Exploring the Cosmos: A Quiz

Which of the following is a characteristic of a spiral galaxy?

• It has a spherical shape with no distinct features.

• It has a flat, rotating disk with spiral arms.

• It is irregular in shape with no defined structure.

• It is composed mostly of old stars and little gas.

What is the primary component of the Milky Way galaxy?

• Dark matter

• Gas and dust

• Stars

• Black holes

Which of the following best describes the location of our solar system within the Milky Way galaxy?

• Near the galactic center

• In the halo

• In one of the spiral arms

• In the bulge

How does the size of an elliptical galaxy generally compare to that of a spiral galaxy?

• Elliptical galaxies are generally smaller.

• Elliptical galaxies are generally larger.

• They are generally the same size.

• Size varies too much to compare.

Which of the following is a method used to measure the distance to galaxies?

• Parallax

• Cepheid variable stars

• Redshift

• Both B and C

What is the significance of the Hubble Law in understanding galaxies?

• It explains the formation of galaxies.

• It describes the relationship between a galaxy's distance and its velocity.

• It classifies galaxies into different types.

• It measures the mass of galaxies.

Which of the following statements is true about irregular galaxies?

• They have well-defined shapes.

• They contain mostly old stars.

• They often have high rates of star formation.

• They are the most common type of galaxy.

What is the role of dark matter in galaxies?

• It emits light that helps illuminate galaxies.

• It provides the gravitational force needed to hold galaxies together.

• It is the primary component of stars.

• It forms the visible structure of galaxies.

Which of the following best describes a barred spiral galaxy?

• A galaxy with a central bar-shaped structure composed of stars.

• A galaxy with no spiral arms.

• A galaxy with a spherical shape.

• A galaxy with a ring-like structure.

What is the primary difference between a galaxy cluster and a galaxy group?

• A galaxy cluster contains fewer galaxies than a galaxy group.

• A galaxy cluster contains more galaxies than a galaxy group.

• A galaxy group is larger than a galaxy cluster.

• There is no difference; they are the same.