Astronomy Final Exam Study Guide

** Note – you will be allowed a 3 x 5 note card of information for the final exam and it must be
handwritten (can be both front and back).

Chapter 15 Study Guide

Need to Know:
1. Know how stars are classified
2. Know how the color and temperature are related (with examples)
3. Know how astronomers determine the composition and distances of stars
4. Be able to tell the difference between continuous, absorption, and emission spectrums
5. Know the difference between apparent and absolute magnitude
6. Know the life cycle of both medium-sized and massive stars
7. Know what the H-R diagram compares and what scientists can determine from it
8. Know the three different types of galaxies and the believed origin
9. Know what the general contents of galaxies are (star clusters, gas clouds & quasars) and their
definition
10. Know the Big Bang theory and the two major supporting pieces of evidence for it
11. Know who Edwin Hubble is and what Hubble’s Law is
12. Know about when the Big Bang occurred and how astronomers figured out the age of the universe

Chapter 16 Study Guide

Note: Some of the questions are of planet information, but you can find all of the information in the
textbook (you do not need to rely on presentations).
Need to Know:
1) Know the forces that hold nebulas in balance
2) Know the processes that resulted in our solar system forming.
3) Know what nuclear fusion is and how it relates to our sun
4) Know the 6 layers of the sun – 3 atmosphere layers and 3 interior layers
5) Know the difference between terrestrial planets and gas giants
6) Know the difference between prograde and retrograde rotation
7) Know what period of rotation and period of revolution mean
8) Know which planets are terrestrial and general information about each (i.e. composition, which
has prograde rotation, which has retrograde rotation, which are hotter than others and why?)
9) Know which planets are gas giants and general information about each (i.e which is the largest,
what is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, what are Saturn’s rings made of, what gases make up the
majority of the gas planets atmosphere, what is unusual about Uranus’s tilt, what is Pluto now
considered)
10) Know how our moon formed
11) Know why we see different amounts of the moon at different times during each month.
12) Be able to identify the phases of the moon with drawings.
13) Know what an eclipse is
14) Know what a solar eclipse is and when it occurs
15) Know what a lunar eclipse is and when it occurs
16) Know which planets do not have any moons and why AND which planet has the most moons
and why
17) Know what a comet is and all the parts of a comet
18) Know what an asteroid is and where the majority of asteroids in our solar system are located
19) Know the difference between a meteoroid, meteor, and a meteorite.
20) Know what a meteor shower is.