SOL Review Unit 4 – Astronomy Part II Universe & Solar System 2001 – 2004 Released Tests

#1 The pictures show the same stars at different times. Which hypothesis is best supported by these data? A The stars are moving toward one another. B The three stars are moving very fast. C One star is moving around another star. D The biggest star is closest to the Earth.

#2 A star might be much brighter than it appears to be. This is called the star’s absolute magnitude. The difference in apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude is due primarily to the star’s — A surface temperature B motion through the universe C diameter D distance from the Earth

#3 A student sees a very bright star in the sky and thinks it might be the planet Venus. Which observation would lend support to this conclusion? A After a few minutes, its position relative to the surrounding stars has changed significantly. B After an hour, its position relative to the horizon has changed. C After an hour, its brightness has faded significantly. D After a month, its position relative to the surrounding stars has changed.

#4 The pole star, Polaris, is nearly stationary and straight overhead when seen from the North Pole. When viewed from the Equator, it — A is nearly stationary and on the horizon B is nearly stationary and directly overhead C rises barely above the eastern horizon, moves along the southern horizon, and sets in the West D rises straight up in the East, passes directly overhead, and descends straight down in the West

#5 Parallax can be used to measure a star’s — A distance from Earth B atmospheric temperature C gravitational strength D surface composition

#6 Which of these elements does this star contain? A Mercury B Calcium C Sodium D Neon

#7 Which planet is often called “Earth’s twin” because it is similar in mass and diameter to the Earth? A Mars B Mercury C Venus D Pluto

#8 A light-year measures — A brightness B distance C radiation D time

#9 What is the first stage in the life cycle of a star? A Black hole B Dwarf star C Main-sequence star D Stellar nebula

#10 Saturn’s volume is 762 times the volume of Earth, and yet its mass is only about 95 times that of Earth’s mass. This is due to Saturn’s — A low density B temperature C thousands of rings D distance from the sun

#11 Orbital velocity is the average speed of a planet moving through space in its orbit around the sun. Which of the following planets has the fastest orbital velocity? A Mercury B Jupiter C Mars D Pluto

#12 Which layer of the sun is the most dense? A Chromosphere B Photosphere C Core D Corona

#13 Which of these facts is the best supporting evidence that the universe is expanding? A The stars vary in chemical composition. B The galaxies are moving away from each other. C The galaxies can spin to form eddies. D The universe is filled with galaxies of different sizes.

#14 Which element in Earth’s atmosphere is essential for human life and is extremely rare or nonexistent in the atmospheres of other planets in our solar system? A Carbon dioxide B Hydrogen C Nitrogen D Oxygen

#15 The numerous rocks orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Mars are — A comets B asteroids C meteorites D satellites

#16 The first manned-mission to land on the moon was commanded by Neil Armstrong and was called — A Apollo 11 B Gemini 3 C Viking 2 D Mariner 7

#17 The sun emits energy by converting hydrogen into helium. What is this process called? A Fusion B Fission C Sunspot formation D Solar wind

#18 Periodically, there are spectacular meteor showers on Earth. These showers usually occur because the Earth’s orbit passes through the remains of — A a star B a comet C solar flares D the rings of Saturn

#19 When Venus passes between the Earth and the sun, it is visible as a tiny black dot on the sun’s bright disk. Why is Mars never visible in this same way? A The orbit of Mars is more eccentric than that of Venus. B The orbit of Mars is outside that of the Earth’s orbit. C Mars is too small to be seen against the backdrop of the sun. D Mars shines too brightly to be visible against the sun.

#20 Which of the above evolutionary stages of a massive star is called a supernova? A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

#21 Which planet rotates the fastest? A Mercury B Mars C Jupiter D Saturn

#22 Photographs of the surface of Mars reveal the presence of sand dunes that shift over time. These dunes demonstrate the presence of what phenomenon on Mars? A Precipitation B Winds C Magnetic pole reversals D Plate tectonics

#23 Which planet in the solar system has an orbit so eccentric that it crosses the orbit of another planet? A Mars B Mercury C Jupiter D Pluto

#24 Because of the unique position of the Earth in the solar system, life has flourished due to the presence of — A helium B volcanoes C liquid water D salt

#25 What element is the main component of most stars? A Nitrogen B Iron C Hydrogen D Oxygen

#26 At what position would Earth be found in the solar system diagram shown above? A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

#27 Why do stars appear to change position during the night? A Earth rotates on its axis. B Earth revolves around the sun. C The stars are moving away from each other. D Stars are very far away from the solar system.

#28 Which planet has a fierce hurricane-like storm that is several times the size of Earth? A Mars B Venus C Saturn D Jupiter

#29 In 1912, an astronomer at Arizona’s Lowell Observatory noticed that the lines in the spectra of most galaxies shifted toward the red end of the spectrum. Another American astronomer, Edwin Hubble, later interpreted this discovery as evidence that — A galaxies were once part of one huge megagalaxy B an explosion will one day result from the pressure building as the galaxies expand C galaxies are moving away from each other in a constantly expanding universe D the largest galaxies are slowly engulfing their smaller neighbors

#30 What process has occurred when atoms combine to form a new element and release energy? A Fusion B Fission C Hydrogenation D Ionization

SOL Review Unit #4 Answer Key 1. C11. A21. C 2. D12. C22. B 3. D13. B23. D 4. A14. D24. C 5. A15. B25. C 6. B16. A26. B 7. C17. A27. A 8. B18. B28. D 9. D19. B29. C 10. A20. D30. A