Question 1

What are the orbits of population I stars like?

Accepted Answer

A)  circular, confined to the disk of the galaxy
B)  very elliptical, confined to the disk of the galaxy
C)  very elliptical, randomly inclined to the disk of the galaxy
D)  circular, randomly inclined to the disk of the galaxy

Question 2

The centre of our galaxy is believed to be occupied by the radio source known as ____________________.

Accepted Answer

Sgr A*
Sag...

Question 3

The period-luminosity relationship is primarily used for main sequence stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

If a star with a high speed with respect a typical disk star is found,what other property would you expect it to have?

Accepted Answer

A)  young age
B)  high luminosity
C)  low metal content compared to the Sun
D)  high mass

Question 5

Our galaxy is suspected to be surrounded by a dark halo.What is it about the disk of the galaxy that makes us suspect this?

Accepted Answer

A)  It rotates faster than expected in its outer region.
B)  It rotates more slowly than expected in its outer region.
C)  It is only visible during a total eclipse of our Sun.
D)  It is surrounded above, below, and well beyond by the brightly glowing corona.

Question 6

What is the best evidence that Sagittarius A* is a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Orbits of stars indicate a mass several million times that of the Sun within a very small volume.
B)  Sagittarius A* is a powerful radio source.
C)  No visible light from Sagittarius A* reaches the Earth.
D)  Radio maps of the region around Sagittarius A* show complicated gas structures believed to be related to massive star formation.

Question 7

Why does the average chemical composition of stars now forming differ from that of older stars?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does the average chemical composition of...

Question 8

Discuss how Harlow Shapley determined the structure of the Milky Way galaxy from his study of globular clusters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how Harlow Shapley determined the structure...

Question 9

The rapid rotation of the outer disk suggests that our galaxy is more massive than previously thought.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Why do radio maps of our galaxy show spiral arms?

Accepted Answer

A)  The arms have larger Doppler shifts.
B)  The gas in the spiral arms is very hot.
C)  The dust in spiral arms is denser.
D)  The gas in spiral arms is denser.

Question 11

Who first calibrated the Cepheid variable stars for use in determining distance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Edwin Hubble
B)  Henrietta Leavitt
C)  Carl Sagan
D)  Harlow Shapley

Question 12

According to the traditional theory,how did the galaxy form?

Accepted Answer

A)  from a large cloud of material that broke off a larger galaxy
B)  from the collapse of a large spherical cloud of gas that was rotating very slowly
C)  from material that had been ejected in the violent explosion of a dying galaxy
D)  as a result of mergers between several smaller groups of gas, dust, and stars

Question 13

How did Harlow Shapley use the period-luminosity relationship of RR Lyrae variable stars to determine the size of the Milky Way galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  He found the distances to open clusters found throughout the disk of the galaxy.
B)  He found the distances to individual variables free-floating in the halo of the galaxy.
C)  He determined the proper motion of globular clusters in the outer disk of the galaxy.
D)  He found the distances to globular clusters distributed about the centre of the galaxy.

Question 14

What part of the Milky Way contains mostly old stars and globular clusters?

Accepted Answer

A)  the spiral arms
B)  the spherical halo component
C)  the smooth disk component
D)  the nucleus

Question 15

The rotation curve of the galaxy provides evidence for the existence of the ____________________ that extends beyond the halo of the galaxy.

Accepted Answer

extended h...

Question 16

Which constellation lies in the direction of the centre of our galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Orion
B)  Sagittarius
C)  Ursa Major
D)  Monoceros

Question 17

Globular clusters are primarily found in the _________________ component of the galaxy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Globular clusters are primarily found in the...

Question 18

Population II stars contain more metals than Population I stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following is believed to make up most of the extended galactic halo?

Accepted Answer

A)  dark matter
B)  faint brown dwarfs
C)  G, K, and M stars
D)  globular clusters

Question 20

Which of the following are associated with the spiral arms of a galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  young, massive stars
B)  nuclear bulges
C)  metal-poor stars
D)  million-solar-mass black holes

Exam 9: The Milky Way Galaxy

Which constellation lies in the direction of the centre of our galaxy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Our galaxy is suspected to be surrounded by a dark halo.What is it about the disk of the galaxy that makes us suspect this?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the best evidence that Sagittarius A* is a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a star with a high speed with respect a typical disk star is found,what other property would you expect it to have?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The rotation curve of the galaxy provides evidence for the existence of the ____________________ that extends beyond the halo of the galaxy.

Correct Answerverifiedextended h...View AnswerShow Answer

Why does the average chemical composition of stars now forming differ from that of older stars?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following are associated with the spiral arms of a galaxy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Discuss how Harlow Shapley determined the structure of the Milky Way galaxy from his study of globular clusters.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The rapid rotation of the outer disk suggests that our galaxy is more massive than previously thought.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Who first calibrated the Cepheid variable stars for use in determining distance?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the orbits of population I stars like?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the traditional theory,how did the galaxy form?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How did Harlow Shapley use the period-luminosity relationship of RR Lyrae variable stars to determine the size of the Milky Way galaxy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The period-luminosity relationship is primarily used for main sequence stars.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Population II stars contain more metals than Population I stars.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The centre of our galaxy is believed to be occupied by the radio source known as ____________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedSgr A*Sag...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is believed to make up most of the extended galactic halo?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Globular clusters are primarily found in the _________________ component of the galaxy.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do radio maps of our galaxy show spiral arms?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What part of the Milky Way contains mostly old stars and globular clusters?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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extended h...
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Sgr A*
Sag...
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