CHAPTER 13: Stars and the Universe (Worksheet)

ID NUMBER: ……………………… NAME: ………………………………

SECTION: ………………………… TEACHER’S SIGNATURE: …………

Section A
1. A student plots a graph of the speed of different galaxies moving away from the
Earth against their distance from the Earth.

2. Which statement about the Universe is correct?

A. The Universe consists of 100 000 galaxies.
B. Redshift is a decrease in the observed wavelength of electromagnetic radiation
emitted from receding galaxies.
C. Light emitted from distant galaxies appears redshifted.
D. Redshift of the light from distant galaxies gives evidence that the Universe is
contracting.
3. Which statement about the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) is
correct?
A. CMBR now has a frequency higher than that of infrared radiation.
B. CMBR has always had exactly the same frequency.
C. CMBR had a shorter wavelength in the past.
D. CMBR was produced a long time after the Universe was formed

4. Stars are powered by nuclear reactions that release energy. Which statement
describes the nuclear reaction in stable stars?
A. Nuclear fission converts helium into hydrogen.
B. Nuclear fission converts hydrogen into helium.
C. Nuclear fusion converts helium into hydrogen.
D. Nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into helium.

5. A galaxy is moving away from the Earth at a velocity of 3000 km / s. What is the
distance between the Earth and the galaxy?

6. A distant galaxy is moving away from the Milky Way at 4 400 000 m / s.
What is the approximate distance between the Milky Way and this distant galaxy?

7. A galaxy is at a distance of 60 million light-years from the Earth. The galaxy is

moving away at a speed of 1300 km / s.
One light-year is about 9.5 x 1012 km.
There are about 3.2 x 107 seconds in one year.
Which expression can be used to estimate the age of the Universe in years?
8. The galaxy Draco II is a distance of 6.6 X 1020 m from Earth. What is this
distance in light-years?

9. What is a possible result of a supernova explosion?

A. a neutron star
B. a red giant star
C. a red supergiant star
D. a white dwarf star

10. The table lists data about four different stars.

Which star is the Sun?
 Section B
1. a) Fig. 1.1 shows some of the stages in the life cycle of a massive star

Red super joint

Heavy element

Neutron star Black hole

Fig. 1.1
(i) Complete Fig. 1.1 by adding the correct terms. [4]
(ii) State the quantity that the brightness of a supernova in a galaxy can be used to
determine.
...............................................................................................................................…
Distance(close the galaxy) [1]
b) Define a light-year in words.
...................................................................................................................................…
The distance traveled by live in a vacuum in one year [1]
(b) It takes light 490s to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
Calculate the distance from the Sun to the Earth.

Distance=speed of light * time

distance = .........................................................
1.5*10^11 m [2]

(c) Fig. 2.1 is a scatter graph that shows how the speed of galaxies moving away from
the Earth varies with their distances from the Earth.
A scientist draws a best-fit line on the scatter graph.
Use this best-fit line to determine a value for the Hubble constant.

Hubble constant = .........................................................

2.2*10^-18 per second [3]
The speed of a receding galaxy can be estimated using redshift.
Describe what is meant by redshift.
...................................................................................................................................................
And increase in observed wavelength (or decrease in frequency )of the electromagnetic radiation

...................................................................................................................................................
emitted from a receding celestial body
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]

2. The time taken for light to travel from the Moon to the Earth is 1.3 s.
Calculate the distance of the Moon from the Earth. Give your answer in m.

distance = ......................................................
3 m [3]
(c) The Whirlpool galaxy is 2.3 × 107 light‑ years from the Earth. The current value of
the Hubble constant is 2.2 × 10–18 per second.
Calculate the speed at which the Whirlpool galaxy is moving away from the Earth.

Distance =speed of light *time

Speed = …………………………………………
3.9*10^8m m/s. [3]
3. (a) Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) can be observed in every
direction in space around us.
(i) State when CMBR was produced.
.....................................................................................................................................
Shortly after the Big bang ( during the early formation of universe) [1]
(ii) State and explain how the wavelength of this radiation has changed since it was
formed.
The wavelength has increased. This is because space it self expanded.
...........................................................................................................................................
Stretching the radiation wave overtime.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) State the condition required for a protostar to become a stable star.
...................................................................................................................................................
The inward gravitational pool must be completely balanced by output, radiation pressure generated
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
C) (i) Define the Hubble constant.
...........................................................................................................................................
The issue of speed at which galaxy is moving away from the Earth to its distance from the Earth
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) The current estimate for the Hubble constant is 2.2 × 10–18 per second.
State the equation which gives an estimate for the age of the Universe.
.....................................................................................................................................
T=1/H. [1]
(iii) Calculate an estimate for the age of the Universe.
T=1/H

estimate of age = .......................................................

4.5*10^17 s s [1]