About this Study Set
This study set covers Cosmology through
20 practice questions.
A collection of factual questions regarding the dates, figures, and constants of cosmology. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 20 questions from the
Cosmology Fundamentals study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
In what year did Edwin Hubble publish his discovery that the universe is expanding?
-
A
1919
-
B
1929
-
C
1939
-
D
1949
2
Approximately how many billions of years old is the universe estimated to be?
-
A
5.4
-
B
9.8
-
C
13.8
-
D
20.2
3
What is the approximate temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation in Kelvin?
-
A
2.7 K
-
B
15 K
-
C
100 K
-
D
273 K
4
Who proposed the 'Big Bang' theory in 1927?
-
A
Albert Einstein
-
B
Carl Sagan
-
C
Georges Lemaître
-
D
Stephen Hawking
5
How many spatial dimensions does the standard cosmological model assume?
6
Which space telescope was launched in 1990 to provide key data on the expansion rate of the universe?
-
A
James Webb
-
B
Kepler
-
C
Hubble
-
D
Spitzer
7
Roughly what percentage of the universe is composed of 'dark energy'?
8
Which year did Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discover the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation?
-
A
1945
-
B
1964
-
C
1985
-
D
1999
9
The 'Hubble Constant' describes the rate of expansion of the universe; its unit involves which measurement of distance?
-
A
Kilometers per second per Megaparsec
-
B
Light years per century
-
C
Miles per hour per galaxy
-
D
Astronomical units per billion years
10
Approximately what percentage of the universe consists of ordinary matter (atoms)?
11
Which mission, launched in 2001, provided a precise age of the universe by measuring the CMB?
-
A
Voyager 1
-
B
WMAP
-
C
Cassini
-
D
Curiosity
12
How many years after the Big Bang did the 'recombination' era occur, allowing light to travel freely?
-
A
380,000
-
B
1,000,000
-
C
50,000,000
-
D
1,000,000,000
13
Which scientist proposed the Cosmological Principle, stating the universe is homogeneous and isotropic?
-
A
Isaac Newton
-
B
Nicolaus Copernicus
-
C
Arthur Eddington
-
D
Milton Humason
14
The 'Great Attractor' is a gravity anomaly located in which approximate direction?
-
A
Centaurus
-
B
Orion
-
C
Andromeda
-
D
Polaris
15
How many 'e-folds' of expansion occurred during the theoretical inflationary epoch of the early universe?
-
A
At least 60
-
B
Exactly 10
-
C
Under 5
-
D
Over 1000
16
What is the name of the chemical element that makes up approximately 24% of the ordinary matter in the universe?
-
A
Carbon
-
B
Helium
-
C
Oxygen
-
D
Iron
17
In which decade did the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe occur?
-
A
1960s
-
B
1970s
-
C
1980s
-
D
1990s
18
What is the speed of light in vacuum, approximately, in kilometers per second?
-
A
150,000
-
B
300,000
-
C
450,000
-
D
600,000
19
How many astronomical units (AU) are in one light-year approximately?
-
A
63,000
-
B
100,000
-
C
500,000
-
D
1,000,000
20
The Planck mission was launched by which space agency?
-
A
NASA
-
B
ESA
-
C
JAXA
-
D
Roscosmos
