1.
Where in the
universe did the Big Bang happen?
a)
Near our galaxy, the Milky Way
b)
At the center of the universe
c)
Everywhere in the universe
d)
In the region the most distant galaxies form the Milky Way are located
2.
All far-away galaxies
are seen to recede from the Milky Way. How does the General Theory of
Relativity explain this?
a)
By assuming there is a repulsive force emanating form our galaxy
b)
By noting that space is expanding so that the distance between any two
far-away galaxies is steadily increasing
c)
By assuming that there is an attractive force from the other side of
the universe
d)
By noting it is a consequence of the centrifugal force generated during
the Big Bang
3.
Does the General
theory of Relativity predict a precession of Earth's orbit (beyond the one
predicted by Newtonian mechanics)? If yes, why is this not used to test this
theory?
a)
No, the theory
predicts precisely zero additional (that is non-Newtonian) orbital precession
b)
The general theory
predicts a very large additional precession, currently being looked for by
various satellites
c)
The general theory
does predict a very small additional precession, but it is too small to be
measured (at least by current technology)
d)
The general theory
does predict exactly the same additional precession for all the planets, but it has not been observed for any planet but
Mercury. This represents a failure of this one aspect of the theory
4.
In a homogeneous and isotropic universe
regulated by the General Theory of Relativity, what determines whether it will
re-contract or expand forever?
a)
The
average amount of matter and energy per unit volume in the universe
b) The speed at which it is expanding
c) The pressure exerted by matter
d) Whether the electromagnetic forces are strong enough (for example, if there are large number of charges in the universe)
5. What is the equivalence principle? What does it imply when considering the motion of objects under the influence of gravity?
a) The equivalence principle states that inertial and gravitational masses are identical, it implies that all objects experience the same acceleration under gravity
b) The equivalence principle states that all inertial observers are equivalent, and it implies that gravity is absent in all inertial frames
c) The equivalence principle states that gravitational and inertial masses are identical only in inertial reference frames; and it implies that gravitational acceleration is proportional to the square of the mass
d) The equivalence principle states that speed of light is absolute, and it implies that mass and energy are equivalent
6.
Two bugs move
along the surface of a sphere from the equator to the north pole, they find
that
a)
They move apart as the proceed, precisely as if they were
experiencing en electrostatic repulsion
b)
They move steadily closer together even
though according to each their trajectory is straight
c)
They remain at the same distance form
one another
d)
They move closer together because they
purposefully do not move along a straight line
7.
The Cosmological
Constant
a)
Was proposed as a way of balancing the predicted expansion of the
universe, rendering it static
b)
Was proposed as a way of explaining the
expansion of the universe
c)
Was shown by Einstein to be the reason
general relativity predicted an expanding universe.
d)
Was an addition to
8.
If we could add
matter to the present universe, and we do so continuously, eventually the result would be
a)
That the universe would eventually stop
expanding and will re-collapse
b)
Nothing really interesting
c)
That the rate of expansion would
increase
d)
That the universe would start expanding
and contracting periodically
9.
The Andromeda
galaxy is 106 light years away and the distance form the Earth to
the Sun is about 1.5 x1011 m.
Imagine now that whole universe shrinks, so that Earth’s orbit is now 30 cm across
(assume it is a circle). Then, how far away will Andromeda be?(assume a light
year is exactly 1016 m)
a)
About 1022 m
b)
About 106
light years
c)
About 30 cm.
d)
About
1010 m
10. Dorothy and Toto are caught up right in the middle of a tornado;
to a good approximation their environment is
a)
Not homogeneous but isotropic
b)
Homogeneous but not isotropic
c)
Both homogeneous and isotropic
d)
Neither homogeneous nor isotropic