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WorksheetsSpace and Astronomy Pretest HONORS
Total questions: 70
Worksheet time: 46mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What is true when looking at distant galaxies and stars?
a)
They appear equally bright
b)
You are looking into the future
c)
You are looking back in time
d)
You are seeing reflections from the Milky Way
2.
Which qualities best describes the universe just before the Big Bang?
a)
very small, hot, dense
b)
very big, hot, not dense
c)
very small, cool, dense
d)
very big, cool, not dense
3.
Which of these are part of an atomic nucleus?
a)
proton, neutron
b)
electron
c)
proton, electron
d)
proton, neutron, electron
4.
What does The Big Bang Theory model predict about the ratio of lighter elements to heaver elements?
a)
less of the lighter elements, more of the heavier of elements
b)
more of the lighter elements, less of the heavier of elements
c)
an equal distribution of lighter and heavier elements
d)
more of the heavier elements in the early universe which become lighter over time
5.
Which statement BEST summarizes The Big Bang Theory?
a)
whole universe began as a black hole and rapidly expanded, but is now collapsing
b)
whole universe began as a cool dense point and rapidly collasped, but is now expanding
c)
whole universe began as a hot dense point, rapidly expanded, and continues to expand
d)
the whole universe began as a hot dense point and rapidly expanded, but is now collapsing
6.
Think about the ways has our understanding of the universe changed in the last 500 years. Which of the statements are FALSE when completing this is sentence, "We have discovered..."
a)
entire galaxies of stars & planets beyond our own
b)
a 3K background radiation can be found throughout the entire universe
c)
the universe is expanding
d)
the meaning of life
7.
If a hypothetical space traveler today were ALREADY 500 light years away, what would he or she see looking back on Earth?
a)
societies of people in medieval times
b)
pretty much the same thing you'd see today
c)
lots of clouds from future global warming
d)
dinosaurs!
8.
Your science teacher tells you to go home and look for the Andromeda Galaxy. It is our closest galaxy 2.5 million light years away. Which statement is true about time and light?
a)
You are looking into the future! light from 2.5 million years in the future
b)
You are looking back in time! light from 2.5 million years ago
c)
You are seeing the brightest galaxy in the sky
d)
You are looking back in time! light from 5 million years ago
9.
Which statement is true about our understanding of atoms of the past and today?
a)
The first atoms were complex, and have remained complex
b)
The first atoms were simple, and have since fused into more complex varieties
c)
We know nothing about the first atoms
d)
The first atoms were complex, and have since broken apart into hundreds of varieties
10.
What is the name of our galaxy?
a)
Local Group
b)
Orion
c)
Andromeda
d)
Milky Way
11.
Gravitationally speaking, nothing is more powerful ie "bigger and scarier" than this
a)
a black hole
b)
nuclear fission
c)
nuclear fusion
d)
solar flares
12.
Sunspots appear dark because they are ____.
a)
relatively cool
b)
relatively hot
c)
deep holes
d)
solid areas
13.
What characteristic of star determines if it will be "average" or if it will take a different path in its life cycle?
a)
temperature
b)
mass
c)
color
d)
starting elements
14.
How long does it take Earth to revolve around the Sun one time?
a)
1 day
b)
1 year
c)
1 month
d)
27 days
15.
How long does it take Earth to rotate on its axis one time?
a)
1 day
b)
1 year
c)
1 month
d)
27 days
16.
If the Sun is to the right of Earth in this picture, what season are we having in Michigan?
a)
summer
b)
fall
c)
winter
d)
spring
17.
During which month is Earth closest to the Sun?
a)
January
b)
March
c)
July
d)
November
18.
What shape do planets make as they orbit the Sun?
a)
circle
b)
ellipse
c)
parallelogram
d)
it depends on the planet
19.
Where in the diagram is Earth moving the fastest?
a)
from A to B
b)
from X to Y
c)
Earth moves around the Sun at a constant speed
20.
Which of the following planets moves fastest around the Sun?
a)
Venus
b)
Earth
c)
Jupiter
d)
Neptune
21.
What is barycenter?
a)
The center of mass of an object.
b)
Half of the major axis.
c)
The center of mass between two objects that orbit each other.
d)
Halfway between the Sun and the Earth.
22.
What is the Sun revolving around?
a)
The center of the Milky Way Galaxy
b)
Andromeda
c)
Nothing. It is not moving.
23.
Why do we have seasons?
a)
Earth is closer to the Sun at certain times throughout the year.
b)
The Moon is closer to Earth at certain times during the year.
c)
Earth is tilted on its axis. When one hemisphere is getting more direct sunlight, that hemisphere is having summer.
d)
Jupiter is tilted on its axis. When it is facing towards Earth more, we are having winter.
24.
What is the distance from the Sun to the Earth?
a)
9.46 X 1012 km
b)
1 astronomical unit
c)
8.3 minutes
d)
1 light-year
25.
How do scientists define an astronomical unit?
a)
the distance from one end of the solar system to the other
b)
the distance between Earth and the Sun
c)
the distance between Earth and the Moon
d)
the distance from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other
26.
A light-year is a measure of what?
a)
time
b)
velocity
c)
speed
d)
distance
27.
A rocket leaves Earth and travels to a star that is 20 light years (one light year equals 9.46E15 meters) as seen by the Earth. The speed of the rocket is 0.8c relative to the Earth. The time for the trip as measured on by the astronauts in the spaceship is
a)
25 years
b)
20 years
c)
15 years
d)
12 years
28.
A rocket leaves Earth and travels to a star that is 20 light years (one light year equals 9.46E15 meters) as seen by the Earth. The speed of the rocket is 0.8c relative to the Earth. The distance from Earth to the star as measured by the astronauts is
a)
25 light years
b)
20 light years
c)
16 light years
d)
12 light years
29.
Compared to clocks in a stationary reference frame moving clocks run
a)
faster
b)
slower
c)
at the same rate
30.
We do not usually observe relativistic effects in our daily lives because
a)
we are moving at speeds much less than c.
b)
we are much larger than atoms.
c)
we are much heavier than elementary particles.
d)
we are much lighter than stars.
31.
Ignore the rotation of the earth. Which clock ticks more slowly?
a)
The one on the top of a mountain.
b)
The one at the bottom of that same mountain.
c)
They tick at the same rate.
d)
Cannot be determined from the information given.
32.
As an object approaches the speed of light, time for that object speeds up, and it ages more quickly.
a)
True
b)
False
33.
The laws of Physics change with your point of view.
a)
True
b)
False
34.
The speed of light is constant in all frames of reference.
a)
True
b)
False
35.
The speed of light (c) =
a)
3 x 108 miles/hour
b)
3 x 108 meters/second
c)
3 x 108 kilometers/hour
d)
none of these
36.
According to Newton, gravity was a force.... According to Einstein, gravity is a ________.
a)
force
b)
curvature
c)
mystery
d)
constant velocity
37.
What does gravity do to time?
a)
speeds it up
b)
slows it down
c)
nothing
38.
The 'point of no return' for a black hole is called....
a)
singularity
b)
event horizon
c)
jets
d)
accretion disk
39.
Where does all the mass that create a black hole go?
a)
event horizon
b)
singularity
c)
accretion disk
d)
jet
40.
What is gravitational lensing?
a)
slowing down of time around a black hole
b)
light bending around a massive object
c)
light moving in a straight line around a massive object
d)
light bending as it goes from one medium to another
41.
Finish this phrase "Matter tells spacetime how to curve, spacetime tells matter how to ______"
a)
move
b)
collapse
c)
expand
d)
rest
42.
Describe the escape velocity of a black hole?
a)
slower than the speed of light
b)
unknown
c)
faster than the speed of light
43.
What would happen to Earth's orbit if the Sun collapsed to a black hole?
a)
it would get sucked into it
b)
it would get flung out of its orbit
c)
nothing
d)
it would explode
44.
How fast does gravity travel?
a)
gravity does not have a speed, it is instantaneous
b)
at the speed of light
c)
slower than the speed of light
45.
If the Sun all of the sudden vanished/disappeared how long would it take for the Earth's orbit to be affected by this?
a)
instantaneously
b)
8 minutes
c)
3 ly
46.
If you were out in space and wanted to simulate the feeling of Earth's gravity, what would be the best way to do it?
a)
Accelerate upwards at 9.8 m/s2
b)
Travel at a constant velocity
c)
Travel at the escape velocity of Earth
d)
go in orbit around a large star
47.
You are watching yourself fall into a black hole. What happens?
a)
Gravitational collapse
b)
Spaghettification
c)
Length Contraction
d)
Time Dilation
48.
Someone safely orbiting a black hole is watching you fall into a black hole, what do they see?
a)
Time Dilation
b)
Spaghettification
c)
Length Contraction
d)
Gravitational collapse
49.
is it possible to orbit a black hole?
a)
Yes
b)
No
50.
Which of the following is the most likely to be the mass of a stellar-mass black hole?
a)
25 solar masses
b)
100,000,000 solar masses
c)
1 solar mass
d)
.1 solar masses
51.
Which of the following is most likely to be the mass of a supermassive black hole?
a)
100,000,000,000 solar masses
b)
100 solar masses
c)
5 solar masses
d)
50 solar masses
52.
Clocks closer to a gravitational source run ______
a)
slower
b)
faster
c)
the same
53.
The special theory of relativity was derived by:
a)
Galileo
b)
Newton
c)
Einstein
d)
Sitter
54.
The General Theory of Relativity says matter bends space.
a)
True
b)
False
55.
Atmosphere is :
a)
only consisting of argon and oxygen
b)
gases on the floor of the Earth
c)
all the gases around a planet
d)
all the gases near the solar beams
56.
What does the space suit provide protection against?
a)
Extreme temperatures
b)
Muscle loss
c)
Bone loss
d)
Excessive oxygen
57.
What does it mean for a planet to be found within the "habitable zone" or "Goldilocks zone" of the solar system?
a)
A habitable planet is the correct distance from a star making the temperature conditions possible for supporting life.
b)
A habitable planet is the correct distance from a star making the water cycle possible
c)
A habitable planet is too far away from a star making the temperature conditions too cold for liquid water to exist.
d)
A habitable planet is a planet where life has been discovered by scientists
58.
Which characteristics of Earth is the most responsible for its ability to support life?
a)
carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere
b)
Earth is terrestrial
c)
Proximity to the sun
d)
Presence of ice
59.
Why are space suit visors coated with a layer of gold?
a)
to block harmful radiation
b)
to protect against microgravity
c)
to protect the astronaut from micrometeoroids
d)
to help the astronaut accelerate towards a space probe
60.
The sun's energy is produced primarily by
a)
Nuclear Fusion
b)
Nuclear Fission
61.
According to Newton, gravity was a force.... According to Einstein, gravity is a ________.
a)
force
b)
curvature
c)
mystery
d)
constant velocity
62.
What does gravity do to time?
a)
speeds it up
b)
slows it down
c)
nothing
63.
The 'point of no return' for a black hole is called....
a)
singularity
b)
event horizon
c)
jets
d)
accretion disk
64.
Where does all the mass that create a black hole go?
a)
event horizon
b)
singularity
c)
accretion disk
d)
jet
65.
Finish this phrase "Matter tells spacetime how to curve, spacetime tells matter how to ______"
a)
move
b)
collapse
c)
expand
d)
rest
66.
Describe the escape velocity of a black hole?
a)
slower than the speed of light
b)
unknown
c)
faster than the speed of light
67.
What would happen to Earth's orbit if the Sun collapsed to a black hole?
a)
it would get sucked into it
b)
it would get flung out of its orbit
c)
nothing
d)
it would explode
68.
If you were out in space and wanted to simulate the feeling of Earth's gravity, what would be the best way to do it?
a)
Accelerate upwards at 9.8 m/s2
b)
Travel at a constant velocity
c)
Travel at the escape velocity of Earth
d)
go in orbit around a large star
69.
What causes there to be longer number of hours of light during the summer
a)
Earth tilt's away from the sun in summer
b)
Earth's revolves slower in summer
c)
Earth tilts toward the sun in summer
d)
Earth is closer to the sun
70.
Why is the Equator warmest?
a)
Because it is closest to the sun.
b)
Because it receives the most direct sunlight
c)
Because no clouds form here.
d)
Because it is far from the sun
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