- 1. Gravitational astronomy is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe through the observation of gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects. By detecting these gravitational waves, astronomers can gain insights into some of the most powerful and mysterious phenomena in the cosmos, such as black holes, neutron stars, and collisions between massive celestial bodies. Gravitational astronomy allows scientists to explore the nature of gravity, test Einstein's theory of general relativity, and uncover hidden aspects of the universe that are not visible through traditional telescopes.
Who is credited with the discovery of gravitational waves?
A) Johannes Kepler
B) Isaac Newton
C) Galileo Galilei
D) Albert Einstein
- 2. What term describes the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape?
A) Photon sphere
B) Ergosphere
C) Event horizon
D) Singularity
- 3. What property of an object determines the strength of its gravitational pull?
A) Mass
B) Shape
C) Volume
D) Density
- 4. Which space mission is dedicated to studying gravitational waves?
A) Chandra X-ray Observatory
B) Kepler Space Telescope
C) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)
D) Hubble Space Telescope
- 5. What happens to time near a massive object according to general relativity?
A) Time distortion
B) Time dilation
C) Time reversal
D) Time travel
- 6. What type of object is believed to reside at the center of most galaxies, including the Milky Way?
A) Neutron star
B) Supermassive black hole
C) White dwarf
D) Red giant
- 7. What is the main goal of gravitational wave astronomy?
A) To study cataclysmic events in the universe
B) To map dark matter distribution
C) To measure cosmic microwave background radiation
D) To search for alien life
- 8. In gravitational astronomy, what is the phenomenon where light is bent by the gravitational pull of a massive object?
A) Stellar occultation
B) Gravitational lensing
C) Transit method
D) Microlensing
- 9. Which of the following is an essential component of a gravitational wave detector?
A) Telescope
B) Interferometer
C) Particle accelerator
D) Spectrometer
- 10. What is the approximate speed at which gravitational waves travel through the universe?
A) Twice the speed of light
B) Dependent on the strength of the gravitational field
C) Half the speed of light
D) Speed of light
- 11. Which scientist developed the concept of the Schwarzschild radius related to black holes?
A) Richard Feynman
B) Karl Schwarzschild
C) Stephen Hawking
D) Michio Kaku
- 12. What is the name of the mission launched by the European Space Agency to study gravitational waves in space?
A) JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer)
B) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder
C) Comet Interceptor
D) Solar Orbiter
- 13. What phenomenon occurs when a massive star collapses in on itself, leading to a violent explosion?
A) Neutron star
B) White dwarf
C) Black hole formation
D) Supernova
- 14. What is the unit of measurement used for the strength of gravitational waves?
A) Strain
B) Pascal
C) Erg
D) Lux
- 15. Which term describes the point at the center of a black hole where gravity is infinite?
A) Singularity
B) Ergosphere
C) Photon sphere
D) Event horizon
- 16. What was the name of the spacecraft that carried out the first successful flyby of Pluto in 2015?
A) Juno
B) Voyager 1
C) Cassini
D) New Horizons
- 17. Which planet is known for having a particularly strong gravitational pull due to its large mass?
A) Saturn
B) Jupiter
C) Mars
D) Venus
- 18. What is the imaginary line through a planet connecting the north and south poles called?
A) Axis
B) Meridian
C) Tropic
D) Equator
- 19. What is the name of the proof-of-concept for the LISA mission?
A) Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
B) STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory)
C) GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer)
D) LISA Pathfinder
- 20. What is the force that attracts objects with mass towards each other?
A) Magnetism
B) Electromagnetism
C) Friction
D) Gravity
- 21. What is the term for the merger of two neutron stars into a single more massive neutron star or black hole?
A) Supernova
B) Pulsar
C) Quasar
D) Kilonova
- 22. What was the name of the first satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957?
A) Mir
B) Sputnik 1
C) Vostok 1
D) Soyuz 3
- 23. What is the name of the point of closest approach between two celestial bodies in orbit around each other?
A) Zenith
B) Periapsis
C) Apoapsis
D) Nadir
- 24. What is the process by which a star generates energy through nuclear reactions in its core?
A) Stellar accretion
B) Nuclear fusion
C) Nuclear fission
D) Thermonuclear reaction
- 25. What is the name of the boundary where the sun's solar wind is stopped by the interstellar medium?
A) Magneto pause
B) Auroral zone
C) Heliopause
D) Ionosphere
- 26. Which space mission detected gravitational waves for the first time?
A) Hubble
B) Kepler
C) LIGO
D) Chandra
- 27. Who first proposed the concept of gravity?
A) Isaac Newton
B) Galileo Galilei
C) Johannes Kepler
D) Albert Einstein
- 28. What is the concept that the force of gravity weakens with distance known as?
A) Newton's law
B) Conservation of energy
C) Kepler's law
D) Inverse square law
- 29. What is the name of the process by which small fragments of rock and debris collide to form planetesimals?
A) Radiation
B) Condensation
C) Accretion
D) Fission
- 30. What type of matter contributes significantly to the bending of light due to gravitational lensing?
A) Dark matter
B) Exotic matter
C) Antimatter
D) Neutrinos
- 31. What is the name of the first observed event of the merging of two neutron stars by both gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation?
A) GW170817
B) GRB130354
C) SL556290
D) BR301907
- 32. What is the concept that objects in free fall are weightless known as?
A) Equivalence principle
B) Kepler's law
C) Law of gravity
D) Newton's law
- 33. What is the acceleration due to gravity near the surface of Earth?
A) Approximately 6.67 m/s²
B) Approximately 9.81 m/s²
C) Approximately 12 m/s²
D) Approximately 4.9 m/s²
- 34. What is the term for a sudden eruption of energy that occurs on the surface of the sun?
A) Nova
B) Solar flare
C) Supernova
D) Solar wind
- 35. What is the term for the point in the sky directly above an observer's head?
A) Horizon
B) Ecliptic
C) Zenith
D) Nadir
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