Question 1

Why was Herschel's strategy for mapping our Galaxy flawed?

Accepted Answer

A)   His infrared telescopes couldn't penetrate the dust clouds.
B)   He used globular clusters, lying above the dust in the disc.
C)   He relied on visual wavelengths, which are obscured by dust.
D)   He used radio telescopes that didn't give enough resolution.
E)   He assumed Earth was at the extreme edge of the Galaxy.F) All of the above
G) B) and C)

Question 2

All RR Lyrae stars have about the same:

Accepted Answer

A)   period of six hours.
B)   distance of 32 light years.
C)   galactic location and speed.
D)   luminosity of about 100 Suns.
E)   locations in the centers of globular star clusters.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 3

Density waves may explain:

Accepted Answer

A)   the lack of blue stars in the halo.
B)   the random orbits of halo stars.
C)   the density of red stars in the bulge.
D)   the spiral arm structure of the Galaxy.
E)   the large number of open clusters in the halo.F) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 4

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Accepted Answer

A)   5 kpc
B)   8 kpc
C)   15 kpc
D)   50 kpc
E)   200 kpcF) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 5

William Herschel's original model for our Galaxy was based on counting stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What are the observational pieces of evidence that confirm the existence of a three-part structure (bulge,disk,halo)to the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

The Galactic halo is observed by mapping...

Question 7

It is harder to map the structure of the Milky Way as a whole in visible light than with any other form of electromagnetic radiation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Based on star counts,100 years ago most astronomers thought:

Accepted Answer

A)   we lay about 30,000 ly out from the center of the Galaxy.
B)   we lay near the center of a disk about 10 kpc wide and 2 kpc thick.
C)   we lay in a spiral arm of the largest galaxy in the universe.
D)   we lay near the edge of the only galaxy in the universe.
E)   we were not a part of any structure larger than the known solar system.F) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 9

Which of the following is most like the rotation of stars in the disk of the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

A)   a DVD in a player
B)   the planets in our solar system
C)   cars moving at a constant speed on a circular race track
D)   the hands of an analog clock
E)   the tire of a car movingF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 10

The core of the Milky Way,Sagittarius A,is a strong radio source in the sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following are most massive and luminous?

Accepted Answer

A)   brown dwarfs
B)   RR Lyrae variables
C)   white dwarfs
D)   T-Tauri variables
E)   Cepheid variablesF) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 12

What two observations allow us to calculate the Galaxy's mass?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Sun's mass and velocity in orbit of the Galactic Center
B)   the Sun's age and period of the Galactic Year
C)   the Sun's orbital velocity and its distance from the Galactic Center
D)   the Sun's mass and its age
E)   the Sun's composition and luminosityF) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 13

The RR Lyrae stars all have periods of:

Accepted Answer

A)   less than a second.
B)   several minutes.
C)   several hours.
D)   several days.
E)   several weeks.F) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 14

The Galactic center in ________ is best studied using radio and infrared observations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Galactic center in ________ is best...

Question 15

The location of the Galactic Center was first found by Harlow Shapley with:

Accepted Answer

A)   radio emissions from Sagittarius A.
B)   Cepheids of Population I in the spiral arms.
C)   RR Lyrae variables in the globular clusters.
D)   planetary nebulae in the open clusters.
E)   infrared observations of the heat from its accretion disk around the black hole.F) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

Most of the mass of the Milky Way seems to exist in the form of:

Accepted Answer

A)   Population I stars in the disk.
B)   Population II stars in the Halo.
C)   hydrogen gas in the disk and spiral arms.
D)   dark matter out in the Halo.
E)   the black hole in the Galactic Center.F) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

Detailed measurements of the disk and central bulge region of our Galaxy suggest our Milky Way is a:

Accepted Answer

A)   normal spiral galaxy.
B)   barred spiral galaxy.
C)   very flat elliptical galaxy.
D)   very dusty irregular galaxy.
E)   quasar.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 18

Which two classes of objects were critical to the Shapley-Curtiss Debate of 1920?

Accepted Answer

A)   white dwarfs and red giants
B)   open clusters and emission nebulae
C)   globular clusters and spiral nebulae
D)   emission nebulae and spiral nebulae
E)   planetary nebulae and white dwarfsF) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 19

Shapley found the Sun is located about halfway out the disk from the center of the disk of the Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How are Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars different?

Accepted Answer

Cepheids are large mass variable stars w...

Exam 23: The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space

How are Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars different?

Correct AnswerverifiedCepheids are large mass variable stars w...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is most like the rotation of stars in the disk of the Milky Way?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Density waves may explain:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

William Herschel's original model for our Galaxy was based on counting stars.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Shapley found the Sun is located about halfway out the disk from the center of the disk of the Galaxy.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which two classes of objects were critical to the Shapley-Curtiss Debate of 1920?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the mass of the Milky Way seems to exist in the form of:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The location of the Galactic Center was first found by Harlow Shapley with:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on star counts,100 years ago most astronomers thought:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All RR Lyrae stars have about the same:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It is harder to map the structure of the Milky Way as a whole in visible light than with any other form of electromagnetic radiation.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the observational pieces of evidence that confirm the existence of a three-part structure (bulge,disk,halo)to the Milky Way Galaxy?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe Galactic halo is observed by mapping...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following are most massive and luminous?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The core of the Milky Way,Sagittarius A,is a strong radio source in the sky.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why was Herschel's strategy for mapping our Galaxy flawed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The RR Lyrae stars all have periods of:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Galactic center in ________ is best studied using radio and infrared observations.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Detailed measurements of the disk and central bulge region of our Galaxy suggest our Milky Way is a:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What two observations allow us to calculate the Galaxy's mass?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Cepheids are large mass variable stars w...
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The Galactic halo is observed by mapping...
View Answer

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