Astrophysics Quizzes: Explore the Universe's Mysteries

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a spectral class used to classify stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

O

Answer

M

Answer

G

Question 2

What is the term for the region in the center of a galaxy where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape?

Accepted Answer

Black hole

Answer

Supernova

Answer

Neutron star

Answer

White dwarf

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental force in the universe?

Accepted Answer

Frictional force

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Strong nuclear force

Answer

Weak nuclear force

Question 4

What is the term for the process by which a star forms from a collapsing cloud of gas and dust?

Accepted Answer

Star formation

Answer

Nebula

Answer

Supernova

Answer

Black hole formation

Question 5

Which of the following is a measure of the total power emitted by a star?

Accepted Answer

Luminosity

Answer

Magnitude

Answer

Temperature

Answer

Size

Question 6

What is the name of the galaxy that contains our solar system?

Accepted Answer

Milky Way galaxy

Answer

Andromeda galaxy

Answer

Triangulum galaxy

Answer

Large Magellanic Cloud

Question 7

What is the name of the space mission that first detected the cosmic microwave background radiation?

Accepted Answer

COBE mission

Answer

Hubble Deep Field

Answer

WMAP mission

Answer

Planck mission

Question 8

Which type of star has a surface temperature below 4,000 K and primarily emits infrared radiation?

Accepted Answer

M-star

Answer

O-star

Answer

B-star

Answer

A-star

Question 9

Which element is the most abundant in the universe?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen

Answer

Helium

Answer

Carbon

Answer

Oxygen

Question 10

What is the name of the cosmic radiation left over from the Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

Cosmic microwave background radiation

Answer

Cosmic X-ray background radiation

Answer

Cosmic gamma-ray background radiation

Answer

Cosmic infrared background radiation

Question 11

What is the name of the method used to determine the distance to stars?

Accepted Answer

Parallax method

Answer

Redshift method

Answer

Doppler method

Answer

Spectroscopic method

Question 12

What is the term for the ongoing expansion of the universe?

Accepted Answer

Hubble expansion

Answer

Cosmic expansion

Answer

Galactic expansion

Answer

Stellar expansion

Question 13

Which characteristic is NOT typical of red giant stars?

Accepted Answer

Early lifespan

Answer

Low surface temperature

Answer

High luminosity

Answer

Large radius

Question 14

Identify the type of galaxy characterized by a bright, concentrated center surrounded by spiral arms:

Accepted Answer

Spiral galaxy

Answer

Elliptical galaxy

Answer

Irregular galaxy

Answer

Lenticular galaxy

Question 15

Which fundamental force plays a dominant role in holding stars together within a galaxy?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Electromagnetic force

Answer

Strong nuclear force

Answer

Weak nuclear force

Question 16

What is the commonly accepted name for the cosmic background radiation believed to be a remnant of the Big Bang?

Accepted Answer

Cosmic microwave background

Answer

X-ray background

Answer

Infrared background

Answer

Ultraviolet background

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a method employed to determine the distance to galaxies?

Accepted Answer

Spectroscopic analysis

Answer

Parallax method

Answer

Standard candle method

Answer

Redshift method

Question 18

Identify the type of variable star that exhibits periodic fluctuations in brightness:

Accepted Answer

Cepheid variable

Answer

Novae

Answer

Supernovae

Answer

Pulsars

Question 19

What phenomenon results in the observed redshift of light emitted from distant galaxies?

Accepted Answer

Cosmic expansion

Answer

Doppler effect

Answer

Gravitational lensing

Answer

Time dilation

Question 20

Name the supermassive black hole believed to reside at the center of our Milky Way galaxy:

Accepted Answer

Sagittarius A*

Answer

Event Horizon Telescope

Answer

Cygnus X-1

Answer

M87

Question 21

Which of the following is not a recognized type of supernova?

Accepted Answer

Type III

Answer

Type Ia

Answer

Type II

Answer

Type Ib

Question 22

Which stage is NOT part of the life cycle of a star with a mass similar to that of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Neutron star

Answer

Red giant

Answer

White dwarf

Answer

Planetary nebula

Question 23

Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram are primarily fusing which element in their cores?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen

Answer

Helium

Answer

Carbon

Answer

Iron

Question 24

Which type of galaxy is characterized by its spherical or elliptical shape and lack of prominent spiral arms?

Accepted Answer

Elliptical galaxy

Answer

Spiral galaxy

Answer

Lenticular galaxy

Answer

Irregular galaxy

Question 25

The cosmic microwave background radiation is widely considered as evidence for which cosmological theory?

Accepted Answer

Big Bang theory

Answer

Steady state theory

Answer

Oscillating universe theory

Answer

Multiverse theory

Question 26

Which of the following fundamental forces is responsible for the attraction between any two objects with mass?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Electromagnetic force

Answer

Strong nuclear force

Answer

Weak nuclear force

Question 27

According to the mass-luminosity relationship, how does the luminosity of a star generally compare to its mass?

Accepted Answer

Stars with greater mass are typically brighter

Answer

Stars with lesser mass are typically brighter

Answer

The luminosity of a star is independent of its mass

Answer

The luminosity of a star is inversely proportional to its mass

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT considered a possible candidate for dark matter?

Accepted Answer

Ordinary matter

Answer

Massive neutrinos

Answer

Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs)

Answer

Primordial black holes

Question 29

Based on current observations, the expansion of the universe is believed to be:

Accepted Answer

Accelerating

Answer

Decelerating

Answer

Constant

Answer

Cyclic

Question 30

Which type of star boasts the highest surface temperature?

Accepted Answer

Blue supergiant star

Answer

Red dwarf star

Answer

White dwarf star

Answer

Neutron star

Question 31

What fuels stars, allowing them to radiate energy?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion reactions

Answer

Chemical reactions

Answer

Gravitational collapse

Answer

Electromagnetic radiation

Question 32

Spiral galaxies are characterized by which distinctive shape?

Accepted Answer

Spiral disc

Answer

Elliptical

Answer

Lenticular

Answer

Irregular

Question 33

Around a black hole lies a region of inescapable gravitational pull. What is this region called?

Accepted Answer

Event horizon

Answer

Accretion disc

Answer

Singularity

Answer

Supernova remnant

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT recognized as a fundamental force in nature?

Accepted Answer

Elastic force

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Electromagnetic force

Answer

Strong nuclear force

Question 35

The Big Bang Theory attempts to explain what cosmic phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The origin and evolution of the universe

Answer

The formation of galaxies

Answer

The behavior of black holes

Answer

The expansion of space-time

Question 36

Kepler's Third Law describes the relationship between what two orbital characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Orbital period and semi-major axis

Answer

Eccentricity and inclination

Answer

Perihelion and aphelion

Answer

Mean anomaly and true anomaly

Question 37

Which technique is employed to study the chemical composition of stars?

Accepted Answer

Spectroscopy

Answer

Photometry

Answer

Astrometry

Answer

Radiography

Question 38

The hypothetical particle thought to mediate the gravitational force is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Graviton

Answer

Photon

Answer

Electron

Answer

Gluon

Question 39

Which force is the primary cause of the gravitational pull between galaxies?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Electromagnetic force

Answer

Nuclear force

Question 40

What are two possible consequences of discovering extraterrestrial life for the field of astrophysics?

Accepted Answer

Challenging the assumption that Earth is unique

Accepted Answer

Providing insights into the origins and evolution of life

Answer

Altering our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics

Question 41

The defining characteristic of a main-sequence star is:

Accepted Answer

Stable fusion of hydrogen in its core

Answer

Undergoing gravitational collapse

Answer

Shedding its outer layers as a red giant

Answer

Evolving into a neutron star

Question 42

In the cores of stars, energy is generated through a process called:

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion

Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Chemical combustion

Answer

Gravitational accretion

Question 43

Which type of galaxy is characterized by a prominent spiral shape and ongoing star formation?

Accepted Answer

Spiral galaxy

Answer

Elliptical galaxy

Answer

Irregular galaxy

Answer

Lenticular galaxy

Question 44

The remnant radiation from the Big Bang is known as:

Accepted Answer

Cosmic Microwave Background

Answer

Cosmic Inflation Radiation

Answer

Gamma-ray Background

Answer

X-ray Background

Question 45

Which factor primarily determines the color of a star?

Accepted Answer

Surface temperature

Answer

Mass

Answer

Age

Answer

Size

Question 46

The diagram used to classify stars based on their temperature and luminosity is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Answer

Mass-Luminosity Diagram

Answer

Color-Magnitude Diagram

Answer

Period-Luminosity Diagram

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a recognized type of supernova?

Accepted Answer

Type IV

Answer

Type Ia

Answer

Type Ib

Answer

Type II