Astronomy Trivia Questions for Students — page 2
150 trivia questions with answers, students. Multiple-choice trivia with answers, sorted by topic and level. Reveal the answers below, pick one at random, or present them full-screen.
- 51.
How do we think the "hot Jupiters" around other stars were formed?
- AThey formed as gas giants close to the star in the same orbits that they are seen today.
- BThey formed as dense rocky planets close to the star in the same orbits that they are seen today.
- CThey formed as gas giants beyond the frost line and then migrated inwards.
- DThey where formed when their stars flung material out into the system in a process similar to planetary fission.
Answer: They formed as gas giants beyond the frost line and then migrated inwards. - 52.
Which of the following is/are NOT caused by orbital resonance?
- ABreaking of small Jovian moons to form ring materials.
- BGaps in Saturn's rings.
- C2:3 periodic ratio of Neptune:Pluto
- DKirkwood Gaps.
Answer: Breaking of small Jovian moons to form ring materials. - 53.
The second cosmic velocity (or escape velocity) is the speed required by an object to escape the gravitational field of a celestial body with mass M and radius R. Which formula correctly calculates this velocity? (G: gravitational constant)
- Av = 2sqrt(GM/R)
- Bv = sqrt(2GM/R)
- Cv = sqrt(GM/R)
- Dv = sqrt(GM/2R)
Answer: v = sqrt(2GM/R) - 54.
Which statement about an atom is not true:
- AA neutral atom always has equal numbers of electrons and protons.
- BA neutral atom always has equal numbers of neutrons and protons.
- CThe electrons can only orbit at particular energy levels.
- DThe nucleus contains most of the atom's mass but almost none of its volume.
Answer: A neutral atom always has equal numbers of neutrons and protons. - 55.
The distance between the Earth and the star Altair is one million times greater than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. How far is Altair from the Earth?
- A9.3 x 1010 meters
- B1.5 x 1017 meters
- C9.3 x 1013 meters
- D1.5 x 1014 meters
Answer: 1.5 x 1017 meters - 56.
Which is the least likely cause of death?
- AStarvation during global winter caused by a major impact.
- BBeing hit in the head by a bullet.
- CBeing hit by a small meteorite.
- DDriving while intoxicated without wearing seatbelts.
Answer: Being hit by a small meteorite. - 57.
What is the correct numerical value and unit of the Boltzmann constant?
- A1.38 × 10−23 m^2 · kg · s^−2 · K^−1
- B1.38 × 10−24 m^2 · kg · s^−2 · K^−2
- C1.38 × 10−21 m^3 · kg · s^−2 · K^−1
- D1.38 × 10−22 m^2 · kg · s^−3 · K^−1
Answer: 1.38 × 10−23 m^2 · kg · s^−2 · K^−1 - 58.
Suppose the angular separation of two stars is smaller than the angular resolution of your eyes. How will the stars appear to your eyes?
- AYou will not be able to see these two stars at all.
- BYou will see two distinct stars.
- CThe two stars will look like a single point of light.
- DThe two stars will appear to be touching looking rather like a small dumbbell.
Answer: The two stars will look like a single point of light. - 59.
Approximately how far away is the Andromeda Galaxy?
- A2.1 million light years
- B1.7 million light years
- C3.2 million light years
- D2.5 million light years
Answer: 2.5 million light years - 60.
A Mars year is approximately how many Earth years long?
- A4
- B1/2
- C2
- D1
Answer: 2 - 61.
Sunspots are black regions that temporarily appear on the Sun. Their number highly increases every ... years. This period is also called the solar cycle.
- A15
- B11
- C13
- D9
Answer: 11 - 62.
The visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum is between ...
- A380 to 740 nm.
- B240 to 680 nm.
- C420 to 810 nm.
- D360 to 620 nm.
Answer: 380 to 740 nm. - 63.
In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse?
- AThe Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located.
- BThe Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located.
- CThe Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra.
- DThe Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun.
Answer: The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. - 64.
Which factor s most important in determining the history of volanism and tectonism on a planet?
- Arotation period
- Bdistance from the sun
- Cpresence of an atmosphere
- Dsize of the planet
Answer: size of the planet - 65.
The axis of the Earth is tilted at an angle of approximately ... relative to the orbital plane around the Sun.
- A21.4 degrees
- B22.7 degrees
- C23.5 degrees
- D20.3 degrees
Answer: 23.5 degrees - 66.
Why doesn't Venus have seasons like Mars and Earth do?
- AIts rotation axis is nearly perpendicular to the plane of the Solar System.
- BIt does not have an ozone layer.
- CIt does not rotate fast enough.
- DIt is too close to the Sun.
Answer: Its rotation axis is nearly perpendicular to the plane of the Solar System. - 67.
Which of the following statements about sidereal and solar days is not true?
- AA solar day represents more than 360° of rotation for the earth.
- BThe time it takes for the Sun to make one circuit of our sky is one solar day.
- CThe time it takes for the Moon to make one circuit of our sky is one solar day.
- DA solar day is 4 minutes longer than a sidereal day.
Answer: The time it takes for the Moon to make one circuit of our sky is one solar day. - 68.
The name of the black hole in the center of our Milky Way is ...
- AFomalhaut A*
- BSagittarius A*
- CAltair A*
- DAlsephina A*
Answer: Sagittarius A* - 69.
Which of the following is not true?
- ANeptune and Pluto won't collide because of their orbital resonance
- BThe Kirkwood Gaps in the asteroid belt are due to resonances with Jupiter
- CThe Earth and Venus are in a 1:1 orbital resonance (for every 1 Earth orbit there is exactly 1 Venus orbit)
- DNeptune and Pluto are in a 3:2 orbital resonance (for every 3 Neptune orbits there are exactly 2 Pluto orbits)
Answer: The Earth and Venus are in a 1:1 orbital resonance (for every 1 Earth orbit there is exactly 1 Venus orbit) - 70.
The terrestrial planet cores contain mostly metal because
- Ametals condensed first in the solar nebula and the rocks then accreted around them.
- Bthe entire planets are made mostly of metal.
- Cradioactivity created metals in the core from the decay of uranium.
- Dmetals sank to the center during a time when the interiors were molten throughout.
Answer: metals sank to the center during a time when the interiors were molten throughout. - 71.
Which of the following moons is NOT one of the Galilean moons?
- AGanymede
- BCallisto
- CDione
- DEuropa
Answer: Dione - 72.
Calculate the ratio of the solar radiation flux on Mercury's surface for perihelion (0.304 AU) versus aphelion (0.456 AU).
- A9:4
- B1:2
- C6:5
- D4:1
Answer: 9:4 - 73.
Our current best observations show that Pluto has
- Ano satellites.
- Bone large satellite.
- Cone large satellite and three small satellites.
- Done medium sized satellite and two small satellites.
Answer: one medium sized satellite and two small satellites. - 74.
The resolution of a telescope is a measure of its:
- ALight-collecting efficiency
- BAbility to magnify distant objects
- CAbility to measure the angular separation of objects
- DAbility to measure the distance between objects
Answer: Ability to measure the angular separation of objects - 75.
According to the Solar Nebular theory what are asteroids and comets?
- AThey are the shattered remains of collisions between planets.
- BThey are leftover planetesimals that never accreted into planets.
- CThey are chunks of rock or ice that condensed long after the planets and moons had formed.
- DThey are chunks of rock or ice that were expelled from planets by volcanoes.
Answer: They are leftover planetesimals that never accreted into planets. - 76.
Why is the sky blue?
- ABecause the sky reflects the color of the Earth's oceans.
- BBecause the Earth's atmosphere preferentially absorbs all other colors.
- CBecause the atmosphere preferentially scatters short wavelengths.
- DBecause the molecules that compose the Earth's atmosphere have a blue-ish color.
Answer: Because the atmosphere preferentially scatters short wavelengths. - 77.
Kirkwood gaps are observed in the main asteroid belt including at the position(s) where:
- Aasteroids would orbit with a period half that of Jupiter
- BA and B
- Casteroids would orbit with a period twice that of Jupiter
- Dasteroids would orbit with a period twice that of Mars
Answer: asteroids would orbit with a period half that of Jupiter - 78.
Why do we look for water-ice in craters at Mercury's pole?
- AThese craters contain the only permanently shadowed regions on Mercury
- BActually water-ice is all over Mercury and not just at the poles.
- CRadar from the earth can only see Mercury's poles.
- DThe pole is the only place fortunate enough to have had comet impacts
Answer: These craters contain the only permanently shadowed regions on Mercury - 79.
What about asteroids makes them stand out in sky surveys searching for them?
- AAsteroids emit pulsed radiation
- BThey reflect enough of the sun's light to make them brighter than most background stars
- CAsteroids emit a lot of their own radiation
- DAsteroids have substantial motion relative to the background stars
Answer: Asteroids have substantial motion relative to the background stars - 80.
How are planetary rings made?
- AFrom accretion within the solar nebula at the same time the planets formed
- BFrom dust grains that escape from passing comets
- CFrom the dismantling of small moons by impacts
- DFrom fragments of planets ejected by impacts
Answer: From the dismantling of small moons by impacts - 81.
The Coriolis effect is observed on planets because
- Athe solar wind interacts with their magnetospheres
- Btheir surfaces rotate at the same speed (meters/second) at all latitudes
- Cthey rotate and have magnetic fields
- Dthey are rotating and spherical so different latitudes rotate at different speeds (meters/second)
Answer: they are rotating and spherical so different latitudes rotate at different speeds (meters/second) - 82.
Which is not an essential requirement for life as we know it?
- AA and B
- BA source of organic molecules
- CThe ability to breathe oxygen
- DThe ability to make energy from sunlight or to eat things that do
Answer: A and B - 83.
Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called "gas giants." In what sense is this term misleading?
- AActually it's a great description because these worlds are big and gaseous throughout.
- BThe materials that make up these planets are primarily in the form of a plasma not a gas.
- CThe materials they are made of are not normally gaseous in everyday experience.
- DThey actually contain a significant fraction of non-gaseous matter.
Answer: They actually contain a significant fraction of non-gaseous matter. - 84.
Why do we see essentially the same face of the Moon at all times?
- Abecause the Moon has a nearly circular orbit around the Earth
- Bbecause the Moon's rotational and orbital periods are equal
- Cbecause the Moon does not rotate
- Dbecause the other face points toward us only at new moon when we can't see the Moon
Answer: because the Moon's rotational and orbital periods are equal - 85.
A comet of mass m impacts the earth (mass M radius R) at the minimum impact speed. What is the expression for the total energy released in the impact?
- A0.6*G(M^2)/R
- Bm*v
- C0.5*m*(2GM/R)
- D0.5*m/(R^3)
Answer: 0.5*m*(2GM/R) - 86.
Why is Saturn almost as big as Jupiter despite its smaller mass?
- AJupiter's greater mass compresses it more thus increasing its density.
- BSaturn is further from the Sun thus cooler and therefore less compact.
- CJupiter's strong magnetic field constrains its size.
- DSaturn has a larger proportion of hydrogen and helium than Jupiter and is therefore less dense.
Answer: Jupiter's greater mass compresses it more thus increasing its density. - 87.
Why can't we see the Sun's corona except during total solar eclipses?
- AThe corona is made up mostly of charged particles which aren't luminous.
- BWe can't see magnetic fields
- CIt's much too cool to emit visible light
- DIt's too diffuse
Answer: It's too diffuse - 88.
Which of the following methods has led to the most discoveries of massive planets orbiting near their parent stars?
- Adetecting the starlight reflected off the planet
- Bdetecting the shift of the star's position against the sky due to the planet's gravitational pull
- Cdetecting a planet ejected from a binary star system
- Ddetecting the gravitational effect of an orbiting planet by looking for the Doppler shifts in the star's spectrum
Answer: detecting the gravitational effect of an orbiting planet by looking for the Doppler shifts in the star's spectrum - 89.
The nebular theory of the formation of the solar system successfully predicts all but one of the following. Which one does the theory not predict?
- APlanets orbit around the Sun in nearly circular orbits in a flattened disk.
- Bthe craters on the Moon
- Cthe equal number of terrestrial and jovian planets
- Dasteroids Kuiper-belt comets and the Oort cloud
Answer: the equal number of terrestrial and jovian planets - 90.
In astronomy the concept of black bodies is very important to better calculate the radiation of stars. Which one is the correct definition of a black body?
- AAn idealized physical object that absorbs all polarized radiation.
- BAn idealized physical object that reflects all electromagnetic radiation.
- CAn idealized physical object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation.
- DAn idealized physical object that reflects all polarized radiation.
Answer: An idealized physical object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation. - 91.
The mass of Saturn's rings is 2x1019 kg. What is the ratio of this mass to that of a 200 km diameter spherical moon made entirely of water-ice (density ~ 1 g/cm3)? That is what is Mrings : Micy moon?
- A0.5 : 1
- B50 : 1
- C5 : 1
- D1 : 1
Answer: 5 : 1 - 92.
Which planet(s) in the solar system has/have active plate tectonics?
- AMars
- BEarth
- CVenus
- DMars and Earth
Answer: Earth - 93.
What is the second most common element in the solar system?
- AHelium
- BHydrogen
- CIron
- DMethane
Answer: Helium - 94.
Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed?
- ACollisions among planetesimals generated friction and heat.
- BAs the cloud shrank its gravitational potential energy was converted to kinetic energy and then into thermal energy.
- CRadiation from other nearby stars that had formed earlier heated the nebula.
- DThe shock wave from a nearby supernova heated the gas.
Answer: As the cloud shrank its gravitational potential energy was converted to kinetic energy and then into thermal energy. - 95.
The astronomical unit parsec (pc) plays a crucial role in astronomy. One parsec is equal to about 3.26 light-years. How is one parsec defined in astronomy?
- AHistorical distance to the brightest star Sirius.
- BEffective distance of the solar wind (i.e. the radius of the heliosphere).
- COrbital distance of the solar system around the center of the Milky Way in one year.
- DDistance at which one astronomical unit measures one arcsecond from Earth.
Answer: Distance at which one astronomical unit measures one arcsecond from Earth. - 96.
Why is Mars red?
- ABecause flowing water on Mars's surface altered the surface minerals several billion years ago.
- BBecause the atmosphere scatters more light at bluer wavelengths transmitting mostly red light.
- CBecause Mars is covered with ancient lava flows which are red in color.
- DBecause the surface is covered with heavily oxidized ("rusted") minerals.
Answer: Because the surface is covered with heavily oxidized ("rusted") minerals. - 97.
How did the lunar maria form?
- AThe giant impact that created the Moon left smooth areas that we call the maria.
- BLarge impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere allowing lava to fill the impact basins.
- CVolatiles escaping from the Moon's interior heated and eroded the surface in the regions of the maria.
- DThe early bombardment created heat that melted the lunar surface in the regions of the maria.
Answer: Large impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere allowing lava to fill the impact basins. - 98.
Moons cause/contribute to which of the following?
- Agaps between rings.
- Bgravitational effects at ring edges as the moons pass by.
- CMoons contribute to all of the above.
- Dstability of particles within rings.
Answer: Moons contribute to all of the above. - 99.
Why isn't there a planet where the asteroid belt is located?
- AResonance with Jupiter prevented material from collecting together to form a planet.
- BA planet once formed here but it was broken apart by a catastrophic collision.
- CThere was too much rocky material to form a terrestrial planet but not enough gaseous material to form a jovian planet.
- DThere was not enough material in this part of the solar nebula to form a planet.
Answer: Resonance with Jupiter prevented material from collecting together to form a planet. - 100.
Which of the following characteristics would not necessarily suggest that a rock we found is a meteorite.
- AIt contains solidified spherical droplets
- BIt has a fusion crust
- CIt is highly processed
- DIt has different elemental composition than earth
Answer: It is highly processed
How to use these trivia questions
- Warm-up. Open a lesson or meeting with 3–5 questions — enough to wake the room, short enough to keep the agenda.
- Review game. Pick 10 questions on the topic you just taught and play them in teams; discuss every wrong answer.
- Quiz night. Mix two or three topics, read each question twice, and give 20 seconds before revealing the answer.
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