Modern Astronomy
This is a
closed book exam. A list of relevant equations is attached to the back. Please
mark the correct response to each question in the answer key provided.
1)
What observational evidence supports the
model that quasars have sizes less than one parsec?
a) large
luminosity
b) rapid [hourly- weekly]
time variations
c) central
location in a galaxy
d) large
distances
e) energetic
jets
2) On the celestial sphere, the circle
which is located 90° from
the north celestial pole is the
a) ecliptic plane
b) prime meridian
c) celestial horizon
d) celestial equator
e)
Line of nodes
3) At approximately what time does the waxing
quarter moon rise?
a) sunset
b)
sunrise
c)
d)
e)
4) On which date(s) is the Sun in the
ecliptic plane?
a) December 21
b) March 21 and September 21
c) June 21
d) All days
e)
Never
5)
Which statement best describes the likely
evolutionary history of an M-type star?
a) Main-sequence,
supergiant, supernova, total lifetime less than 10 million yrs
b) Main-sequence,
giant, planetary nebula, white dwarf, total lifetime 1 billion years
c) Main-sequence,
bright giant, AGB branch, lifetime 10 billion years
d) Main-sequence,
white dwarf, lifetime at least 15 billion yrs
e)
6)
A Type I supernova results from
a) A
massive post-main sequence massive star which has depleted its fusion ‘fuel’
b) A
post main-sequence star after the ‘helium flash’
c) A
neutron star which has suffered magnetic ‘starquake’
d) A white dwarf in a binary star in which the companion transfers
excessive mass
e) A
black hole which ‘swallows’ a solar-mass star
7) A common characteristic of all stars
on the main-sequence is
a) They are all fusing hydrogen into helium in the core
b) They all have dense carbon inner
cores
c) They all move up the main-sequence
to the
d) They all have the same lifetime on
the main-sequence
e) They all have helium absorption lines in their spectra
8) An object with an angular size of 1 arcminute
moves three times farther away. What is its new angular size?
a) 3 degrees
b)
20 arcminutes
c) 3 arcminutes
d) 20 arcseconds
e) 3 arcseconds
9)
Which key experimental test was performed after
Einstein’s groundbreaking paper describing General Relativity of 1916?
a) Gravitational
redshift of Sirius-B
b) Precession
of Mercury’s orbit
c) Time
dilation of fast-moving observers
d) Tidal
distortion of an object near a massive object
e) Deflection of starlight near the Sun
10) Which of the following stars of specified
spectral type is the least massive?
a) M1V
b) K5IV
c) O9V
d) A5IV
e) G2V
11) A parsec is:
a)
the distance between the Sun and Earth
b) the distance between the Earth and Moon
c) The approximate distance to nearest
galaxy
d) the angle between the sun and nearest star
e)