ASTRONOMY FINAL

1.

1 point

The Earth's circumference was first found by:

Aristotle

Hipparchus

Aristarchus

Erastothenes

2.

1 point

The vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere.

True

False

3.

1 point

What celestial line is created by our Earth's rotation?

annelemma

equator

ecliptic

meridian

4.

1 point

What conditions are necessary for a total solar eclipse?

new moon near apogee and on the ecliptic

new moon near perigee and on the ecliptic

any phase on the equator and at perigee

full moon near perigee and on the equator

5.

1 point

Which of these concepts was NOT part of Ptolemy's model?

Retrograde planetary motion required use of epicycles.

It was geocentric.

Planets moved in ellipses.

Eastward planetary motion required use of deferents.

6.

1 point

Which of the following is one of the many contributions made by Galileo to astronomy?

He used a telescope to observe sunspots and the rotation of the Sun.

He discovered that the planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.

He developed a theory of gravity that could explain orbital motion.

He said that the Earth is not at the center of the universe.

7.

1 point

The difference between solar time and sidereal time is that sidereal is four minutes shorter.

True

False

8.

1 point

A solar eclipse can only happen during a ______ moon.

waxing

full

waning

new

9.

1 point

What was one of the contributions made by Copernicus to astronomy?

He used a telescope to observe the moons of Jupiter, showing we were not central.

He said that the Earth is not the center of the universe.

He developed a theory of gravity that could explain orbital motion.

He discovered that the planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.

10.

1 point

If the Moon rose tonight about 6 PM, then tomorrow it will rise about ____.

7 PM

midnight

the same time

5 PM

11.

1 point

On what did Copernicus and Ptolemy agree?

Venus must always stay between the Earth and Sun.

The Sun orbits us, but the other planets orbit it.

The Earth is the center of all motion.

All orbits are circular.

12.

1 point

The place of the ecliptic where the Sun stops its northward motion is the:

summer solstice

autumnal solstice

winter equinox

vernal equinox

13.

1 point

As Saturn lies at about 10 AU from the Sun, out there the Sun's gravity would be:

10 times stronger

10 times weaker

100 times weaker

100 times stronger

14.

1 point

Where would you be on the Earth if the noon Sun passed through your zenith on June 21?

Equator

Arctic Circle

Tropic of Cancer

North Pole

15.

1 point

Why is there a two day difference in the sidereal and synodic months?

None of these are correct.

The Earth has also revolved around the Sun, so the Moon must "catch up."

The sidereal day is four minutes shorter than the solar day, and it all adds up.

The Moon speeds up at perigee, and slows down at apogee.

16.

1 point

The Ptolemaic picture of the universe probably survived for so long because:

It is correct.

It worked perfectly in explaining the motions of the planets.

It was based on precise measurements of planetary positions.

It is consistent with the doctrines of the Church.

17.

1 point

Which statement about Right Ascension is false?

.

It is most like latitude in geography.

Each hour is equal to 15 degrees of sky.

It is measured eastward in units of time.

Its origin is the Vernal Equinox

18.

1 point

Compared to orbital velocity, escape velocity is about:

50% greater.

Over twice as great.

10% greater.

41% greater.

19.

1 point

Scientists today do not believe the Ptolemaic model because:

It has been proven to be incorrect.

Ptolemy has been proven to be a fraud.

It is too complicated.

It is too old.

20.

1 point

What conditions are necessary for a partial solar eclipse?

new moon near ecliptic, with us in its penumbral shadow

first quarter moon on the ecliptic

full moon near ecliptic, with moon in our penumbral shadow

new moon at perigee

21.

1 point

The Copernican heliocentric model was actually first proposed by:

Aristotle.

Erastothenes.

Aristarchus.

Hipparchus.

22.

1 point

The force of gravity between two objects:

Decreases with the mass of the objects and the distance between them.

Increases with the mass of the objects and decreases with the distance between them.

Increases with the mass of the objects and the distance between them.

Decreases with the mass of the objects and increases with the distance between them.

23.

1 point

Upon which point did Kepler and Copernicus disagree?

Retrograde motion occurs as one planet overtakes another.

All planetary orbits must be circular.

The Moon orbits the Earth

The Earth orbits the Sun.

24.

1 point

How many stars are visible on a clear, dark night with the naked eye alone?

Millions

A few thousand

Tens of thousands

A few hundred

25.

1 point

Where would you be if the Sun sets for six months, starting September 23?

North Pole

Arctic Circle

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

26.

1 point

Pensacola lies at latitude 30 degrees north. At 9 PM on January 1st, Polaris is _____.

overhead

not visible for another six hours

60 degrees high in the south

30 degrees high in the north

27.

1 point

By combining Newton's and Kepler's Laws, we can weigh the Sun, provided we know:

the size of the AU and the exact length of the year.

the Earth's mass and circumference.

the exact distance to Venus, as determined by radar.

its density and composition from spectroscopy.

28.

1 point

Which statement about the first quarter moon is FALSE?

It rises about noon.

To us, it appears one quarter lit.

It occurs a week or so after new moon.

It is highest in the sky around sunset.

29.

1 point

What phenomena accounts for the 26,000 year wobble which shifts poles and equinoxes?

revolution

progression

precession

rotation

30.

1 point

What conditions are necessary for an annular solar eclipse?

new moon on equator at perigee

new moon on ecliptic near perigee

new moon on ecliptic near apogee

new moon on ecliptic near apogeefull moon on equator at apogee

31.

1 point

What contribution to astronomy was made by Tycho Brahe?

He said that the Earth is not at the center of the universe.

He used a telescope to observe the heavens, thereby reinforcing the notion of heliocentricity.

He discovered that the planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.

He made extensive and detailed observations of the positions of the planets.

32.

1 point

Which of the following describes parallax?

It is best measured over the time interval of exactly one year.

It is only applicable to the most distant objects in space.

It is only applicable to nearby objects in our own solar system.

It is inversely proportional to the object's distance.

33.

1 point

What is the range of values that the coordinate declination can have?

0 to 360 degrees

0 to 180 degrees

0 to 24 hours

-90 to +90 degrees

34.

1 point

The Ptolemaic model of the universe:

Explained and predicted the motions of the planets with deferents and epicycles.

Describes the orbits of the planets as ellipses.

Is the basis of our modern cosmology.

Kept Mars always between the Earth and Sun.

35.

1 point

Where is the Sun on September 23?

12 hours RA, 0 degrees declination

None of these is correct.

0 hours RA, -23.5 degrees declination

18 hours RA, +23.5 degrees declination

36.

1 point

Which of the following defines density?

weight of an object

mass times weight

mass divided by volume

size divided by weight

37.

1 point

A lunar eclipse can only happen during a ______ moon.

new

waxing

waning

full

38.

1 point

Long ago, people probably observed the heavens because:

They relied on their knowledge of the heavens to know when to plant crops and how to navigate ships.

Learning the constellations was considered a rite of adulthood.

They believed that gods inhabited a celestial realm.

They were looking for signs of "ancient astronauts.

39.

1 point

Which concept below was NOT part of Kepler's Laws?

The square of period in years = cube of average distance in astronomical units.

Retrograde motion requires epicycles when the planet lies at opposition, closest to us.

Planetary orbits are all ellipses.

The Sun lies at the focus of every planet's elliptical orbit.

40.

1 point

Which statement is not true on September 23rd?

The Sun will rise due east.

The Sun will be up for 12 hours.

The Sun is heading northward a little bit every day.

The Sun will be over the equator.

41.

1 point

Which of the following falls into the category of interplanetary debris?

Large and small asteroids, comets, and grains of dust.

Comets only.

Asteroids only.

Dust only.

42.

1 point

The Sun passes through the zodiac constellations.

True

False

43.

1 point

Where would you be if Polaris was directly at your zenith?

Equator

Arctic Circle

North Pole

Tropic of Cancer

44.

1 point

What is the range of values for Right Ascension?

0 to 360 degrees

0 to 180 degrees

0 to 24 hours

-90 to +90 degrees

45.

1 point

What was the greatest contribution of the Greeks to modern thought?

Their concept of the universe as something to be studied, questioned, and explained.

Their rich mythology.

They showed that the planets orbit the sun.

Their ability to make precise measurements.

46.

1 point

The places where the ecliptic crosses the equator are called:

solstices

equinoxes

prime meridians

eclipses

47.

1 point

In one second, light leaving Los Angeles reaches approximately as far as one of the following. Which is correct?

Venus, 45,000,000 km from Earth at closest approach

London, roughly 10,000 km

the Moon, 384,000 km

the nearest star, about 4 light-years from Earth.

San Francisco, about 500 km

48.

1 point

Where on Earth can you observe all the stars in the whole sky over the entire year?

Equator

Arctic Circle

North Pole

Tropic of Cancer

49.

1 point

What was one of Newton's contributions to astronomy?

He said that the Earth is not at the center of the universe.

He used a telescope to observe the heavens, thereby reinforcing the notion of heliocentricity.

He discovered that the planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.

He developed a theory of gravity that could explain orbital motion.