20101114

Astronomy quiz question: no center of universe expansion

Astronomy 210 Quiz 6, Fall Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

__________ is evidence that the universe has no center of expansion.
(A) Matter and antimatter annihilate to convert into energy.
(B) Galaxy redshifts are proportional to galaxy distances.
(C) The finite speed of light.
(D) The night sky is dark, and not blindingly bright.

Correct answer: (B)

The Hubble law indicates that space is expanding, such that galaxies which are stationary within this expanding space will appear to recede faster from an observer the more distant they are. Since this would be true for any observer at any location in this expanding space universe, such that the expansion would not have a center.

Section 70158
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 38 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 1 student

"Success level": 86% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.22

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