Exploring the Cosmos - Class Test 2 - Galaxies and Large Scale Structure
1. In the Universe
galaxies tend to occur in super-clusters which occur randomly in space.
galaxies occur randomly in space.
galaxies tend to occur in clusters which occur randomly in space.
galaxies tend to occur in super-clusters which, in turn, form even larger structures which stretch across much of the known universe.
2. The correct order of the distance ladder from close to far is
Spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid Variables, Hubble’s Law, Supernovae 1a.
Spectroscopic parallax, Supernovae 1a, Cepheid Variables, Hubble’s Law.
Supernovae 1a, Hubble’s Law, Spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid Variables.
Spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid Variables, Supernovae 1a, Hubble’s Law.
3. A type Sb galaxy is
a barred spiral galaxy with moderately tightly wound arms.
a barred spiral galaxy with very open arms.
a disc shaped galaxy with little gas and almost no new star formation.
a spiral galaxy with moderately tightly wound arms.
4. A Seyfert galaxy is
a galaxy that is emitting an unusually large amount of energy due to a black hole at its centre.
a galaxy that has been distorted by a close encounter with another galaxy so that there is a high rate of formation of new stars.
a galaxy that does not have a black hole at its centre and is free to radiate large amounts of energy.
another name for a type SO galaxy.
5. Cepheid variable stars are important for distance measurements because
from their pulsation rate of their brightness, we can deduce their rotational speed.
from their pulsation rate of their brightness, we can deduce their intrinsic average brightness.
they emit radio waves whose frequency allows the calculation of their distance.
their brightness pulsates in a well defined way that allows them to be identified and their average brightness is independent of their size.
6. An S0 galaxy is
a very elongated elliptical galaxy.
a galaxy with intense star formation due to a collision with another galaxy.
a spiral galaxy with many arms.
a galaxy with a nucleus and a disc but little dust and gas.
7. A possible explanation of the formation of a giant elliptical galaxy is
a giant spiral galaxy evolved into an elliptical galaxy.
it has a giant black hole at its centre that attracts many stars.
a giant spiral galaxy used up the gas and dust in its disc so that the generation of new stars ceased and the arms slowly broke up.
it was formed by the merger of two or more galaxies.
8. Which of the following is not a characteristic of rich galaxy clusters?
The cluster at the centre is often formed by one or more giant elliptical galaxies.
Contains a large fraction of spiral galaxies.
High density of galaxies.
Collisions of galaxies are likely to happen.
9. A super-massive black hole would be most likely found in our galaxy
at the centre of a globular cluster.
in one of its arms.
in one of the open clusters of stars.
in the nucleus.
10. Astronomers have been able to measure the speeds of stars near the centre of our galaxy using
radio telescopes.
infrared telescopes.
X-ray telescopes.
modern optical telescopes.
11. A bright red region observed round a bright star in our galaxy is usually
a region in which hydrogen atoms in a gas cloud are being excited and ionised by the very luminous nearby star and are emitting the red light.
a dust cloud that is absorbing the blue part of the light from the very luminous star and allowing only the red light to pass.
a dust cloud scattering the light of a red giant star.
coloured dust ejected by a nearby supernova.
12. Population II stars are
metal poor and typically found in the spiral arms of a galaxy.
metal poor and typically found in the nucleus and halo of a galaxy.
metal rich and typically found in the nucleus and halo of a galaxy.
metal rich and typically found in the spiral arms of a galaxy.
13. On average the density of gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) is
in the region of 1 hydrogen atom per cubic metre.
similar to that in the Earth's atmosphere.
similar to that at the surface of the Sun.
in the region of 1 hydrogen atom per cubic centimetre.
14. Which of the following comprise the oldest members of the Milky Way?
Red giant stars in spiral arms.
Globular clusters.
Type O stars.
The Sun and other solar mass stars.
15. What can cause a galactic fountain?
The combined effect of spiral density waves.
A supernova occurring in the halo.
Multiple supernovae occurring together.
Winds and jets from newly-formed protostars.
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