Title: Week 8 Quiz
Course: ASTRON103: The Evolving Universe: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology (001) DHH SU18 > Section: Week 8

Q: This figure shows 4 potential tracks for the evolution of the universe.

Describe the final fate of the universe for Track 1. What is this end-fate called? What fundamental force wins over in this track?

Q: This figure shows 4 potential tracks for the evolution of the universe.

Describe the final fate of the universe for Track 4. What is this end-fate called? What fundamental force wins over in this track?

Q: The Hubble Constant is often shown to have units of km/s per million light-years. An estimate of the age of the universe can be found by taking 1 / the Hubble constant.

If the Hubble constant were 50 km/s per million light-years, calculate an estimate of the age of the universe, showing all the steps to convert the units into years.

Q: This figure compares our inability to look back in time before the CMB last scattering in our universe to our inability to look through clouds in the sky. Briefly describe in your own words how these two scenarios are similar. What is happening within / behind the clouds that is preventing us from seeing past them.

Q: Back in Chapter 5.2, we learned how to determine the wavelength at which maximum power is emitted using Wien's law.

Use Wien's law to calculate the peak wavelength in cm of the CMB assuming it has a temperature of 2.73 K. Show your work.

Q: Would a human have been possible during the first generation of stars that formed right after the Big Bang? Why or why not?

Q: Given that no sunlight can penetrate Europa’s ice shell, what would be the type of energy that could make some form of Europan life possible?

Q: Your final project has led you to discover a real exoplanet, Kepler-452b. What year was Kepler-452b discovered?

Q: Describe in your own words, what a habitable zone is? Do you think it could be possible to find life outside of this standard habitable zone?

Q: What is a biomarker? Give some possible examples of biomarkers we might look for beyond the solar system.