Exploring the Cosmos - Degree Exam 2009 - Particles, Forces & the Big Bang
1. In the Geocentric view of the Universe, what are the stars?
Objects reflecting the light of the Sun.
Symbols of the gods.
Far away bright objects.
Perfect celestial objects.
2. We now reject the Geocentric view of the Universe. What is the main objection?
It does not provide any physical understanding.
The model is too contrived.
It cannot explain the Retrograde motion.
It does not fit the observed data.
3. Kepler’s laws state that the
speed of the planets changes over time.
planets follow circular orbits.
planets rotate about their own axis of rotation.
Sun is at the centre of the Universe.
4. The Observable Universe refers to the portion of the Universe
visible to an observer on the surface of the Earth.
from which light has had time to reach the Earth.
able to be resolved by the most powerful telescope.
that is made up of ordinary matter.
5. In a uniformly expanding Universe
the further the object the faster they move away.
the speed of travel of all the objects are uniform.
objects at the edge of the Universe will, in fact, expand less.
all the objects will move away from each other at uniform speed.
6. If the cosmological (density) parameter of the Universe is greater than 1, then we
live in an open universe.
live in a flat universe.
still don’t know the shape because density and shape are independent parameters.
live in a closed universe.
7. The String Theory postulates that the Universe
started with the Big Bang.
progresses from one event to the next as if moving along a stretched string.
is made up of lots of tiny strings.
is just one manifestation of many, like the notes on a vibrating string.
8. In the Big Bang theory as we approach the beginning of time the temperature
remains the same.
becomes a meaningless concept.
increases.
decreases.
9. How can measurements of the rotation of galaxies detect the presence of dark matter?
The presence of dark matter will distort the rotation path of a galaxy.
Dark matter does not move. So, it slows down the rotation of galaxies.
As galaxies rotate, dark matter can periodically obscure parts of a galaxy.
The rate of rotation of a galaxy tells us what is its mass.
10. The smoothness problem in Big Bang cosmology refers to the problem of the
celestial bodies appearing to be less smooth as the theory predicts.
older parts of the Universe appearing to be smooth.
geometry of the Universe being almost flat.
Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation being not as smooth as expected.
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