranus is peculiar in that
A it is much slower than is typical for Jovian planets.
B it is much faster than is typical for Jovian planets.
C the equator rotates much faster than the poles.
*D the axis is nearly parallel to the plane of its orbit.
E it can not be measure because Uranus has no surface features.
35.Both Jupiter and Saturn
A have liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors.
B have rings.
C emit more energy than the absorb from the sun.
D have belt and zone circulation.
*E All of the above
36.Compared to its period of revolution, the Moon's period of rotation is
A longer
B shorter
*C the same length
D sometimes longer, sometimes shorter
E the Moon does not rotate
37.The period of a planet revolving around the Sun can be found if we know its
*A average distance from the Sun
B density
C mass
D period of rotation
E more than one of the above are necessary
38.At what latitude on Earth is the North Celestial Pole on the horizon?
A the Arctic Circle
*B the equator

C the North Pole

D the South Pole
E there are many latitudes where this occurs
39.Galileo's observations of the phases of Venus helped convince him that
A the Moon goes around the Earth
B the Sun goes around the Earth
C Venus goes around the Earth
*D Venus goes around the Sun
E Ptolemy's model of the solar system was correct
40.Suppose you are a space shuttle astronaut taking a space walk. Your life line
breaks and the jets on your backpack are out of fuel. How can you get back
to the shuttle alive?
A flap your arms
B lean closer to the center of mass
*C throw your backpack directly away from the shuttle
D wait for gravity to pull you and the shuttle together
E start spinning yourself
41.If the Earth's axis were not tilted with respect to its orbital plane, then
A a mean solar day would be longer
B a sidereal day would be longer
C the tides would be much stronger
*D there would be virtually no seasons
E the period of revolution and rotation would be equal
42.What is the phase of the Moon at point 1 in the diagram?
*A first quarter
B full
C new
D third quarter
E waning crescent
43.At what point in the diagram is the phase of the Moon waxing crescent?

A1
B2
C3
D5
*E 8
44.According to Kepler's second law, a planet is moving fastest in its orbit when
it is at
A aphelion
B conjunction
C opposition
*D perihelion
E planets orbit the Sun at a constant speed
45.Which of the following dates has the shortest period of daylight for people in
the southern hemisphere?
A March 21
*B June 22
C September 23
D December 22
E all of the above have the same period of daylight
46.If you found yourself stranded on a desert island, you could easily distinguish
the planets from the stars because the planets
A appear much brighter than any star
B can be seen during the day
C differ in color from the stars
D have discernible surface features
*E move relative to the stars
47.Based on Newton's first law, if a body is moving with a curved path, then
A it is being controlled by gravity
*B there is a force acting on it
C there is no equal and opposite reaction
D there is no force acting

E the body's position cannot be determined precisely

48.Mars has an equatorial diameter of 6,794 kilometers. How would this be
expressed in scientific notation in units of meters?
A 6,794,000 meters
B 6.794 x 103 meters
C 6.794 x 105 meters
D 6.794 x 109 meters
*E 6.794 x 106 meters
49.The star Ross 128 in the constellation Virgo has an apparent magnitude of 11
while the star Luyten 789-6 has an apparent magnitude of 12. Which star is
brighter?
*A Ross 128
B Luyten 789-6
C they have the same brightness
D all of the above
E none of the above
50.Compared to the gravitational force of the Earth on the Moon, the force of the
Moon on the Earth is
A much less
B slightly less
*C the same
D slightly more
E much more
51.In about 200 BC Eratosthenes measured the circumference of the Earth. The
observation he used was
*A the difference in the Sun's altitude at two places
B the length of the sidereal day
C the rate at which a ship sailing out to sea disappeared
D the size of the Earth's shadow on the Moon during an eclipse
E the difference in dip of two suspended magnetized iron rods
52.Modern astrology

A is a reasonable way to use planetary motions to guide ones life

B is an accurate way of determining a persons characteristics
C accurately predicts your chance of finding true love
D a, b and c
*E has no scientific basis
53.If gravity were to suddenly disappear for our orbiting space shuttle
astronauts, they would (by Newtons first Law)
*A go flying in a straight line away from Earth
B go around the Earth as before
C drop straight down to the ground
D remain in the position it was before gravity ceased
E none of the above
54.In our (Northern Hemisphere) winter the sun rises:
A north of east
B due East
*C south of east
D due West
E due North
55.Jupiter's maximum distance from the sun is approximately 8.2 x
108 kilometers and its minimum distance is roughly 7.4 x 10 8 kilometers.
What's the difference between the minimum and maximum distance?
A 8.0 x 108
B 1.2 x 108
C 1.2 x 107
D 1.8 x 108
*E 8.0 x 107
56.An observer viewing a continuous light source through a cool cloud of gas will
see
A a continuous spectrum
*B an absorption spectrum
C an emission spectrum

D any one of the above is possible

E none of the above is true
57.The release of energy from the Sun is accompanied by a very slight
*A decrease in the mass of the Sun
B increase in the Sun's gravitational attraction on the planets
C increase in the Sun's rotation rate
D all of the above
E none of the above
58.Although similar to optical telescopes, radio telescopes
A cannot be made as large
B must be put in space
*C use wire mesh instead of mirrors
D were found to be useless since no astronomical objects emit radio waves
E can only be used during daylight hours
59.The main function of a telescope is generally to
*A collect more photons from faint objects
B help us see radiation that cannot get through the Earth's atmosphere
C magnify star images
D separate light into its spectrum
E generate light
60.The spectrum of a blackbody is
*A a continuous spectrum
B an absorption spectrum
C an emission spectrum
D any of the above
E a blackbody has no spectrum
61.Most of the Sun's energy is produced in
A supergranules
B the convection zone
*C the core

D the photosphere
E the chromosphere
62.Astronomer Laurel emits a photon with a wavelength of 6563 A (Angstroms).
This photon is intercepted by astronomer Hardy, who measures its
wavelength to be 6565 A. You can conclude that Laurel and Hardy are
A at different temperatures
*B moving apart
C moving closer together
D using different systems of measurement
E not moving at all, relative to one another
63.Sunspots are
A areas obscured by higher layers
B ashes of nuclear burning brought to the surface by convection
C holes in the photosphere that allow us to see deeper regions
*D regions which are cooler and darker than surrounding material
E causing global warming
64.The fraction of the Sun that is comprised of elements besides hydrogen and
helium is roughly
A 98%
B 90%
C 50%
D 10%
*E 2%
65.Energy generation in the Sun results from
A fission of uranium
*B fusion of hydrogen
C gravitational contraction
D the Sun isn't generating energy; it's just cooling
E endothermic chemical reactions
66.The following have wavelengths LONGER than visible light:
*A infrared, microwave, radio

B ultraviolet, microwave, radio

C ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma ray
D all of the above have wavelengths greater than visible light
E none of the above have wavelengths greater than visible light
67.Which type of telescope has a lens as its objective?
A reflector
B radio
*C refractor
D Hubble
E none of the above use a lens as the objective
68.Wien's Law relates which two properties of an object?
A temperature and velocity
*B temperature and peak wavelength
C temperature and energy radiated
D focus and wavelength
E Doppler shift and wavelength
69.Stephan's Law relates which two properties of an object?
A temperature and velocity
B temperature and peak wavelength
*C temperature and energy radiated
D focus and wavelength
E Doppler shift and wavelength
70.If you turn up the temperature of an oven from 250 degrees Fahrenheit to
500 degrees Fahrenheit, the oven will be radiating how much more energy?
A 10 times
B 2 times
C 4 times
D 8 times
*E 16 times

71.If you apply a high voltage across electrodes in a chamber of hydrogen, the
type of spectrum you will see in a spectroscope looking at the gas is:
*A an emission spectrum
B an absorption spectrum
C a continuous spectrum
D all of the above spectra
E none of the above spectra
72.The correct order of the layers of the Sun from innermost to outermost is:
A core, chromosphere, radiative layer, photosphere, convective layer, corona
B core, convective layer, radiative layer, photosphere, chromosphere, corona
*C core, radiative layer, convective layer, photosphere, chromosphere, corona
D core, photosphere, radiative layer, convective layer, chromosphere, corona
E core, radiative layer, photosphere, convective layer, chromosphere, corona
73.The proton-proton reaction in the core of the sun is a multi-step process in
reality, but it can be summarized as such:
A 1 x 4He 4 x 1H + energy
B 4 x 1He 1 x 4H + energy
C 4 x 1H + energy 1 x 4He
*D 4 x 1H 1 x 4He + energy
E none of the above summarize the core reactions
74.The spectral types of stars utilize the letters A B F G K M O. Arrange in order
from COOLEST to HOTTEST:
A O-B-A-F-G-K-M
*B M-K-G-F-A-B-O
C A-B-O-F-G-K-M
D M-K-G-F-O-B-A
E B-A-G-K-O-M-F
75.If you add 2.7 x 102 to 1.0 x 103 the result is:
A 3.7 x 102
B 2.7 x 103
*C 1.27 x 103

D 2.7 x 105
E 3.7 x 105
76.An astronomer observing a star cluster in the Galaxy could do which of the
following to determine the age of the cluster?
*A construct an HR diagram for the cluster
B count the number of cepheids in the cluster
C measure the Doppler shifts of many stars in the cluster
D wait for a supernova in the cluster and measure its light curve
E check the radial and transverse velocities
77.A star that is cool and faint will fall in what part of an HR diagram?
A lower left
*B lower right
C upper left
D upper right
E more information is necessary to answer
78.Which of the following do astronomers use to discover possible black holes?
A dark regions in the sky
B red-shifted optical spectra
C spheres of orbiting photons
*D strong X-ray emission
E the slowing of clocks
79.Pulsars are believed to be
A pulsating neutron stars
B pulsating white dwarfs
*C rotating neutron stars
D rotating white dwarfs
E alien radio transmissions
80.A B-type star leaves the main sequence due to
A exploding as a supernova
*B the exhaustion of hydrogen in its core

C the onset of helium burning

D the onset of the CNO cycle
E none of the above
81.A new star begins to form when
A an existing star is broken apart
*B an interstellar cloud collapses by its own gravity
C fresh material falls onto the core of a previously-dead star
D nuclear reactions start inside a large planet
E new stars don't form anymore

The following table gives the name, absolute magnitude, apparent magnitude, and
spectral type for five stars. Answer the following six questions using this table and
the appropriate letter corresponding to the star that is best described by the line
given. Note that stars/letters may be used more than once.
Star Name M m SpT
A Aldeberan -0.5 +0.9 K5 III
B Antares -3.8 +1.0 M2 I
C Deneb -7.2 +1.3 A2 I
D Fomalhaut +2.0 +1.2 A3 V
E Spica -3.5 +1.0 B1 III

82.Which star appears brightest in the sky?

*A
B
C
D
E
83.Which star is intrinsically the brightest?
A
B
*C

D
E
84.Which star is hottest?
A
B
C
D
*E
85.Which star is farthest away?
A
B
*C
D
E
86.A star that is cool and bright will fall in what part of an HR diagram?
A lower left
B lower right
C upper left
*D upper right
E there exist no such stars
87.A supernova explosion may cause
*A a nearby cloud of gas to collapse to form a new star
B a nearby cloud of gas to form a planetary nebula
C other nearby stars to become neutron stars or black holes
D other nearby stars to explode as supernovae
E fission to occur
88.In the HR diagram, most stars lie on the main sequence because
*A all stars spend most of their lives there
B most stars have been born very recently
C other stars are not plotted on the HR diagram

D other stars are very faint and hard to see

E other stars prevent them leaving the diagonal
89.Belt and zone circulation
A has been observed only on Jupiter.
B is caused by the planet's magnetic field.
*C is caused by rising and sinking gases.
D is more obvious on Saturn than Jupiter.
E explains the formation of Cassini's division.
90.Pluto's density is 1.8 g/cm. This implies that
A Pluto has a large iron-nickel core.
*B Pluto is about 50% water and 50% rocky material.
C Pluto should have a magnetic field about one-third as strong as Earth's.
D Pluto is still geologically active.
E Pluto probably has a small ring system that hasn't yet been detected.
91.Most of the asteroids orbit the sun in a belt between the orbits of
A Venus and Earth.
B Earth and Mars.
C Jupiter and Saturn.
*D Mars and Jupiter.
E Mercury and Venus.
92.The gas tail of a comet always
A trails behind the head along the orbital path.
B extends ahead of the head along the orbital path.
C points toward the sun.
D points perpendicular to the orbital path.
*E points away from the sun.
93.An asteroid has an orbital period around the sun of 5.2 years. How far from
the sun is this asteroid?
A 5.2 AU
B 10.4 AU

C 27 AU
*D 3 AU
E 2.3 AU
94.Where do we believe is the origin of most common comets?
A The Asteroid Belt.
*B The Oort Cloud.
C Saturn's Rings.
D The Beltway.
E Jupiter's Rings.
95.Life on Earth is based on
A silicon chemistry.
B helium chemistry.
*C carbon chemistry.
D oxygen chemistry.
E nitrogen chemistry.
96.What limitation(s) make it close to impossible to travel, round trip, between
stars?
I. Fuel requirements
II. The tremendous distances between stars
III. The finite speed at which objects can travel
AI
B I and II
C III
D II and III
*E I, II and III
97.The Drake equation allows us to estimate
*A the number of intelligent civilizations in our galaxy.
B the number of stars in our galaxy.
C the number of people on the Earth.
D the lifespan of a civilization.

E the lifespan of a species.

98.Which was the first planet discovered to have rings?
A Jupiter
B Neptune
C Pluto
D Uranus
*E Saturn
99.Which of these planets is least dense?
A Jupiter
B Neptune
C Pluto
D Uranus
*E Saturn
100.

Which of the following is farthest from the Sun this year?

A Jupiter
*B Neptune
C Pluto
D Uranus
E Saturn

ASTR 103-002
FINAL Examination ESSAY Question

INCLUDE NAME
AND Student ID#
ON EVERY PAGE

Choose ONE of the following themes for your essay. The essay counts for
50 out of the 300 points that are associated with this final. Don't skimp.

A) Describe the various methods that astronomers use to determine the distances
to astronomical objects ranging from the planets, to the stars, to other star clusters,
to other galaxies and to other clusters of galaxies.

B) Describe the various steps involved in the birth, main sequence life, and ultimate
death of a one-solar mass star.

C) Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and how astronomers make use of all
aspects of received photons and their interactions with matter to determine such
characteristics as chemical composition, motion, luminosity, temperature, etc.

D) Discuss the various theories, and the evidence, of the birth and current nature of
the universe, and how astronomers hope to determine from among the possible
destinies, the ultimate destiny of the universe.