Quiz on Physical Science

What is the primary process through which light elements were formed during the Big Bang?

• Chemical reaction

• Primordial Nucleosynthesis

• Nuclear fission

• Stellar Nucleosynthesis

Who proposed the idea that the universe is expanding in 1927?

• Edwin Hubble

• Albert Einstein

• Georges Lemaître

• Vesto Slipher

What is the estimated age of the universe according to modern astronomy?

• 15 billion years

• 13.8 billion years

• 10 billion years

• 20 billion years

Which of the following isotopes is formed from one proton and one neutron?

• Helium-3

• Protium

• Deuterium

• Tritium

Scientists estimate that the age of the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years. Which of the following pieces of evidence most strongly supports this estimate?

• The amount of oxygen in the oceans.

• The fossil record of early life on Earth.

• The chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere.

• The observed redshift of the galaxies moving away from us.

Two scientists debate the formation of hydrogen. Scientist A says hydrogen formed only after stars cooled, billions of years after the Big Bang. Scientist B says hydrogen formed when the universe cooled enough for protons and neutrons to combine. Which claim is more accurate?

• Scientist A

• Scientist B

• A and B

• None of the above

What is the primary process responsible for the formation of heavier elements during star formation and evolution?

• Supernova Explosion

• Gravitational Collapse

• Stellar Nucleosynthesis

• Primordial Nucleosynthesis

The elements hydrogen, helium, and lithium are considered light elements, while iron is classified as a heavier element. Which of the following explanations best explains why iron is considered a heavy element?

• Iron has a much higher atomic mass compared to hydrogen, helium, and lithium.

• Light elements are defined by their ability to form compounds with other elements.

• Iron is found only in the cores of stars, while light elements are found throughout the universe.

• Iron is the most abundant element in the universe and therefore not categorized as a light element.

What element is formed from the collision of two Helium-3 in proton-proton chain reaction?

• Tritium

• Helium-3

• Helium-4

• Deuterium

During the alpha ladder process, what element is formed when an Oxygen-16 nucleus fuses with an alpha particle (Helium-4)?

• Neon-20

• Silicon-28

• Nitrogen-14

• Magnesium-24