Content Benchmark E.12.B.5
Students know scientific evidence suggest that the universe is expanding. I/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Recognize the red shift effect and know that the most distant objects
have the greatest degree of red shift.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. The expansion of the universe was first deduced from
A. Edwin Hubble showing that more distant galaxies are moving away more rapidly.
B. Edwin Hubble showing that more distant galaxies are moving away more slowly.
C. Albert Einstein showing that space and matter expand at a decreasing rate.
D. Albert Einstein showing that space and matter expand at an increasing rate.
2. Hubble’s law states that the faster
A. a spiral galaxy’s rotational velocity, the less luminous it is.
B. a spiral galaxy’s rotational velocity, the nearer it is.
C. the recessional velocity of a galaxy, the farther away it is.
D. the recessional velocity of a galaxy, the more luminous it is.
3. What can we conclude from the observation that nearly all galaxies are moving away from
us?
A. The once-smaller universe is expanding in all directions.
B. The Sun and Earth are located at the center of the universe.
C. Everything in the universe is moving the same direction.
D. Massive black holes are drawing galaxies away from Earth.
4. We know that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us because we
A. watch them move across the sky, all in the same direction.
B. see that their spectra are red-shifted relative to a rest position.
C. observe a condensation trail behind them as they move.
D. detect their sonic booms through radio telescope observations.
5. An important line in the absorption spectrum of stars occurs at a wavelength of 656 nm for
stars at rest. Imagine that you observe four stars (1-4) from Earth and discover that this
absorption line is at the wavelength shown in the table below for each of the four stars.
Star
1
2
3
4
Wavelength of Absorption Line
649 nm
660 nm
658 nm
647 nm
Which of the stars is moving with the greatest velocity away from Earth?
A. Star 1
B. Star 2
C. Star 3
D. Star 4
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
6. Use the four spectra shown below for objects 1-4 to answer the next question. Note that one
of the spectra is from an object at rest (not moving) and the remaining spectra come from
objects that are all moving away from the observer. The left end of each spectrum is blue,
and the right end of each spectrum is red.
Object 1
Object 2
Object 3
Object 4
Which of the four objects, 1-4, is moving with the fastest speed?
A. Object 1
B. Object 2
C. Object 3
D. Object 4
7. Use the four spectra shown below for objects 1-4 to answer the next question. Note that one
of the spectra is from an object at rest (not moving) and the remaining spectra come from
objects that are all moving away from an Earth-based observer. The left end of each spectrum
is blue, and the right end of each spectrum is red.
Object 1
Object 2
Object 3
Object 4
If these objects are all galaxies, which one is farthest from Earth?
A. Object 1
B. Object 2
C. Object 3
D. Object 4
8. An important line in the absorption spectrum of galaxies at rest occurs at a wavelength of
21.0 cm. Imagine that you observe four galaxies (1-4) from Earth and discover that this
absorption line is at the wavelength shown in the table below for each of the four galaxies.
Galaxy
1
2
3
4
Wavelength of Absorption Line
24.2 cm
28.9 cm
21.8 cm
30.6 cm
Which of the galaxies, 1-4, is farthest away from Earth?
A. Galaxy 1
B. Galaxy 2
C. Galaxy 3
D. Galaxy 4
9. The graph below shows the relationship between the distance and velocity of several
galaxies.
If you observed a new galaxy moving with a velocity of 38,000 km/s, at what distance should
it be located?
A. 60 Mpc
B. 500 Mpc
C. 600 Mpc
D. 28,000 Mpc
10. The graph below shows the relationship between the distance and velocity of several
galaxies.
If you observed a new galaxy at a distance of 700 Mpc, how fast would you expect it to be
moving?
A. 20 km/s
B. 1,000 km/s
C. 45,000 km/s
D. 57,000 km/s
Content Benchmark E.12.B.5
Students know scientific evidence suggest that the universe is expanding. I/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. A, DOK level 1
2. C, DOK level 1
3. A, DOK level 1
4. B, DOK level 1
5. B, DOK level 1
6. C, DOK level 2
7. C, DOK level 2
8. D, DOK level 2
9. B, DOK level 2
10. D, DOK level 2