SNC1D – Science Grade 9
Unit 3 Test – The Study of the Universe
Name:
INSTRUCTIONS
1. You have 3 hours to complete this test.
2. You must attempt all sections to be eligible for a score of 100%.
3. You will be assessed in four categories:
K: Knowledge and Understanding;
T: Thinking and Inquiry;
C: Communication;
A: Application.
4. For every question the necessary calculation and proving process is required
for score purpose.
5. The assessment categories are broken down and displayed for each questions,
as well as the overall test
Sections K T C A
A
B
C
TOTALS
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Part A: Multiple-Choice (2 marks each)
1. Which phenomenon is caused by the rotation of Earth on its axis?
(a) tides
(b) seasons
(c) daytime and nighttime
(d) phases of the moon
2. During which phase of the Moon do total solar eclipses occur?
(a) full Moon
(b) new Moon
(c) third quarter Moon
(d) first quarter Moon
3. Which of the following objects is one astronomical unit from Earth?
(a) the Sun
(b) the Moon
(c) Mars
(d) Venus
4. Which planet has the most known moons?
(a) Saturn
(b) Uranus
(c) Neptune
(d) Jupiter
5. Which of the following forms of radiation has the shortest wavelength?
(a) microwaves
(b) gamma waves
(c) visible light
(d) radio waves
6. What type of telescope is illustrated in the diagram below?
(a) reflecting telescope
(b) radio telescope
(c) refracting telescope
(d) non-optical telescope
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7. What term describes dark areas on the Sun’s surface that experience a stronger magnetic
field?
(a) planetesimals
(b) sunspots
(c) solar nebulae
(d) protostars
8. Which of the following celestial objects forms from the collapse of a star that has an initial
mass of more than 25 solar masses?
(a) a black hole
(b) a white dwarf
(c) neutron star
(d) red giant
9. Which of the following illustrations shows a spiral galaxy from above?
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
10. Looking at galaxies that are 10 billion light-years away gives us a view of the universe as it
was
(a) 10 hours ago
(b) 10 000 years ago
(c) 10 million years ago
(d) 10 billion years ago
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11. Approximately how long ago did the big bang occur?
(a) 14 million years
(b) 140 million years
(c) 14 billion years
(d) 140 billion years
12. What do scientists think is the most abundant form of matter in the universe?
(a) visible matter
(b) helium
(c) iron
(d) dark matter
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Part B: Short Answer – Thinking and Inquiry (4 marks each)
1. The diameter of the Sun is about 400 times the diameter of the Moon. How can the Moon
completely cover the disk of the Sun during a solar eclipse?
2. Why do astronomers use light-years to measure distance?
3. How does the Earth remain in its orbit around the Earth? In other words, why does the Sun’s
gravity not pull the Earth into the Sun?
4. The planets in the solar system differ based on the several characteristics. Identify the planet
that has each of the characteristics described below.
(a) Long, immense cracks caused by the extreme heating and cooling of the surface.
(b) Iron-rich rocks a volcano three times higher than Mount Everest.
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5. The diagram below shows the electromagnetic spectrum. What wavelength of the
electromagnetic spectrum can people see with the unaided eye?
6. Describe the formation of a neutron star.
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Part C: Problem Solving Questions – Communication and Application
1. Draw a labelled diagram that shows how a comet looks as it orbits the Sun, be sure to
indicate the direction of the tails. (C6)
2. The following diagram shows the number of hours of sunlight at different latitudes. Identify
the season that is occurring in the northern hemisphere, and explain why the temperature
differs between the northern and southern hemispheres. (C4)
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3. Scientists can use a variety of methods to determine the distance and size of stars outside of
our solar system. Answer the following the questions regarding exploration of other stars.
(C9, A9)
a) How is luminosity different from absolute magnitude?
b) How do scientists determine the surface temperature of a star?
c) How do scientists know that the Sun and other stars are made of hydrogen and
helium?
d) Six stars are shown on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram below: Arcturus, Proxima
Centauri, Canopus, the Sun, Aldebaran, and Vega. Which star is the brightest? Which
star is the coolest? Which stars are on the main sequence?
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4. In the year of 2100, human have successfully developed the first anti-matter propulsion
system, which can accelerate a spaceship to 99.9% of light speed. However, the pollution on
Earth has reached critical level; the buildup of toxic wastes and deforestation caused 95% of
the organisms on Earth to extinct, Earth is deemed no longer suitable for inhabitation. The
closest inhabitable planet to Earth is Gliese 832c, which orbits around Gliese 832, a red
dwarf star. The planet has a mass of approximately 5.2 times that of Earth, and
approximately the same density. (C5, A15)
a) Back in 2020, NASA launched an interstellar probe named Oron to enter Gliese 832c
orbit. The spacecraft was however, not launched in the direction of the exoplanet, but
launched in the opposite direction, swing around the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, then
exit the solar system. Why would this help accelerating the spacecraft?
b) There is a malfunction on the outside of the space probe. Name the two technologies of
Canadian original currently used on the International Space Station that could help
diagnose and fix the problem.
c) How long would it take for the new antimatter spaceship traveling at 99.9% of light to
reach Gliese 832c in Earth time?
d) Would you expect Gliese 832 to have less mass or more mass compared to our Sun?
From this point on, how is the evolution of this star different from our Sun?
e) In 2100, NASA is ready to send a group of pioneers to terraform Gliese 832c. What are
two challenges they might face during space travel? How can these problems be
addressed?
f) What might the challenges people face as they first adapt to the new planet (hint: think
about the mass and density of Gliese 832c)?
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