The Universe Knowledge Quiz

Discovery Channel School's Curriculum Center

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  1. Why is the sun considered a star?
  2. Your answer:
    It is made up of burning gases.
    It emits light and heat
    It has a higher mass than planets, moons, and asteroids.
    all of the above


  3. Constellations are groups of stars in particular regions of the sky. Which of the following is not a constellation?
  4. Your answer:
    Cassiopeia
    sun
    Orion
    Pleiades, also known as The Seven Sisters


  5. Nuclear reactions that give off electromagnetic radiation take place within these objects. Many are visible at night, and they are
  6. Your answer:
    stars.
    black holes.
    nebulae.
    planets.


  7. A black hole is an invisible, highly dense celestial body with gravity strong enough to keep light from escaping. It is called a black hole because
  8. Your answer:
    black holes were named after their discoverer, Richard Black.
    it is a big, dark hole in space.
    it always appears dark, since no light can leave it.
    it only attracts black objects.


  9. What does the universe include?
  10. Your answer:
    our solar system and all other solar systems that exist
    nine planets, one sun, asteroids, and comets
    five solar systems
    just our sun


  11. Stars are classified according to characteristics that can be observed from Earth. Which of the following is not a characteristic for classifying stars?
  12. Your answer:
    the star's luminosity, or brightness
    the star's color
    the star's size
    All of these are possible characteristics.


  13. Although they did not have telescopes, ancient people studied space. What did they observe?
  14. Your answer:
    details on planets in far-away galaxies
    only the sun and the moon
    the changing positions of stars and planets in the sky
    all of the above


  15. The universe is made up of billions of galaxies that seem to be moving away from each other. This is evidence for which theory?
  16. Your answer:
    the theory that the universe is expanding in size
    the theory that all matter repels (pushes away) other matter
    the theory that the universe is shrinking
    the theory that the universe has a fixed size


  17. The Milky Way is made up of stars. It is disk-shaped, but it bulges in the middle where it has many stars. Where is the Milky Way brightest?
  18. Your answer:
    in its middle
    on its edges
    It has the same brightness throughout.
    It's not bright at all.


  19. Galaxies are made up of billions of stars, all giving off light, but many galaxies can only be seen with powerful telescopes. What is a possible reason for this?
  20. Your answer:
    They are so far away from Earth that their light is very faint.
    They are made up of only small stars.
    They are in motion, so they are harder to see.
    The space around them is darker than normal space.



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