Module 2 Stars, Galaxies and the Universe

Open Ended

Why do you think it is important for us to study objects in the night sky such as stars, galaxies, and planets?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are parts of a comet?

• Nucleus

• Coma

• Tail

• Core

Open Ended

Explain the main differences between a comet and a meteorite based on their composition and behavior in the solar system.

Fill in the Blanks

A group or pattern of stars in the night sky that appeared as symbols or figures to ancient stargazers is called a

.

Open Ended

Why is Polaris referred to as the North Star and how can it be located in the night sky?

Multiple Choice

Arrange the following in order of increasing distance from Earth: Solar System, Universe, Sun, Galaxy.

• Sun, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe

• Solar System, Sun, Galaxy, Universe

• Sun, Galaxy, Solar System, Universe

• Galaxy, Sun, Solar System, Universe

Multiple Choice

Which unit would you use to measure the distance between stars in different galaxies?

• Astronomical Unit (AU)

• Miles

• Light Year

• Kilometers

Fill in the Blanks

Stars are very large accumulations of gases that release energy from

reactions.

Open Ended

Explain how a nebula leads to the formation of a protostar.

Fill in the Blanks

A star is considered to be in the 'main sequence' phase when there is a balance between gravitational attraction and

expansion.

Open Ended

Compare the main sequence stage and the red giant stage of a star's life cycle in terms of core processes and stability.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are true about the Red Giant Stage of a star's life cycle?

• The core temperature increases due to less fusion reactions.

• The outer layers of the star expand and the star grows.

• The star emits more light per unit area than before.

• The star shifts to a brilliant red color.

Fill in the Blanks

A star with a core mass greater than 3 solar masses will collapse to form a

.

Open Ended

Describe the process that leads to the formation of a white dwarf and a planetary nebula in less massive stars.

Multiple Select

After a supernova, what are the possible remnants that can form from the core of a massive star?

• Neutron star

• White dwarf

• Black hole

• Planetary nebula

Multiple Choice

Which of the following correctly matches the type of star with its typical lifespan?

• Stars smaller than the Sun: about 10 million years

• Medium stars like the Sun: about 200 billion years

• Massive stars: about 10 million years

• Massive stars: about 10 billion years

Multiple Choice

Which of the following events occurs after a massive star has exhausted its energy sources and iron is produced in its core?

• The star becomes a white dwarf.

• The star explodes as a supernova.

• The star turns into a red giant.

• The star forms a planetary nebula.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is NOT a step in the lifecycle of stars with low mass, medium mass and high mass?

• White Dwarf

• Red Giant

• Main sequence

• Protostar

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best explains why massive stars have shorter lifespans compared to less massive stars?

• Massive stars use their fuel faster than less massive stars.

• Massive stars are farther from the Sun.

• Less massive stars undergo more fusion reactions.

• Less massive stars are hotter than massive stars.

Drag and Drop

Match the terms to their descriptions:

Main Sequence -

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Protostar -

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Nebula -

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Supernova -

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Neutron Star -​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Main Sequence

Protostar

Nebula

Supernova

Fusion from Hydrogen to Helium produces energy.

The cloud starts collapsing

A region of space with a high density of gas and d

An explosion of a star at the end of its life.

A massive system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter

A very small, superdense form of matter.

Reorder

Reorder the following

• Nebula

• Protostar

• Red Giant

• Supernova

• Black Hole

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum do most telescopes traditionally observe, and why are telescopes that collect all wavelengths now used?

• Visible light; because it is the only part we can see with our eyes

• Infrared; because it penetrates dust clouds

• Radio waves; because they travel the farthest

• All wavelengths; to gather more information about stars and other objects

Multiple Choice

Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

• Gamma Ray

• Radio

• Infrared

• Visible

Open Ended

Explain the difference between apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude of a star, and why these distinctions are important in astronomy.

Multiple Select

Which of the following properties are compared in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

• Color

• Surface temperature

• Brightness

• Distance from Earth

Open Ended

List and briefly explain the three main characteristics used to classify stars.

Fill in the Blanks

Stars are organized in

, which are the basic unit of the universe.

Open Ended

Describe the location of the Sun within the Milky Way Galaxy based on the diagram.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are basic shapes of galaxies?

• Spiral

• Elliptical

• Irregular

• Rectangular

Open Ended

Reflecting on what you learned about the night sky, which object would you most like to observe and why?

Multiple Choice

What does the rotation of the earth cause us to experience?

• seasons
• year
• day & night
• eclipse

Multiple Choice

What is the longest day of the year?

• winter solstice
• summer solstice
• fall equinox
• spring equinox

Multiple Choice

Why do we experience the changing of the season on the earth?

• distance from the sun
• rotation of the earth
• change in solar output
• tilt of the earth's axix

Multiple Choice

What are the inner planets called?

• Gas Giants

• Dwarf Planets

• Terrestrial Planets

• Terrestrial Giants

Multiple Choice

Where is the Asteroid Belt located in the Solar System?

• near Neptune

• between Mercury and Venus

• between Mars and Jupiter

• around the Sun

Multiple Choice

The surface of the two gas giants is mainly made of

• ammonia

• Carbon dioxide

• Hydrogen

• Helium

Open Ended

What is special about Uranus?

Multiple Choice

Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?

• It is too small

• It does not orbit the Sun

• It's too far away

• It doesn't dominate it's orbit

Fill in the Blanks

What is out past the Kuiper Belt?

Labeling

Label the planets in our solar system

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Earth

Mercury

Uranus

Neptune

Jupiter

Mars

Venus

Saturn

Reorder

Reorder the following from inside to surface of the sun

• Core

• Radiation Zone

• Convection Zone

• Photosphere

• Corona

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Open Ended

What causes the Northern and Southern Lights?

Multiple Choice

Name the moon phase

• waning crescent
• waxing crescent
• waning gibbous
• waxing gibbous

Multiple Choice

Name the moon phase

• Waning Crescent
• Waxing Crescent
• Waning Gibbous
• Waxing Gibbous

Multiple Choice

Name the moon phase

• First Quarter
• Last Quarter
• New Moon
• Full Moon

Multiple Choice

For a solar eclipse to occur, what has to happen?

• The sun must be directly between Earth and the moon.
• The moon must be directly between Earth and the Sun.

Multiple Choice

In a Lunar Eclipse what is in the middle of the lineup?

• Sun
• Moon 
• Earth
• Jupiter

Multiple Choice

Since some light will still illuminate the moon, it will appear

• red

• green

• yellow

• blue