Astronomy Regents Review

Which statement best explains why stars viewed from the Northern Hemisphere appear to revolve around Polaris?

• (1) Polaris rotates on its axis. 

• (2) Earth rotates on its axis. 

• (3) Polaris revolves around Earth. 

• (4) Earth revolves around Polaris.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Evidence that the universe is expanding is best supported by the observation that the wavelengths

of light from distant galaxies are shifted toward the

• (1) red end of the spectrum because they are shortened

• (2) red end of the spectrum because they are lengthened

• (3) blue end of the spectrum because they are shortened

• (4) blue end of the spectrum because they are lengthened

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Scientists infer that the Big Bang occurred approximately

• (1) 4.6 billion years ago

• (2) 7 billion years ago

• (3) 9 billion years ago

• (4) 13.8 billion years ago

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Which process produces the largest amount of energy given off by stars?

• (1) nuclear fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements

• (2) nuclear fusion of heavier elements into lighter elements

• (3) radioactive decay of lighter elements into heavier elements

• (4) radioactive decay of heavier elements into lighter elements

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which two factors caused the interior layering of Earth and other planets in our solar system

during their formation?

• (1) cosmic background radiation and density differences

• (2) cosmic background radiation and specific heat

• (3) gravity and density differences

• (4) gravity and specific heat

Compared to the terrestrial planets, the Jovian planets 

• (1) are less massive 

   

• (2) are more dense 

• (3) have greater orbital velocities

• (4) have shorter periods of rotation

Which event occurred more than 10 billion years ago? 

• (1) Big Bang 

   

• (2) origin of life on Earth 

• (3) Pangaea begins to break up

• (4) origin of Earth and its Moon

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

The diagrams below represent spectral lines of hydrogen gas observed in a laboratory and the spectral lines of hydrogen gas observed in the light from a distant star. Compared to the spectral lines observed in the laboratory, the spectral lines observed in the light from the distant star have shifted toward the

• (1) red end of the spectrum, indicating the star’s movement toward Earth 

   

   

• (2) red end of the spectrum, indicating the star’s movement away from Earth

• (3) blue end of the spectrum, indicating the star’s movement toward Earth

• (4) blue end of the spectrum, indicating the star’s movement away from Earth

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

The diagram below represents some of the inferred stages in the life cycle of stars according to their original mass. The final stage in the life cycle of the most massive stars is a 

• (1) black hole

• (2) black dwarf

• (3) supergiant 

• (4) white dwarf

The diagram below represents some of the inferred stages in the life cycle of stars according to their original mass. Which star may once have been similar to our Sun in mass and luminosity? 

• (1) Deneb

• (2) Spica

• (3) Procyon B 

• (4) Proxima Centauri

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1