Final Review sheet
Spring 2007
Astronomy A105
Dr. Edward Rhoads
Review the review sheets for the 2 midterms and review the 2 midterms.
1) Distance Scale:
How are each rung of the distance scale used and how far out are we able to use them?
How were the distances to objects like the sun and Andromeda determined?
2) Galaxy Clusters:
What group of galaxies do we live in and which cluster are we closest to?
What cluster are we moving towards?
What determines if a galaxy is part of a cluster?
What does the gas in clusters tell us about the mass in the clusters (and thereby the universe)?
3) Voids:
What is a void, how big are they, and what are voids made of?
What are galaxies in voids like?
What can we learn about our universe by studying voids?
4) Expansion of the universe and quasars:
How do we know the universe is expanding and how do we know it expanded from a point?
How do we find recessional velocities of galaxies and what does that tell us about their distances from us?
What are quasars and where in our universe do we find them?
What do quasars look like and what do their spectra tell us about them?
How do quasars emit energy?
What is the Lyman-alpha forest, what causes it, and what does it tell us about our universe?
5) The big bang:
What is the cosmic microwave background (CMB)?
What does the CMB represent and how was it formed?
What is the temperature of the CMB and what part of the sky do you find it in?
What is the true reason that light from most galaxies appears to be redshifted?
What is the age of the universe?
6) Cosmology:
What is the big bang?
What happened in the first 5 minutes of our universe?
What was our universe made out of in the very start and what was it made out of at the end of the first 5 minutes of our universe?
What is our universe made out of today?
7) End of the Universe:
What are the possible fates of life on the earth (assuming no human intervention)?
What are the possible fates of the earth?
What will be the last objects remaining in our universe (assuming no big rip)?
What will our universe be made out of in the very end (assuming no big rip)?
8) Life in the universe:
What are the building blocks of life?
If we look for life what signs should we look for?
What agencies are actually looking for intelligent life?