ASTRO 1500 Trivia - January 24, 2025

What are you most excited to learn about in this class?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The star Vega is 25 light years away. When did the light that is now reaching us leave Vega?

• 1975

• 2000

• 2020

• 2025

Answer explanation

A light year is the distance that light travels in a year. Thus, since Vega is 25 light years away, it took light 25 years to reach us. The current date is 2024, and so 25 years ago was 1999.

Tags

CCSS.6.RP.A.3B

If the Sun were the size of a basketball, how big would Earth be?

• Softball

• Tennis ball

• Peanut

• Appleseed

Answer explanation

As showed in the Lecture 1 demo, if we were to shrink the Sun to the size of a basketball, the Earth would be the size of an appleseed

Tags

CCSS.7.RP.A.2C

How old is the Universe?

• 10,000 years

• 4.5 billion years

• 100 million years

• 13.8 billion years

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Based on the answer to the previous question, about how far away is the farthest observable part of the Universe?

• 10 light years

• 13 million light years

• 13 billion light years

• 8 light minutes

Answer explanation

Because the Universe is 13.8 billion years old, the farthest that light has traveled during that time is 13.8 billion light-years. We say that we can observe out to about (only) 13 billion light years because we can't see past the cosmic microwave background (more on this in a coming lecture)

If I offer to give you 1 million dollars right away or $2 the first day and double the previous day's amount each day for 30 days, which option gives you more money?

• 1 million dollars

• $2 and doubled

Tags

CCSS.HSF.BF.A.2

True or False. The attached image is an image of the Milky Way

• True

• False

Answer explanation

We have not (yet) developed the technology to send a probe out far enough to observe the Milky Way from the outside and return data to us in a reasonable amount of time

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

True or False: The Solar System is bigger than the Milky Way

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The Solar System is only the bodies in orbit around the Sun. But the Sun itself is embedded in and orbits the center of the Milky Way. Thus, the Solar System is smaller.

True or False: If we send astronauts to Mars, we won't be able to talk to them instantaneously

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Our communication with astronauts on Mars would be over the radio and radio waves are a form of light. Light doesn't travel infinitely fast, and so communication with someone on Mars would be delayed due to the light travel time

If I am one light-nanosecond away from you, how old do I appear to you compared to my actual age?

• 1 nanosecond older

• 1 second older

• 1 second younger

• 1 nanosecond younger

Answer explanation

Even in the same room, light takes a finite amount of time to traverse the room. So, if I am 1 light-nanosecond away from you, this means that I actually appear to you as I did 1 nanosecond earlier. Thus, I look younger by 1 nanosecond.

Tags

CCSS.HSF-BF.B.4A