Astronomy current events question: dark matter distribution models

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

John Jardel, Karl Gebhardt, "Texas Astronomers Unravel 20-Year Dark Matter Mystery with New Computer Models," September 10, 2013
http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/news/releases/2013/09/10

University of Texas, Austin astronomers determined the distribution of dark matter in small galaxies by:
(A) counting neutrinos in deep underground mines.
(B) observing matter and antimatter production near black holes.
(C) locating distorted star patterns behind these galaxies.
(D) running computer simulations to match observations.
(E) detecting x-rays emitted by dark matter.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 10 students
(C) : 18 students
(D) : 23 students
(E) : 7 students