Computational Astrophysics — MCQs August 20, 2025 by u930973931_answers 50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. Computational astrophysics primarily involves the use of: (A) Telescopes only (B) Laboratory experiments only (C) Numerical simulations and algorithms (D) Theoretical equations without computers 2. Which of the following is a major tool in computational astrophysics? (A) Particle accelerators (B) Supercomputers (C) Satellites only (D) Microscopes 3. N-body simulations are mainly used to study: (A) Nuclear fusion reactions (B) Motion of many interacting particles under gravity (C) Stellar spectra only (D) Neutrino oscillations 4. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is commonly applied in: (A) Galactic dynamics (B) Fluid dynamics in astrophysics (C) Planetary geology (D) Spectroscopy 5. Which computational method is most suitable for solving partial differential equations in astrophysics? (A) Finite difference method (B) Polynomial interpolation (C) Matrix factorization only (D) Simple algebraic equations 6. Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) is used in simulations to: (A) Reduce the accuracy of results (B) Increase resolution in regions of interest (C) Avoid using parallel computing (D) Eliminate all boundaries 7. The term “computational cosmology” generally refers to simulations of: (A) Particle physics experiments (B) Universe evolution and structure formation (C) Stellar nuclear reactions only (D) Atmospheric circulation 8. Which programming language is most widely used in computational astrophysics? (A) Java (B) Python (C) HTML (D) PHP 9. Monte Carlo methods are used in astrophysics mainly for: (A) Random sampling and statistical modeling (B) Exact deterministic solutions (C) Simple algebraic equations (D) Eliminating uncertainty completely 10. Which of the following is an N-body simulation code? (A) GADGET (B) MATLAB (C) AutoCAD (D) SolidWorks 11. Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations are important for studying: (A) Planetary rings only (B) Dynamics of plasma and magnetic fields (C) Nuclear decay (D) Crystallization processes 12. In computational astrophysics, parallel computing is essential because: (A) Problems are too simple for one CPU (B) Data sizes and computations are enormous (C) It reduces accuracy intentionally (D) It prevents simulation errors 13. Which technique is used for simulating star formation in galaxies? (A) SPH (B) Molecular spectroscopy (C) Wave optics (D) Quantum tunneling 14. Numerical relativity deals with simulations of: (A) Orbital mechanics (B) Einstein’s equations of general relativity (C) Fluid turbulence only (D) Laboratory experiments 15. Which astrophysical event requires full relativistic hydrodynamics simulations? (A) Eclipses (B) Supernova explosions (C) Asteroid impacts (D) Sunspot cycles 16. High-performance computing (HPC) clusters are necessary for astrophysics because: (A) Simulations involve billions of particles or grid points (B) Experiments are done in labs only (C) Observations require no computation (D) Telescopes directly provide results 17. Tree algorithms in N-body simulations are used to: (A) Reduce computational cost of gravity calculations (B) Increase exactness only (C) Solve chemical equations (D) Replace time-stepping methods 18. Radiative transfer simulations are crucial for modeling: (A) Propagation of light through matter (B) Planetary core dynamics (C) Atomic nuclei (D) Crystallization in solids 19. Which type of method is used in modeling turbulence in astrophysical fluids? (A) Large Eddy Simulations (B) Direct Imaging (C) Photometric Redshift (D) Spectral Line Analysis 20. GPU computing is beneficial in astrophysics because it: (A) Provides high parallel performance for large simulations (B) Replaces telescopes (C) Eliminates need for mathematical models (D) Works only for simple problems 21. The Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) condition is important in simulations to ensure: (A) Conservation of mass (B) Numerical stability (C) Faster computing speed (D) Energy loss prevention 22. Which numerical technique is often used to solve orbital mechanics problems? (A) Runge–Kutta integration (B) Fourier transforms (C) Laplace transforms (D) Monte Carlo sampling 23. Cosmological simulations like Illustris and Millennium are used to study: (A) Solar flares (B) Large-scale structure of the Universe (C) Stellar spectra (D) Moon’s surface geology 24. What is the main limitation of N-body simulations? (A) Cannot simulate gravity (B) Computational cost increases rapidly with particle number (C) Cannot simulate galaxies (D) Do not require initial conditions 25. Which field combines AI with astrophysical simulations? (A) Machine learning in astrophysics (B) Quantum field theory (C) Spectroscopy only (D) Pure classical mechanics 26. Which astrophysical phenomenon requires radiative hydrodynamics simulations? (A) Star formation (B) Asteroid motion (C) Planetary rotation (D) Orbital eclipses 27. A common use of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in astrophysics is: (A) Time-series analysis of pulsars (B) Calculating gravitational collapse (C) Modeling fluid turbulence (D) Visualizing galaxies 28. Which type of simulation studies galaxy mergers? (A) N-body + hydrodynamic simulations (B) Pure algebraic solutions (C) Laboratory experiments (D) Telescope-only models 29. The leapfrog integration method is often used in astrophysics because it: (A) Conserves energy better in long simulations (B) Is faster than Euler method (C) Eliminates turbulence (D) Requires no coding 30. In computational astrophysics, boundary conditions are critical for: (A) Defining problem setup and simulation behavior (B) Eliminating numerical grids (C) Making telescopes more accurate (D) Running experiments in labs 31. Which astrophysical system requires General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) simulations? (A) Exoplanets (B) Accretion disks around black holes (C) Asteroids (D) Dwarf galaxies 32. The main advantage of Lagrangian methods like SPH over Eulerian grid methods is: (A) Easier handling of free surfaces and moving boundaries (B) Always faster than grids (C) No need for parallel computing (D) They work only for solid mechanics 33. Which astrophysical simulation often uses periodic boundary conditions? (A) Cosmological simulations of large-scale structure (B) Planetary atmosphere simulations (C) Solar system orbits (D) Black hole accretion disks 34. Which technique is essential for analyzing gravitational wave signals numerically? (A) Numerical relativity (B) Radiative transfer (C) Quantum mechanics (D) Simple algebraic models 35. The main challenge in simulating turbulence in astrophysical fluids is: (A) Large range of interacting scales (B) No governing equations exist (C) Fluid motion is perfectly predictable (D) Lack of observational data 36. Which algorithm is often used for gravitational force calculation in N-body simulations? (A) Barnes–Hut tree algorithm (B) Newton-Raphson iteration (C) Gaussian elimination (D) Euler’s formula 37. Which of the following is an open-source code for astrophysical simulations? (A) FLASH (B) AutoCAD (C) MS Excel (D) PowerPoint 38. The finite element method (FEM) is especially useful for: (A) Complex geometries and irregular boundaries (B) Only circular orbits (C) Purely algebraic problems (D) Spectroscopy calculations 39. Computational astrophysics helps in predicting observational data by: (A) Simulating physical models of cosmic systems (B) Replacing telescopes completely (C) Ignoring experimental results (D) Using random guesses 40. A key limitation of simulations is: (A) Dependence on assumptions and approximations (B) They always give exact results (C) They remove need for physical laws (D) No computational resources required 41. Which astrophysical problem typically uses Monte Carlo radiative transfer? (A) Photon propagation in stellar atmospheres (B) Planetary geology (C) Orbital mechanics (D) N-body star cluster dynamics 42. Which type of data is often used to validate computational astrophysics simulations? (A) Telescope observations (B) Weather data (C) Geological samples (D) Chemical lab experiments 43. Which simulation method is best suited for shock waves in astrophysical gases? (A) Godunov-type finite volume schemes (B) Simple interpolation (C) Euler’s method (D) Monte Carlo guessing 44. What is the purpose of data visualization in computational astrophysics? (A) Interpreting complex multidimensional simulation results (B) Making results inaccurate (C) Reducing computational errors (D) Eliminating the need for simulations 45. Which technique is often used to find exoplanets in noisy datasets using simulations? (A) Machine learning algorithms (B) Pure algebra (C) Orbital mechanics only (D) Random guessing 46. Why are time-stepping schemes important in simulations? (A) They determine accuracy and stability of dynamic evolution (B) They replace initial conditions (C) They eliminate need for computation (D) They are not needed in astrophysics 47. Which astrophysical phenomenon requires both particle and fluid treatment in simulations? (A) Star and planet formation in protoplanetary disks (B) Black hole event horizon (C) Cosmic ray detection (D) Simple orbital motion 48. Which cosmological parameter can be constrained using computational astrophysics? (A) Dark matter distribution (B) Human population growth (C) Atmospheric CO₂ levels (D) Earthquake frequency 49. Computational astrophysics contributes to gravitational wave astronomy by: (A) Simulating mergers of black holes and neutron stars (B) Eliminating detectors (C) Avoiding data analysis (D) Replacing general relativity completely 50. The future of computational astrophysics will likely involve: (A) Exascale computing and advanced AI methods (B) Eliminating physics laws (C) Using only small calculators (D) Ending all observational astronomy