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- 1. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Solar System and the Universe?
The Solar System is the largest known galaxy in the Universe.
The Solar System is in one of the billions of galaxies in the Universe.
The Solar System contains most of the galaxies in the Universe.
The Solar System and the Universe are both part of the same galaxy.
- 2. Multiple Choice
Which belief is the basis of Ptolemy's geocentric model of the solar system?
The Sun and planets revolve around the Earth.
Jupiter is the same size as the Earth's moon.
The Sun is the center of the universe.
The Earth revolves around the Moon.
- 3. Multiple Choice
The Milky Way Galaxy contains
billions of stars and the objects in orbit around them.
billions of stars but not the objects in orbit around them.
all of the stars throughout the Universe.
only the objects found in the Solar System.
- 4. Multiple Choice
Which of the following theories describes the formation of the Universe as a gigantic explosion from a single point that threw out all of the material in the Universe in all directions?
theory of evolution
big bang theory
heliocentric theory
geocentric theory
- 5. Multiple Choice
Which of the following theories explains why the Universe is expanding at a great speed?
theory of evolution
geocentric theory
heliocentric theory
big bang theory
- 6. Multiple Choice
In past centuries, many people believed in a static Universe—one that had existed forever without changing much, and one that would continue forever more or less as it is today.
Which of the following facts supports the big bang theory and disproves the static model of the Universe?
Stars are held together by gravity within galaxies.
Stars are constantly forming and dying.
Light moves at a constant speed through empty space.
Most galaxies appear to be moving away from each other.
- 7. Multiple Choice
Copernicus was the first astronomer to develop a heliocentric model of the Solar System. What is the main idea of heliocentrism?
An asteroid is the center of the Universe.
The planets move toward the center of the Universe.
The Sun is the center of the Solar System.
The Earth is the center of the Universe.
- 8. Multiple Choice
Which type of force holds galaxies together?
electrostatic forces
magnetic forces
friction
gravity
- 9. Multiple Choice
The Earth, the Sun, and the seven other planets that are in orbit around the Sun are part of the Solar System. How does the size of the Solar System compare with the size of the Milky Way Galaxy?
The Solar System is the same size as the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Solar System is around half the size of the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Solar System is much smaller than the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Solar System is much larger than the Milky Way Galaxy.
- 10. Multiple Choice
Other galaxies observed by astronomers are almost all redshifted. This means that most galaxies are moving away from our galaxy. Since this is true in every direction, the galaxies are all moving away from each other.
Imagine that the universe is a solid ball with galaxies scattered all through it from the center to the edge. Suppose the galaxies stay the same size, but the ball gets bigger. What will happen to the distance between the galaxies?
The distances between the galaxies will change randomly depending on the galaxies' motion.
The distances between all the galaxies will increase throughout the ball.
The distances between the galaxies near the center of the ball will decrease.
The distances between only the galaxies on the surface of the ball will increase.
- 11. Multiple Choice
Which of the following correctly describes the geocentric model of the Solar System?
The Moon is at the center of the Solar System.
Mars is at the center of the Solar System.
Earth is at the center of the Solar System.
The Sun is at the center of the Solar System.
- 12. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is true about the Sun?
The Sun is one of many stars in the Solar System.
The Sun is one of many stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Sun is the only star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Sun is the only star in the Universe.
- 13. Multiple Choice
At one time, most people believed that the Universe was static, meaning it did not change. When larger and better telescopes were invented in the early 1900s, however, it was discovered that light from objects in space shifted toward longer wavelengths. Scientists concluded that only an expanding Universe could explain this shift.
Which of the following statements is supported by this example?
Scientific knowledge can change when new evidence or interpretations arise.
The principle of the expanding Universe is a scientific law.
The theory of the expanding Universe cannot change, even if new evidence arises.
Once a scientific theory has been accepted, it can never change.
- 14. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the position of the Sun in the geocentric model?
It is at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.
It is at the center of the Universe.
It orbits Earth.
It orbits another star.
- 15. Multiple Choice
Which of the following correctly describes the heliocentric model of the Solar System?
Mars is at the center of the Solar System.
Earth is at the center of the Solar System.
The Sun is at the center of the Solar System.
The Moon is at the center of the Solar System.
- 16. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the big bang theory?
The Universe was formed as a result of a massive explosion sending out material in all directions at a great speed.
Large explosions occur frequently in the Universe and allow it keep expanding.
When a large star grew old and ran out of fuel, it resulted in a massive explosion of all types of material in all directions at a great speed.
Most of the Universe was formed as a result of a massive explosion that occurred after other galaxies had already formed.
- 17. Multiple Choice
What do the heliocentric model and the big bang theory have in common?
They are both ideas that attempt to describe the Universe but that may change with new observations.
They are both ideas that attempt to describe the motion of the planets in the Solar System.
They both describe the tides due to the Moon's gravity.
They both describe the nuclear reactions that occur in the interior of a star.
- 18. Multiple Choice
The image represents the Milky Way Galaxy. Which of the following best describes the position of the Solar System within the Milky Way Galaxy?
A. close to the center of the Milky Way Galaxy on its innermost arm
along the outermost edge of the Milky Way Galaxy
halfway between the center of the Milky Way Galaxy and its outer edge
exactly at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy
- 19. Multiple Choice
Our solar system includes the Earth, the Sun, and the seven other planets that are in orbit around the Sun. Which of the following galaxies does our solar system belong to?
the Andromeda Galaxy
the Whirlpool Galaxy
the Ursa Minor Galaxy
the Milky Way Galaxy
- 20. Multiple Choice
A science teacher is teaching his students about the Solar System, which is in the Milky Way Galaxy. A student asks whether there are other solar systems in the Milky Way. Which of these statements best answers the student's question?
There is no way to determine whether there are other solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy.
There are no other solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy.
There is only one other solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy.
There are many other solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy.
- 21. Multiple Choice
Which prediction of Copernicus's heliocentric model is still considered to be accurate?
The planets travel at uniform speeds.
The planets travel in circular paths.
The planets orbit the Sun.
The Sun is at the center of the Universe.
- 22. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the smallest?
the Sun
the Universe
the Milky Way Galaxy
the Solar System
- 23. Multiple Choice
Other galaxies observed by astronomers are almost all redshifted. This means that most galaxies are moving away from our galaxy. Since this is true in every direction, the galaxies are all moving away from each other.
Suppose the galaxies in the image are moving in the directions indicated by the arrows. What would have been true at some point in the past?
All the galaxies were close to each other.
All the galaxies were moving in the same direction.
All the galaxies were moving with the same velocity.
all of these
- 24. Multiple Choice
A galaxy, such as the Milky Way Galaxy, is very small compared to
the Solar System.
the Sun.
the planet Jupiter.
the Universe.
- 25. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the dust, gas, and celestial bodies of the Milky Way Galaxy?
They orbit around the center of the galaxy because of gravity.
The farther away they are from the center of the galaxy, the more they are pulled by gravity.
They experience gravity only if they have significant mass.
The faster they move, the less gravity they experience.
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