15 Questions
What is the base leg of the isosceles triangle used in the stellar parallax method?
2 AU
What is the fundamental distance measurement method used in astronomy?
Stellar parallax method
How do astronomers usually express distances in units?
Parsecs (parallax arcseconds)
What was the precision of parallaxes obtained by the Hipparcos mission in the 1990s?
About a milliarcsecond
What is the potential precision of the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3?
20 to 40 milliarcseconds
What branch of physics describes the motion of objects without reference to their cause?
Kinematics
If an object is not in motion relative to a given frame of reference, it is said to be:
At rest
What signifies a continuous change in the position or configuration of a physical system in space?
Motion
What does modern physics hold about the concept of absolute motion?
There is no absolute frame of reference, so absolute motion cannot be determined
What branch of physics studies forces and their effect on motion?
Dynamics
What distinguishes matter with biological processes from matter that does not?
Capacity for homeostasis, organization, and metabolism
Why do viruses make the definition of life difficult?
They replicate only in host cells
When did life originate?
3.5 billion years ago
Who proposed the system of binomial nomenclature in the 1740s?
Carl Linnaeus
How are living things mainly formed?
From a few core chemical elements
Test your knowledge of the stellar parallax method used in astronomy to measure the distance to nearby stars. Understand how the slight shifts in star positions against the background are utilized to determine the distances using trigonometric parallax.
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