Astronomy quiz question: the sun's Milky Way location

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

__________ is evidence that the sun is located near the outer rim of the Milky Way disk.
(A) Most stars in other galaxies are found near their outer rims.
(B) Very few stars in the direction out towards the rim.
(C) How slowly the sun orbits the center of the Milky Way.
(D) Star cluster positions above and below the disk.

Correct answer: (D)

Globular star clusters can be easily seen above and below the disk of the Milky Way, unimpeded by interstellar gas and dust within the disk of the Milky Way, and their locations are centered on the gravitational center of the Milky Way.

Section 70160
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 6 students
(C) : 14 students
(D) : 16 students

"Success level": 48% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.62