The maximum efficiency of the best commercial (as opposed to research) solar cells is about

The maximum efficiency of the best commercial (as opposed to research) solar cells is about  A) 1% B) 10% C) 20% D) essentially 100% Answer:...

In calculating the amount of solar power an array will collect, the incidence angle of the Sun

In calculating the amount of solar power an array will collect, the incidence angle of the Sun  A) can be neglected B) plays a small role, but...

On the Earth's equator, at an equinox, the Sun rises due east and then

On the Earth's equator, at an equinox, the Sun rises due east and then  A) passes south of the zenith at noon B) goes through the zenith at...

At the Earth's surface, the average amount of solar power available over 1 square meter is about

At the Earth's surface, the average amount of solar power available over 1 square meter is about  A) 1 watt B) 100 watts C) 1000 watts D) 10,000...

What's the fundamental reason that Mars, unlike the Earth, has become virtually geologically dead?

What's the fundamental reason that Mars, unlike the Earth, has become virtually geologically dead? A) its large size compared to the Earth B) its...

All the following statements about Mars are true. Which one might have led to a significant loss of atmospheric gas to space?

All the following statements about Mars are true. Which one might have led to a significant loss of atmospheric gas to space? A) Mars probably once...

What makes us think that Mars must once have had an atmosphere that was warmer and had higher surface pressure?

What makes us think that Mars must once have had an atmosphere that was warmer and had higher surface pressure? A) The fact that parts of Mars have...

Which of the following best describes the geological histories of the Moon and Mercury?

Which of the following best describes the geological histories of the Moon and Mercury?  A) All four geological processes were important in...

What are the two geological features that appear to set Earth apart from all the other terrestrial worlds?

What are the two geological features that appear to set Earth apart from all the other terrestrial worlds? A) mantle convection and a thick atmosphere B)...

The reason that small planets tend to lose interior heat faster than larger planets is essentially the same as the reason that ________.

The reason that small planets tend to lose interior heat faster than larger planets is essentially the same as the reason that ________. A) thunderstorms...

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today?

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today? A) Heat from convection B) Heat from differentiation C) Heat...

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings? A) The planet must once have had a large...

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence supporting the idea that Europa may have a subsurface ocean?

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence supporting the idea that Europa may have a subsurface ocean? A) Europa has a magnetic field that...

All the following statements are true. Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io?

All the following statements are true. Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io? A) Io exhibits synchronous...

Which of the following best explains why many jovian moons have been more geologically active than the Moon or Mercury?

Which of the following best explains why many jovian moons have been more geologically active than the Moon or Mercury? A) Jovian moons are made...

What would happen to Jupiter if we could somehow double its mass?

What would happen to Jupiter if we could somehow double its mass? A) Its density would increase but its diameter would barely change. B) Its density...

Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called gas giants. In what sense is this term misleading?

Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called gas giants. In what sense is this term misleading? A) The materials they are made of are...

Why is the radiation so intense in the region that traces Io's orbit around Jupiter (the Io torus)?

Why is the radiation so intense in the region that traces Io's orbit around Jupiter (the Io torus)?  A) Jupiter's strong magnetic field makes...

The cores of the terrestrial worlds are made mostly of metal because ________.

The cores of the terrestrial worlds are made mostly of metal because ________.  A) the terrestrial worlds as a whole are made mostly of metal B)...

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called ________.

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called ________. A)...

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one?

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one? A) I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes,...

Which of the following is not consistent with the major hallmarks of science?

Which of the following is not consistent with the major hallmarks of science?  A) Scientific explanations should be based solely on natural...

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by ________.

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by ________. A) inventing the telescope B) showing that heavy objects fall at...

All the following statements are true. Which one follows directly from Kepler's third law (P2= a3) ?

All the following statements are true. Which one follows directly from Kepler's third law (P2= a3) ? A) Venus orbits the Sun at a slower average speed...

According to Kepler's third law (P2= a3) how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

According to Kepler's third law (P2= a3) how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun? A) A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit...

Earth is farthest from the Sun in July and closest to the Sun in January. During which Northern Hemisphere season is Earth moving fastest in its orbit?

Earth is farthest from the Sun in July and closest to the Sun in January. During which Northern Hemisphere season is Earth moving fastest in its orbit? A)...

When Copernicus first created his Sun-centered model of the universe, it did not lead to substantially better predictions of planetary positions than the Ptolemaic model. Why not?

When Copernicus first created his Sun-centered model of the universe, it did not lead to substantially better predictions of planetary positions than...

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to ________.

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to ________.  A) discover the laws of planetary motion B) discover the law of gravity C)...

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because ________.

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because ________.  A) they were the first people known to try...

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he ________.

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he ________.  A) developed the first scientific model of the universe B) developed...

The names of the seven days of the week are based on ________.

The names of the seven days of the week are based on ________.  A) the seven most prominent constellations in the summer sky B) the seven naked-eye...

Scientific thinking is ________.

Scientific thinking is ________.  A) an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt B) completely different from any other type of thinking C)...

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations?

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations? A) It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. B) It helped them...

How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?  A) The model showed that apparent retrograde motion occurs...

The stars in our sky twinkle in brightness and color because of ________.

The stars in our sky twinkle in brightness and color because of ________.  A) the bubbling and boiling of gases on the surfaces of stars B)...

What do astronomers mean by light pollution?

What do astronomers mean by light pollution? A) Light pollution is a type of air pollution created by lightweight gases such as hydrogen and helium. B)...

Which of the following statements best describes the two principle advantages of telescopes over eyes?

Which of the following statements best describes the two principle advantages of telescopes over eyes? A) Telescopes have much more magnification...

What is the angular resolution of the human eye?

What is the angular resolution of the human eye?  A) about 1 arcsecond (1/3600 of a degree) B) about 1 degree C) about 1 milliarcsecond D) about...

Visible light from a distant star can be spread into a spectrum by using a glass prism or ________.

Visible light from a distant star can be spread into a spectrum by using a glass prism or ________.  A) adaptive optics B) a telescope C) a...

When considering light as made up of individual "pieces," each characterized by a particular amount of energy, the pieces are called ________.

When considering light as made up of individual "pieces," each characterized by a particular amount of energy, the pieces are called ________. A)...

Which forms of light are lower in energy and frequency than the light that our eyes can see?

Which forms of light are lower in energy and frequency than the light that our eyes can see?  A) ultraviolet and X rays B) infrared and radio C)...

The Chandra X-ray Observatory must operate in space because

The Chandra X-ray Observatory must operate in space because  A) it was built by NASA. B) X-ray telescopes require the use of grazing incidence...

Which of the following is not an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes?

Which of the following is not an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes? A) It can observe infrared and ultraviolet...

Studying a spectrum from a star can tell us a lot. All of the following statements are true except one. Which statement is not true?

Studying a spectrum from a star can tell us a lot. All of the following statements are true except one. Which statement is not true? A) Shifts in...

Betelgeuse is the bright red star representing the left shoulder of the constellation Orion. All the following statements about Betelgeuse are true. Which one can you infer from its red color?

Betelgeuse is the bright red star representing the left shoulder of the constellation Orion. All the following statements about Betelgeuse are true....

Which of the following statements about thermal radiation is always true?

Which of the following statements about thermal radiation is always true? A) All the light emitted by hot object has higher energy than the light...

Which of the following conditions lead you to see an absorption line spectrum from a cloud of gas in interstellar space?

Which of the following conditions lead you to see an absorption line spectrum from a cloud of gas in interstellar space? A) The cloud is cool and...

Which of the following statements about X rays and radio waves is not true?

Which of the following statements about X rays and radio waves is not true?  A) X rays travel through space faster than radio waves. B) X rays...

Which of the following best describes why we say that light is an electromagnetic wave?

Which of the following best describes why we say that light is an electromagnetic wave? A) Light is produced only when massive fields of electric...

What do astronomers mean by a constellation?

What do astronomers mean by a constellation?  A) A constellation is a group of stars related through an ancient story. B) A constellation is...

All the following statements are true. Which one explains the reason that there is not a solar eclipse at every new moon?

All the following statements are true. Which one explains the reason that there is not a solar eclipse at every new moon? A) The orbital plane of...

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?  A) It makes summer warmer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern...

Suppose you are facing north and you see the Big Dipper close to your northern horizon, with Polaris (and the Little Dipper) above it. Where will you see the Big Dipper in six hours?

Suppose you are facing north and you see the Big Dipper close to your northern horizon, with Polaris (and the Little Dipper) above it. Where will you...

When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting ________.

When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting ________.  A) dimmer B) lower in the sky C)...

An angle of 1 arcsecond is ________.

An angle of 1 arcsecond is ________.  A) slightly more than the width of a basketball held at arm's length B) about the width of your fist held...

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is NOT true?

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is NOT true? A) When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial...

What is the ecliptic plane?

What is the ecliptic plane?  A) The plane of the Milky Way Galaxy B) The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun C) The plane of Earth's equator D)...

Why do the patterns of the stars in our sky look the same from year to year?

Why do the patterns of the stars in our sky look the same from year to year?  A) Because the stars in the constellations are so far away. B)...

Relative to the age of the universe, how old is our solar system?

Relative to the age of the universe, how old is our solar system? A) It is between about 5% and 10% as old as the universe. B) It is about 1% as...

If we imagine the history of the universe compressed into one year, dinosaurs became extinct________.

If we imagine the history of the universe compressed into one year, dinosaurs became extinct________.  A) about an hour ago B) yesterday morning C)...

Suppose we look at two distant galaxies: Galaxy 1 is twice as far away as Galaxy 2. In that case ________.

Suppose we look at two distant galaxies: Galaxy 1 is twice as far away as Galaxy 2. In that case ________.  A) Galaxy 1 must be twice as big...

When we look at an object that is 1000 light-years away, we see it ________

When we look at an object that is 1000 light-years away, we see it ________ A) as it was 1000 years ago B) as it is right now, but 1000 times dimmer C)...

Which of the following has your "cosmic address" in the correct order?

Which of the following has your "cosmic address" in the correct order?  A) You, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster,...