Astronomy Exam Practice Quiz Questions

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Quizzes Created: 2 | Total Attempts: 8,670

Questions: 8 | Attempts: 254 | Updated: Oct 15, 2024

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Astronomy Exam Practice Quiz Questions - Quiz

The sun is the biggest object in our solar system, yet it is only a medium-sized star. The objects that orbit the sun are called planets where as those that don’t are moons. The review exam below is aimed at testing what you know about astronomy in less than an hour. Give it a shot!

Questions and Answers

1.

How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related for photons of light?
- A.
  
  Longer wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy
- B.
  
  Longer wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy
- C.
  
  Longer wavelenght means lower frequency and lower energy
- D.
  
  Longer wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy
Correct Answer
C. Longer wavelenght means lower frequency and lower energy

Explanation
The relationship between wavelength, frequency, and energy for photons of light is described by the equation E = hf, where E is the energy of the photon, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the photon. As frequency is directly proportional to energy, an increase in frequency results in an increase in energy. On the other hand, wavelength and frequency are inversely related, meaning that as wavelength increases, frequency decreases. Therefore, longer wavelength corresponds to lower frequency and lower energy.

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2.

Which of the following statements about thermal radiation is always true?
- A.
  
  A hot object emits more radio waves than a cool object
- B.
  
  A hot object emits photons with a higher average energy than a cool object
- C.
  
  A hot object emits photons with a longer wavelength than a cool object
- D.
  
  A hot object emits more x rays than a cool object
Correct Answer
B. A hot object emits pHotons with a higher average energy than a cool object

Explanation
According to the Planck's law of black body radiation, the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency (or inversely proportional to its wavelength). As temperature increases, the average energy of photons emitted by a hot object also increases. Therefore, a hot object emits photons with a higher average energy than a cool object.

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3.

From shortest to longest wavelength, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation?
- A.
  
  Radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, gamma
- B.
  
  Gamma rays, x rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio
- C.
  
  Infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, gamma rays, radio
- D.
  
  Gamma rays, x rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio
Correct Answer
B. Gamma rays, x rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio
4.

The spectra of most galaxies show redshifts. This means that their spectral lines _______.
- A.
  
  Have a higher intensity in the red part of the spectrum
- B.
  
  Have wavelengths that are shorter than normal
- C.
  
  Always are in the red part of the visible spectrum
- D.
  
  Have wavelengths that are longer than normal
Correct Answer
D. Have wavelengths that are longer than normal

Explanation
The correct answer is that the spectral lines of most galaxies show redshifts, which means that their wavelengths are longer than normal. This phenomenon occurs because of the Doppler effect, where the light waves from these galaxies are stretched as the galaxies move away from us. As a result, the wavelengths of the spectral lines are shifted towards the red end of the spectrum. This redshift is a key piece of evidence for the expansion of the universe.

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5.

Which is the closest to the temperature of the core of the Sun?
- A.
  
  10,000 K
- B.
  
  100,000 K
- C.
  
  10 million K
- D.
  
  100 million K
Correct Answer
C. 10 million K

Explanation
The temperature of the core of the Sun is estimated to be around 10 million K. This high temperature is necessary for the nuclear fusion reactions that occur in the core, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing large amounts of energy. This temperature is much higher than any of the other options provided, making 10 million K the closest value.

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6.

Why are neutrinos so difficult to detect?
- A.
  
  Because they have no mass
- B.
  
  Because they rarely interact with matter
- C.
  
  Because they move at nearly the speed of light
- D.
  
  Because they are so rare
- E.
  
  Because they are so small
Correct Answer
B. Because they rarely interact with matter

Explanation
Neutrinos are difficult to detect because they rarely interact with matter. Unlike other particles, neutrinos have a very weak interaction with matter, making it extremely challenging to detect them. They can pass through large distances of material without any interaction, making them elusive to detect. This property of neutrinos makes them ideal for studying astrophysical phenomena, such as supernovae, as they can travel through space without being significantly affected by other particles.

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7.

The most distant stars we can measure stellar parallax for are approximately
- A.
  
  5 parsecs
- B.
  
  100 parsecs
- C.
  
  Halfway across the Milky Way
- D.
  
  In the Andromeda Galaxy
- E.
  
  10,000 parsecs
Correct Answer
B. 100 parsecs

Explanation
The correct answer is 100 parsecs. Stellar parallax is a method used to measure the distance to nearby stars by observing their apparent shift in position against the background of more distant stars as the Earth orbits the Sun. The accuracy of this method decreases with increasing distance, and the maximum distance at which we can measure stellar parallax is approximately 100 parsecs. Beyond this distance, the shift in position becomes too small to accurately measure.

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8.

Which of the following is true about low-mass stars compared to high-mass stars?
- A.
  
  Low-mass stars are cooler but more luminous than high-mass stars
- B.
  
  Low-mass stars are hotter and more luminous than high-mass stars
- C.
  
  Low-mass stars are hotter but less luminous than high-mass stars
- D.
  
  Low-mass stars are cooler and less luminous than high-mass stars
- E.
  
  Low-mass stars have the same temperature and luminosity as high-mass stars
Correct Answer
D. Low-mass stars are cooler and less luminous than high-mass stars

Explanation
Low-mass stars are cooler and less luminous than high-mass stars because their lower mass results in less gravitational pressure and lower temperatures. They also have less fuel to burn, leading to lower luminosity compared to high-mass stars.

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Current Version
Oct 15, 2024

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
Feb 23, 2011

Quiz Created by
AlyssaLimke

Astronomy Exam Practice Quiz Questions

How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related for photons of light?

Which of the following statements about thermal radiation is always true?

From shortest to longest wavelength, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation?

The spectra of most galaxies show redshifts. This means that their spectral lines _______.

Which is the closest to the temperature of the core of the Sun?

Why are neutrinos so difficult to detect?

The most distant stars we can measure stellar parallax for are approximately

Which of the following is true about low-mass stars compared to high-mass stars?