01
True or false
1 point
True or false: The Big Bang model describes matter flying outward from one central point into pre-existing empty space.
Free Practice Quiz Question List
10 Cosmology Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 10 Cosmology, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
20 questions
02
Fill in the blank
1 point
Today, the nearly uniform microwave glow of the cosmic microwave background has a temperature of about .
03
Choose one
1 point
A distant galaxy's spectral lines are observed shifted toward the red end of the spectrum. Which process explains cosmological redshift?
- A
Light loses energy because it passes through dust between galaxies.
- B
The light's wavelength stretches as it travels through expanding space.
- C
The galaxy's spectral lines shift because its stars become cooler.
- D
The light is reflected by matter at the edge of the universe.
04
Fill in the blank
1 point
During the universe's first minutes, nuclear reactions produced most of the primordial .
05
Written response
1 point
According to the Big Bang model, about how many billion years ago did the observable universe begin evolving from an early hot, dense state?
06
Choose one
1 point
What is one proposed role of inflation, a brief period of extraordinarily rapid expansion in many versions of the Big Bang model?
- A
It explains why the universe's expansion began accelerating only in recent billions of years.
- B
It may help explain large-scale uniformity and small variations that later grew into cosmic structure.
- C
It identifies the physical cause of the Big Bang.
- D
It explains how neutral atoms formed about 380,000 years after the Big Bang.
07
Choose all
1 point
Which observations does the Big Bang model help explain? Select all correct choices.
- A
The universe's expansion
- B
An explosion from one location into pre-existing empty space
- C
The abundance of light elements
- D
The cosmic microwave background
08
True or false
1 point
True or false: The average distance between faraway, unbound galaxies can increase while the Solar System does not expand along with the universe.
- A
True
- B
False
09
Choose one
1 point
What do the tiny temperature differences in the cosmic microwave background reveal about the young universe?
- A
They show that the young universe already contained fully formed galaxies.
- B
They demonstrate that the CMB was produced by stars.
- C
They correspond to slight density differences that gravity later amplified.
- D
They indicate that the universe was not expanding when the CMB formed.
10
Written response
1 point
What term is used for whatever is driving the universe's accelerated expansion? Enter the two-word term.
11
Choose all
1 point
If dark energy remains nearly constant, which outcomes are expected projections for the universe? Select all correct choices.
- A
The universe would keep expanding and become colder and more dilute.
- B
A future collapse would be established as certain.
- C
All galaxies would become part of our gravitationally bound neighborhood.
- D
Galaxies beyond our gravitationally bound neighborhood would grow increasingly distant.
12
Choose one
1 point
Which observations helped reveal that the universe's expansion began accelerating in recent billions of years?
- A
Measurements of the Solar System's expansion
- B
Observations of neutral atoms forming
- C
Observations of distant supernovae
- D
Measurements of the first stars' temperatures
13
Choose one
1 point
Which description matches the cosmological constant, one leading explanation for dark energy?
- A
A brief period of rapid expansion that occurred very early
- B
A constant energy density associated with space itself
- C
The scattering of photons off free electrons
- D
A change in the abundance of hydrogen and helium
14
Open ended
1 point
Describe what the Big Bang model explains about the universe and identify one important question it does not establish an answer to.
15
Choose one
1 point
Which sequence best matches the early universe's history?
- A
The first stars formed before the universe became transparent.
- B
The universe became transparent before the first stars and galaxies formed.
- C
The first stars formed before atoms could exist.
- D
The CMB began its journey only after galaxies had assembled.
16
Choose one
1 point
Before neutral atoms formed, photons repeatedly scattered off free electrons. If free electrons had remained abundant, what would have happened to light?
- A
Photons would travel freely because gravity stopped acting on them.
- B
Photons would be absorbed by the first stars.
- C
Photons would continue scattering off free electrons.
- D
Photons would turn into neutral atoms.
17
Choose one
1 point
Two galaxies are observed at different distances. What can astronomers infer about the more distant galaxy's light compared with light from the nearer galaxy?
- A
The farther galaxy is seen at an earlier stage of the universe's history.
- B
The farther galaxy is seen at a later stage because its light traveled longer.
- C
Both galaxies are necessarily seen at the same stage of cosmic history.
- D
The nearer galaxy is seen earlier because its light traveled less time.
18
True or false
1 point
True or false: The cosmic microwave background began traveling freely before the first stars formed.
- A
True
- B
False
19
Written response
1 point
What is the standard name for the ancient light released when the universe became transparent?
20
Written response
1 point
About how many years after the Big Bang did electrons and protons form neutral atoms? Enter the value in years.