Space Physics and Astrophysics - SS2 Physics Past Questions and Answers - page 5
The discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation provides strong evidence for:
The existence of dark matter
The expansion of the universe
The existence of black holes
The Big Bang Theory
The cosmic microwave background radiation is best described as:
Radio waves emitted by Earth's atmosphere
Infrared radiation from distant galaxies
Thermal radiation from the Sun
Faint, uniform radiation from all directions in the universe
The cosmic microwave background radiation is often referred to as the "afterglow" of the Big Bang because:
It is the result of galaxies colliding after the Big Bang
It is the residual heat from the Big Bang explosion
It is the radiation emitted by stars formed shortly after the Big Bang
It is the remnant of the hot and dense early stages of the universe
Explain the main components of the Big Bang Theory and the evidence that supports it.
The Big Bang Theory states that the universe originated from a singularity and has been expanding ever since. The main components of the theory are as follows:
- Singularity: The universe started as an infinitely small, hot, and dense point called a singularity.
- Expansion: The universe is continuously expanding, with galaxies moving away from each other.
- Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): The CMB is a faint, uniform radiation discovered in 1965, which is considered the afterglow of the Big Bang. Its presence and characteristics provide strong evidence for the Big Bang Theory.
- Redshift: The observation of redshift in the light coming from distant galaxies indicates that they are moving away from us, supporting the idea of an expanding universe.
- Abundance of light elements: The abundance of light elements such as hydrogen and helium in the universe matches the predictions made by the Big Bang Theory.
Describe the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB and its significance.
The cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) is a faint, uniform radiation that permeates the entire universe. It was first discovered in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. The CMB is often referred to as the afterglow of the Big Bang because it represents the residual heat from the early stages of the universe.
The CMB's distribution of temperature fluctuations provides valuable insights into the structure and composition of the universe. Tiny variations in temperature across the CMB represent density fluctuations in the early universe that eventually led to the formation of galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Overall, the discovery and study of the CMB have significantly contributed to our understanding of the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing strong support for the Big Bang Theory.
Which of the following is NOT a primary objective of space exploration?
Discovering new scientific knowledge
Expanding human presence beyond Earth
Commercial profit generation
Inspiring technological advancements
Which space mission was the first to land humans on the Moon?
Apollo 11
Mars Pathfinder
Voyager 1
Hubble Space Telescope
The International Space Station (ISS) is primarily used for:
Human spaceflight research and experimentation
Observing distant galaxies and celestial bodies
Conducting space tourism
Mining resources from asteroids
What is the significance of the Hubble Space Telescope in space exploration?
It discovered the existence of exoplanets.
It provided the most detailed images of distant galaxies and nebulae
It conducted the first manned mission to Mars
It collected samples from a comet for analysis.
Which space agency successfully landed a rover named Perseverance on Mars in 2021?
NASA
ESA (European Space Agency)
Roscosmos (Russian Space Agency)
CNSA (China National Space Administration)