Mod H Unit 2 Lesson 3 - Earth and the Universe

Where is the sun located in the galaxy?

• at the edge

• at the center

• within an outer arm

• within the center body

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What information provided evidence for the location of the sun in the galaxy?

• observation of globular clusters

• observation of elliptical orbits of planets around the sun

• determination of the composition of stars within the galaxy

• measurement of relative brightness of stars within the galaxy

In what galaxy are Earth and the solar system located?

• the Milky Way galaxy

• the Andromeda galaxy

• the Whirlpool galaxy

• the Inner Planetary galaxy

What is the difference between the solar system and a galaxy?

• A galaxy is found within a solar system

• A galaxy is a type of solar system

• A solar system has fewer stars than a galaxy

• A solar system has more planets than a galaxy

What can you conclude about the dark areas of the night sky?

• Black holes make up the dark areas of the sky

• There is nothing located in the dark areas of the sky

• Objects in the dark areas are moving too fast to be visible

• Objects in the dark areas of the sky are too far away from Earth to be seen

William and Caroline Herschel measured the relative brightness of stars visible from Earth. These measurements gave evidence for which of the following characteristics of the Milky Way galaxy?

• the size

• the shape

• the speed

• the number of stars contained within it

Two stars appear equally bright in the night sky. What additional information could help to identify their distances from Earth?

• the ages of the stars

• the sizes of the stars

• the star's locations in the night sky

• the types of fusion occuringin the stars

If an observer looked out from a planet near the center of this galaxy, what would it look like to that observer?

• a broad band of stars forming a ring around the planet

• a sphere of stars evenly spread in every direction

• a spiral shape with arms reaching out from a center

• a band of stars in one direction, with fewer stars in other directions

Answer explanation

The Milky Way is shaped roughly like a flat disk. From the center of the galaxy, this would appear as a band surrounding the viewer.

We can measure the brightness of a star in a galaxy to tell how far away that galaxy is. Which assumptions are necessary when using this method? Select TWO that apply.

• Galaxies contain very bright stars.

• We can determine the amount of light a star produces.

• Stars in the galaxy are similar to stars in the Milky Way.

• The star does not have any large planets.

Answer explanation

The information needed to determine distance is the actual brightness and the apparent brightness of the star.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

Two stars on opposite sides of the night sky appear very different. One star is very bright and can be seen before the sky is completely dark. The other can barely be seen on a dark night. Which of the following could be a reason that these two stars have different apparent brightnesses? Select THREE that apply.

• The brighter star emits much more light than the dimmer star.

• A planet orbiting the dimmer star blocks most of its light.

• The brighter star is much closer to Earth than the dimmer star.

• Clouds of dust block some of the light from the dimmer star.

Answer explanation

A planet blocking light from the star would cause periodic changes in brightness, not a constant dimness. The other explanations could all explain the constant difference in apparent brightness.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2