Exploring the Cosmos - Degree Exam 2014 - Galaxies and Large Scale Structure
1. Which class of galaxies predominantly contains Population II stars and little or no gas and dust?
Barred spirals.
Spirals.
Elliptical galaxies.
Seyfert galaxies.
2. If a galaxy’s disc rotates in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of the core, this is a likely indication of
a galaxy with a large recessional velocity.
a merger of two galaxies.
a supermassive black hole in the centre of the galaxy.
a spiral galaxy.
3. The existence of dark matter was proposed to explain
the formation of active galaxies.
the observation of strong sources of X-rays and radio waves at the galactic centre.
the shape of the orbits of halo stars and globular clusters.
the flat region of the rotation curve far from the galactic centre.
4. Rich clusters typically contain a high fraction of
SBa, SBb and SBc galaxies.
elliptical (E) and S0-type galaxies.
Sa, Sb and Sc galaxies.
grand design galaxies.
5. Assuming a value of H0 = 70km/s/Mpc for the Hubble constant, and a measured recessional velocity of a galaxy of v = 350km/s, what is the distance to this galaxy according to Hubble’s law?
24.5Gpc
0.2Mpc
none of the above
5Mpc
6. The distance to a Cepheid variable star can be determined by using the relation between
its mass and its luminosity.
its pulsation period and its velocity.
its mass and its velocity.
its pulsation period and its luminosity.
7. The theory of density waves explains the structure of
grand design galaxies.
Seyfert galaxies.
elliptical galaxies.
flocculent galaxies.
8. Galaxies of type Sa have
a large nucleus and loosely wound spiral arms.
a small nucleus and tightly wound spiral arms.
a small nucleus and loosely wound spiral arms.
a large nucleus and tightly wound spiral arms.
9. In a galaxy such as ours, extremely young Population I stars are predominantly found
in the disc component.
in the spiral arms.
in the halo.
in the nuclear bulge.
10. Which of the following properties does not apply to typical Type I Seyfert galaxies?
The galactic centres are strong emitters of x-rays and ultraviolet radiation.
The sources of the emitted radiation, the active galactic nuclei, are extremely large.
The emission spectra show broad spectral lines of highly ionized atoms.
The velocity of matter near their centres is much higher than in normal galaxies.
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