Measuring Distance In Space Question Preview (ID: 17734)
AU, Light-years, Parallax.
TEACHERS: click here for quick copy question ID numbers.
How do scientists define an astronomical unit?
a) the distance between Earth and the moon
b) the distance between Earth and the sun
c) the distance from one end of the solar system to the other
d) the distance from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other
What is necessary to calculate a star's distance from Earth?
a) the parallax angle
b) the position of the star observed twice, six months apart
c) the distance between the two points of observation
d) all of the above
Approximately how many astronomical units are equivalent to one light-year?
a) 63,000 AU
b) 150,000 AU
c) 300,000 AU
d) 150,000 million AU
A light-year is a measure of
a) time
b) distance
c) speed
d) velocity
What is the distance of an object from Earth if the object is 7 AU from the sun? (Assume that both Earth and the object are located in the same direction from the sun.)
a) five AU
b) six AU
c) seven AU
d) eight AU
What is a constellation?
a) a pattern of stars visible in the night sky
b) a region of the sky described by the celestial sphere
c) both A and B
d) neither A nor B
A star is located approximately 500 million light-years from Earth. Can a student determine the star's distance by calculating its parallax angle?
a) No. Parallax cannot be used to calculate the distances of objects more than approximately 300 light-years away.
b) Yes. Parallax enables astronomers to calculate the distances of objects fewer than 1 billion light-years away.
c) The student cannot use the parallax angle alone to determine the star's distance; the student must also know the star's age.
d) The student cannot use the parallax angle alone to determine the star's distance; the student must also know the star's size.
How are objects located on the celestial sphere?
a) longitude and latitude
b) declination and parallax
c) declination and right ascension
d) left ascension and right ascension
An astronomical unit is equivalent to
a) 150,000 miles
b) 150,000 kilometers
c) 150 million miles
d) 150 million kilometers
What is parallax?
a) the average distance between a celestial object and Earth
b) the angle formed by Earth and two celestial bodies located in different directions from Earth
c) the apparent difference in the position of an object when viewed at the same time each year
d) the apparent difference in the position of an object when viewed from different lines of sight
At the eye doctor, you place a paddle over your left eye to read the eye chart. When you repeat the process with the right eye, you notice that the coat hanger in your peripheral vision has shifted. Explain what has happened in terms of parallax.
a) Information farther from the eye is processed more slowly, causing the coat hanger to appear to change position.
b) Each eye views the coat hanger in a different line of sight. So, opening one eye, closing the other, the coat hanger moves.
c) Usually, the coat hanger will appear in the same position regardless of which eye sees it. So, you have an eye problem.
d) Usually, both eyes view the coat hanger along identical lines of sight. So, the coat hanger will appear in the same position.
Your friend argues that all the stars in a typical constellation are approximately the same distance from Earth. Is your friend correct?
a) Yes. All the stars in a typical constellation are approximately the same distance from Earth.
b) No. The stars in a constellation fall within the same area on the celestial sphere, but some stars are closer to Earth.
c) No. The stars in a constellation fall within the same area on the celestial sphere, brighter stars are always closer to Earth
d) No. The stars in a constellation fall within the same area, but equally bright stars are the same distance from Earth.
Which of the following models is most similar to the celestial sphere?
a) Place an overturned glass bowl(Earth) on a table, and place a piece of paper on top of the bowl, and mark the stars.
b) Place a marble(Earth) on a table, and place an overturned glass bowl(celestial sphere) over the marble, mark stars, on bowl.
c) Place a marble on a table, and place an overturned coffee mug over the marble. Use a marker to draw stars on the mug.
d) Place an overturned bowl over a marble. Place a second marble on the bowl(Earth).
Which of the following best describes the difference between two different units of distance in space?
a) AU is useful for measuring distances in the solar system; a light-year is useful for measuring distance beyond solar system.
b) AU is found by dividing km by 150 mill; a light-year is found by determining how long it takes an object to travel 150 mil AU
c) AU is used for measuring objects fewer than 300 l-y from Earth; a parsec is used for measuring objects more than 300ly Earth
d) AU is the distance between Earth and Sun; parsec equals the angle between an object’s apparent positions viewed from 2 points
How do light-years help astronomers to determine the ages of distant objects in space?
a) To calculate an object's age in years, astronomers must first know the object's distance from Earth in light-years.
b) To calculate an object's distance from Earth in light-years, astronomers must first know the object's age in years.
c) Light in space travels about 9.5 trillion km/year. So, an object's distance from Earth in light-years equals object's age.
d) Light in space travels about 9.5 trillion km/year.So,images that astronomers see of distant objects show the objects long ago
Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, has a parallax angle of approximately 0.13 arcseconds when viewed at 2 different times six months apart. Approximately how far away is Vega from the Sun?
a) 0.77 light years
b) 2.5 light years
c) 7.7 light years
d) 25 light years
Play Games with the Questions above at ReviewGameZone.com
To play games using the questions from above, visit ReviewGameZone.com and enter game ID number: 17734 in the upper right hand corner or click here.
To play games using the questions from above, visit ReviewGameZone.com and enter game ID number: 17734 in the upper right hand corner or click here.
TEACHERS / EDUCATORS
Log In | Sign Up / Register
Log In | Sign Up / Register