Astronomy Exam 1

Considering the size and scale of the universe makes me: A. Feel very small B. Think it is remarkable that we can discover anything about the universe at all C. Think it is remarkable that all of this was created for us D. Think that the Earth is less important than I used to think E. Appreciate how fragile and unique the Earth is

(Pick any)

Because of precession, someday it will be summer everywhere on Earth at the same time. A. Yes, precession will naturally circularize Earth's orbit. B. Yes, precession will eventually reduce Earth's axis tilt. C. Yes, precession will make summers occur at the same time, but in what is now the northern spring and southern fall. D. Yes, but it would take tens of thousands of years, longer than current human history, for this to occur. E. No, precession only changes the direction in which the North Pole points, and has nothing to do with the

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If you were on the Moon, Earth would A. Show no phases B. Show phases the same as the moon (when it is full Moon it is full Earth, etc.) C. Show phases opposite to the Moon (when it is full Moon it is new Earth, etc.)

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It takes a pot of soup a few minutes to heat up on a stove. Approximately how long does it take for the Sun to warm up Earth in spring or summer? A. Several hours B. About half a day C. About 1 full day D. 2 weeks E. Several months

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Johannes Kepler A. Came up with a theory-elliptical orbits-that explained Tycho's very accurate data B. Found that planets don't orbit at constant velocity-they speed up when nearer the Sun C. Discovered the relationship between orbital period and a planets distance from the Sun D. Thought he heard the "music of the spheres" E. All of the above

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Last night I saw Mars move westward through the sky in its apparent retrograde motion. A. Yes, this occurs during certain times of the year when Earth overtakes Mars in its orbit. B. Yes, this is a well studied phenomenon and its explanation proved a challenge to ancient astronomers. C. All planets (and stars) move westward because of Earth's rotation, so this is not unusual. D. No, apparent retrograde motion is only noticeable over many nights, not a single night. E. No, because Mars lies further from the Sun than Earth, it does not undergo retrograde motion.

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Suppose that the Moon was a cube, but everything else was the same-it kept one side facing Earth as it orbited. What would its phases be like? A. It would not have phases B. The phases would be just like now C. The same as now, except square: crescent square, half-square, full square, etc.D. It would only show "new" and "full" phases

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Why have more people seen an eclipse of the Moon than an eclipse of the Sun? A. Eclipses of the Sun are much rarer than eclipses of the Moon B. The shadow of the Moon is smaller than the shadow of Earth C. Anyone on the night side of Earth can see a total eclipse of the Moon D. Anyone on the day side of Earth can see a total solar eclipse E. B and C

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True or False?: NASA soon plans to launch a spacecraft that will leave the Milky Way Galaxy to take a photograph of the galaxy from the outside. A. True, the spacecraft will be able to tell us the size and shape of the Milky Way.B. False, but it would be a good idea to do so.C. False, even a spacecraft that moved close to the speed of light would take tens of thousands of years to get to a good vantage point.D. False, as the Sun and Earth move through the galaxy, we will be able to take a photograph from a different perspective. E. False, several NASA spacecrafts have already left the solar system on their way out of the galaxy.

.C. False, even a spacecraft that moved close to the speed of light would take tens of thousands of years to get to a good vantage point

Are there ways of knowing other than scientific ones? A. Yes B. No C. Not really

A

Do you think scientists follow the steps of the scientific method given in the previous slide in order? A. Yes-that's the scientific method B. No C. Often, but not always

A

Whose suggestion that the Sun is the center of the solar system was first taken seriously by many people? A. Copernicus B. Tycho C. Kepler D. Galileo

A.

The phrase, "The Red Sox haven't won the World Series in light-years" doesn't make sense because A. A light-year is a unit of distance, not time.B. A light-year is much greater than a century. C. The Earth is only one light-year old. D. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2003.

A. A light-year is a unit of distance, not time

Earth rotates on its axis: A. Once a day B. Once a week C. Once a month D. Once a year E. Once every 250,000 years

A. Once a day.

In summer in the northern hemisphere, what is the Sun's daily motion? A. Rises in the east, sets in the west B. Rises north of east, sets south of west C. Rises north of east, sets north of west

A. Rises in the east, sets in the west.

Which is farther, the distance from San Francisco to Los Angeles, or the distance from you to the space shuttle if the shuttle passes directly overhead? A. San Francisco - LA is further B. The space shuttle is further

A. San Francisco- LA is further.

When it is summer in the United States, in Australia it is: A. Winter B. Summer C. Spring D. Fall

A. Winter

One difference between the terms solar system and galaxy is that: A. the solar system contains only one star but the galaxy contains many billions.B. the solar system contains planets, but the galaxy does not.C. other galaxies are rare, but other solar systems are common.D. other solar systems are rare, but other galaxies are common.

A. the solar system contains only one star but the galaxy contains many billions.

Do you think that science is a system of beliefs? A. Yes B. No

B

Do you think that the scientific method involves much creativity? A. Yes B. No

B

Is science more about answers, or about the process of how to find and test answers? A. Answers B. The process of finding and testing answers

B

Put these planets in order from the nearest to the the farthest from Earth: A. The Moon, Mars, the Sun, the nearest stars, Pluto B. The Moon, Mars, the Sun, Pluto, the nearest stars C. The Moon, the Sun, Mars, Pluto, the nearest stars D. Mars, the Moon, the Sun, the nearest stars,

B) The moon, Mars, the Sun, Pluto, the nearest stars.

I live in the United States, and during my first trip to Argentina I saw many constellations that I'd never seen before. A. Yes, the skies in Argentina are notable for their clarity, therefore you can see many more stars there than in the United States.B. Yes, Argentina's southern location affords us a different view of the night sky from what is visible in the United States. C. No, the skies are exactly the same in both Argentina and the United States. D. No, the constellations are upside down so they appear different but they are actually the same. E. This might be true if the visit occurred in the winter when different constellations are visible than in the summer.

B.

What did Tycho do that advanced astronomy significantly? A. Realized that orbits didn't have to be circles, they could be ellipses B. Made more accurate observations than anyone before (improved the data) C. Thought of the idea of circles moving on circles (epicycles) to explain planet's motion

B.

What is the difference between the word theory as used in everyday speech, and the word theory as used in science? A. Theory, in common speech, is something uncertain ("It's just a theory") B. A scientific theory is different. It has been thoroughly tested C. A scientific theory must be discarded if it fails to explain what is observed in any experiment D. All of the above

B.

When was Earth known to be circular and its circumference measured? A. From the earliest times B. By the Greeks C. At the start of the Renaissance D. By Galileo, in the early 17th century E. Around 1800

B.

The angular size of your fist, held at arms length, is about: A. 1 degree B. 10 degrees C. 5 inches D. 10 inches

B. 10 degrees

When an astronomer describes the altitude of something in the local sky, he or she means: A. How high something is in the sky, in units of miles or kilometers B. How high something is in the sky, in units of degrees C. The direction toward something- north, south, east, or west

B. How high something is in the sky, in units of degrees

What causes the seasons? A. In summer, all of Earth is closer to the Sun B. In summer, the tilt of Earth's axis makes the part of Earth we are on closer to the Sun C. In summer, the Sun is up for more hours D. In summer, the Sun climbs higher in the sky so its rays hit the ground more directly E. C and D

B. In summer, the tilt of Earth's axis makes the part of Earth we are on closer to the Sun

What makes the North Star special? A. It was the first star to be cataloged by ancient astronomers.B. It lies close to the north celestial pole and is therefore very useful for navigation.C. It is the brightest star in the entire sky. D. It is the brightest star in the northern sky. E. It is visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres.

B. It lies close to the north celestial pole and is therefore very useful for navigation

The full moon rises at approximately: A. Midnight B. Sunset C. Sunrise D. 9 or 10 p.m. E. It rises at different times during the year

B. Sunset

Why are the Moon and planets seen only in the constellations of the zodiac? A. The planets all revolve in the same direction around the Sun B. The planets all orbit in nearly the same plane, and the zodiacal constellations are in that plane.C. The constellations in the zodiac are the oldest, and the planets have been known from ancient times D. None of the above reasons

B. The planets all orbit in nearly the same plane, and the zodiacal constellations are in that plane

Put these planets in order from the nearest to the the farthest from Earth: A. The Sun, the Milky Way, Alpha Centauri, Pluto, the Andromeda galaxy B. The Sun, Alpha Centauri, Pluto, the Andromeda galaxy, the Milky Way C. The Sun, Pluto, Alpha Centauri, the Milky Way, the Andromeda galaxy D. Pluto, the Sun, Alpha Centauri, the Milky Way, the Andromeda galaxy

C) The Sun, Pluto, Alpha Centauri, the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy

In a scale model solar system that used a grapefruit to represent the Sun, how far away would Pluto be? A. 100 feet B. 200 feet C. 2,000 feet D. 10 miles

C. 2000 feet.

At the speed of light, how long would it take to reach the nearest star, Alpha Centauri? A. About a month B. About a year C. About 4 years D. About 1,000 years E. About 1,000,000 years

C. About 4 years.

At the speed of light, how long would it take to go from Earth to the Sun? A. About a second B. About a minute C. About 8 minutes D. About a day E. About a year

C. About 8 minutes

Why are different stars seen in different seasons? A. The tilt of Earth's axis B. Stars move during the year C. As Earth orbits the Sun, we see the Sun in front of different constellations D. Because that's how horoscopes work E. Precession

C. As Earth orbits the Sun, we see the Sun in front of different constellations

The sky is divided into 88 zones called: A. Degrees B. Tropics C. Constellations D. Signs

C. Constellations

If the history of the entire universe was condensed into a single year, dinosaurs would have died from the impact of a large meteorite or asteroid about: A. September 1 B. December 1 C. December 30 D. 9 P.M. December 31

C. December 30

If Earth's orbit were a perfect circle, we would not have seasons. A. True, because Earth would be at the same distance from the Sun throughout its orbit, there would be no summer or winter. B. True, it is the deviations from a circular orbit that create the seasons. C. False, the seasons are due to the tilt of Earth's axis, not its distance from the Sun. D. False, the poles would still be cooler than the equator and seasonal variations would therefore still exist. E. False, whether circular or not, the seasons depend on the precession of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun.

C. False, the seasons are due to the tilt of Earth's axis, not its distance from the Sun.

The observable universe is the same size today as it was a few billion years ago. A. Yes, the universe does not gain or lose mass or energy.B. Yes, although the universe continues to expand, what we can see - the observable universe - stays the same size. C. No, we can see light from more distant parts of the universe today than we could have seen a few billion years ago.D. No, the observable universe is smaller today than it was a few billion years ago.E. This question doesn't make sense because the Big Bang only happened about 1.4 billion years ago.

C. No, we can see light from more distant parts of the universe today than we could have seen a few billion years ago.

The Moon revolves around Earth: A. Once a day B. Once a week C. Once a month D. Once a year E. Once every 250,000 years

C. Once a month

A map of the entire sky is called: A. A meridian B. A sky finder C. The celestial sphere D. The galactic directory

C. The celestial sphere

During the year, the Sun appears in front of different groups of stars. What are these called? A. Circumpolar stars B. Circumsolar stars C. The constellations of the zodiac D. The tropical constellations E. Solstice stars

C. The constellations of the zodiac.

When an astronomer describes the azimuth of something in the local sky, he or she means: A. How high something is in the sky, in units of miles or kilometers B. How high something is in the sky, in units of degrees C. The direction toward something- north, south, east, or west

C. The direction toward something- north, south, east, or west

If the history of the entire universe was condensed into a single year, Earth would have formed about: A. The month of February B. The month of April C. The month of September D. December 1 E. December 15

C. The month of September

Which of the following can be used as an argument against the existence of other civilizations in the universe? A. The lack of potential habitats for other civilizations.B. Most organisms on Earth are microscopic and relatively primitive.C. The relatively short lifetime of intelligent life on Earth. D. The immense distance to other stars in the galaxy and our lack of convenient interstellar travel. E. The relatively young age of the universe.

C. The relatively short lifetime of intelligent life on Earth.

In a scale model solar system that used a grapefruit to represent the Sun, how large would the Earth be? A. The size of an orange B. The size of a marble C. The size of the point of a ballpoint pen D. The size of a bacterium

C. The size of a ballpoint pen.

Why do we not feel or sense the various motions of Earth in the universe? A. They are not real, they are just models B. They are too slow to sense C. They are nearly uniform, and you can not sense uniform velocity, only acceleration, which is a change of velocity or direction

C. They are nearly uniform, and you can not sense uniform velocity, only acceleration, which is a change of velocity or direction

If the tilt of Earth's axis to its orbital plane was 40 degrees, instead of 23 ½, but its distance from the Sun remained the same, what would happen to the seasons? A. They wouldn't change much B. They would become less extreme-winter and summer would be more alike C. They would become more extreme-winter colder and summer warmer D. All of Earth would get colder E. All of Earth would get warmer

C. They would become more extreme-winter colder and summer warmer

If scientists skip a step in the scientific method-for instance, intuitively guessing the answer even before doing the experiment-what happens? A. Real scientists never skip steps. B. They go back later and do the steps they didn't do. C. Other scientists repeat the experiment. D. B and C often happen.

D

In what ways do most people employ scientific thinking in everyday life? A. Observe the world and notice patterns B. Use trial and error-experiments-to test ideas C. Predict things before they happen D. All of the above E. A and B

D or E.

How was careful observation of the sky used in early cultures? A. To determine the seasons B. To decide when to plant crops C. To navigate on long voyages D. All of the above E. A and B only

D.

Why is a scientific theory supposed to predict, and not just explain after the fact? A. The scientific method is supposed to be followed in order B. People can usually think up explanations after something happens, but they may not be right C. Predicting things before they happen requires more understanding-you are more likely to have the correct explanation D. B and C

D.

About how old is Earth? A. 6,000 years B. 1 million years C. 1 billion years D. 5 billion years E. 14 billion years

D. 5 billion years.

In a scale model solar system that used a grapefruit to represent the Sun, how far away would the Earth be? A. 6 inches B. 1 foot C. 5 feet D. 50 feet E. 1 mile.

D. 50 feet.

If the history of the entire universe was condensed into a single year, the earliest humans (hominids) would have appeared about: A. September 1 B. December 1 C. December 30 D. 9 P.M. December 31 (3 hours before year-end) E. 11:59:30 P.M. December 31 (30 seconds before year-end)

D. 9 P.M December 31

When is the Sun directly overhead at noon? A. March 21 B. June 21 C. July 21 D. Never

D. Never

When might you see the planet Jupiter in the Big Dipper? A. Summer B. Winter C. Only after midnight D. Never

D. Never

As seen from North America, stars near Polaris in the sky: A. Are in the Big Dipper B. Are seen only in winter C. Are seen only in summer D. Never set E. A and D

D. Never set.

Suppose that, at this very moment, students are studying astronomy on planets in Andromeda. Could they know that we exist here on Earth? A. Yes, because we can see stars in Andromeda, so they can see us in the Milky Way. B. No, the light from the solar system has not yet reached Andromeda. C. No, the light from the solar system that has reached Andromeda came from a time before Earth had formed.D. No, radio signals from terrestrial civilizations have not yet reached Andromeda.E. Yes, in principle. With sufficiently powerful telescopes, they should be able to see man-made features such as the Great Wall of China on Earth's surface.

D. No, radio signals from terrestrial civilizations have not yet reached Andromeda

Earth revolves around the Sun: A. Once a day B. Once a week C. Once a month D. Once a year E. Once every 250,000 years

D. Once a year.

Directly above Earth's north pole, on the celestial sphere, is A. The Big Dipper B. Ursa Major, the great bear C. The brightest star in the sky D. The North Star, Polaris E. C and D

D. The North Star, Polaris.

What is pseudoscience? A. Something that looks like science but isn't. B. Something that often uses scientific words but not the method of science. C. Something that may want the respectability of science but does not actually use the methods of science. D. Something that usually doesn't really work, or doesn't work the way claimed. E. All of the above.

E

What method or processes do scientists use when they are doing science? A. Observing the world; looking for patterns that can be clues to underlying laws B. Sorting, classifying, or measuring C. Suggesting a hypothesis, which explains what has been seen already and predicts something not yet seen D. Doing an experiment or collecting data to test the hypothesis E. All of the above

E

What characterizes a scientific explanation? A. It is based on the ideas of the smartest people B. The more ancient the wisdom, the better the explanation C. It is based on observations D. It is tested through prediction and experiments E. C and D Copyright © 2009, Pearson Education, Inc.

E.

What is special about scientific knowledge, compared to other ways of knowing? A. It is based on data B. It has gone through a process of prediction and testing C. Scientists not involved with the original discovery test it after a new scientific discovery has been published D. Explanations are based on natural causes E. All of the above

E.

If the history of the entire universe was condensed into a single year, the first civilization would have appeared about: A. September 1 B. December 1 C. December 30 D. 9 P.M. December 31 (3 hours before year-end) E. 11:59:30 P.M. December 31 (30 seconds before year-end)

E. 11:59:30 P.M. December 31 (30 seconds before year-end)

About how old is the universe? A. 6,000 years B. 1 million years C. 1 billion years D. 5 billion years E. 14 billion years

E. 14 billion years.

In a scale model solar system that used a grapefruit to represent the Sun, how far away should you put another grapefruit to represent Alpha Centauri, the next nearest star? A. 10 feet B. 1,000 feet C. 1 mile D. 10 miles E. 2,000 miles

E. 2000 miles.

What makes Polaris a special star? A. It is the brightest star in the sky B. It is always directly overhead, no matter where you are C. It is near the axis about which the sky turns D. Its azimuth (direction) is always due north E. C and D

E. C & D

Objects are located on the celestial sphere in units of: A. Miles B. Kilometers C. Light years D. Parsecs E. Degrees

E. Degrees

Because nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, we must be located at the center of the universe. A. Yes, it is impossible not to be at the center and have everything else move away from us.B. Yes, this was the astonishing discovery made by Hubble in the 1920s.C. Yes, if we were not at the center, our solar system would not survive the gravitational tug from other galaxies.D. No, the center of the universe is at the center of our galaxy.E. No, everything moves away from everything else in an expanding universe and there is no unique center.

E. No, everything moves away from everything else in an expanding universe and there is no unique center.

Earth revolves around the Milky Way Galaxy: A. Once a day B. Once a week C. Once a month D. Once a year E. Once every 250,000 years

E. Once every 250,000 years

If you had a very fast spaceship, you could travel to the celestial sphere in about a month. A. Yes, and the NASA Voyager spacecraft has already done so.B. Yes, but once such a spacecraft crosses the celestial sphere it can never return.C. No, the celestial sphere is so far away that, even moving at close to the speed of light, it would take tens of thousands of years to reach.D. No, the celestial sphere moves away from us at the speed of light so we can never catch up with it.E. This statement doesn't make sense because the celestial sphere is a concept and not a physical object.

E. This statement doesn't make sense because the celestial sphere is a concept and not a physical object.