Physical Science Lecture assignment 15/16

If it is 10:00 A.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in San Diego, California, the longitude of which is 45° more westerly? a. 1:00 P.M. PST b. 7:00 A.M. PST c. 10:00 A.M. PST d. 9:00 A.M. PST

7:00 A.M. PST

If it is 10:00 A.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in Denver, Colorado, the longitude of which is 30° more westerly? a. 12 noon MST b. 8:00 A.M. MST c. 10:00 A.M. MST d. 9:00 A.M. MST

8:00 A.M. MST

The 90°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States. a. Pacific b. Mountain c. Eastern d. Central

Central

Which of the following is the smallest dwarf planet? a. Ceres b. Mercury c. Pluto d. Eris

Ceres

The heliocentric model of the solar system was developed by a. Brahe b. Kepler c. Copernicus d. Newton

Copernicus

The planet with a hexagonally shaped storm at its pole is a. Jupiter b. Neptune c. Uranus d. Saturn e. Mars

Saturn

Which of the following is not a terrestrial planet? a. Earth b. Mars c. Saturn d. Venus

Saturn

Which of the following planets can be in opposition? a. Mercury b. Venus c. Earth d. Saturn

Saturn

The International Date Line in theory is ___________, with variations to accommodate the needs of various countries. a. a longitude b. a meridian c. a latitude d. a parallel d. none of these

a meridian

An imaginary line from one geographic pole to the other along the surface of Earth perpendicular to the equator is called a. a longitude. b. a meridian. c. the International Date Line. d. a parallel.

a meridian.

The smallest major planet in the solar system lacks a. a surface. b. a solid surface. c. a moon. d. a gravitational field.

a moon.

The Jovian planets a. are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. b. have no solid surface. c. have rings. d. all of these.

all of these.

The terrestrial planets and the Jovian planets are distinguished from each other in terms of a. density only. b. size only. c. temperature only. d. all of these.

all of these.

The terrestrial planets have a. relatively high densities. b. solid surfaces. c. weak magnetic fields. d. all of these.

all of these.

The name given to the point of a planet's orbit that is farthest from the Sun is a. aphelion b. focus c. perihelion d. solstice

aphelion

The number of daylight hours before 12 noon is ______________ the number of daylight hours past 12 noon. a. greater than b. less than c. approximately the same as

approximately the same as

Six months of darkness at the North Pole begins when the Sun is at the a. winter solstice. b. summer solstice. c. autumnal equinox. d. vernal equinox.

autumnal equinox.

Six months of daylight at the South Pole begins when the Sun is at the a. winter solstice. b. summer solstice. c. autumnal equinox. d. vernal equinox.

autumnal equinox.

The tropical year is shorter than the sidereal year because Earth's a. orbit is an ellipse rather than a true circle. b. axis precesses westward. c. orbital speed is not constant. d. axis is tilted by 23.5°.

axis precesses westward.

If Earth's axis were tilted at 30°, the daylight hours in Washington, D.C., in June would a. remain the same. b. be greater. c. be less. d. be equal to the hours of darkness.

be greater.

If Earth's axis were tilted at 40°, the seasons of the year would a. be shorter. b. be harsher. c. be longer. d. not change. e. be milder.

be harsher.

Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets around the Sun are a. circles b. ellipses c. all lying in the same plane. d. none of these.

ellipses

Kepler's second law of planetary motion is known as the law of a. ellipses b. equal areas c. harmonic periods d. gravitation

equal areas

The altitude of the North Star (Polaris) is approximately a. 90°. b. equal to the observer's local latitude. c. equal to the observer's local longitude. d. dependent on the time of day. e. none of these

equal to the observer's local longitude.

The imaginary line encircling Earth at its surface, halfway between the north and south geographic poles, is called the a. meridian b. equator c. International Date Line. d. longitude e. latitude

equator

Parallels of latitude are parallel to the a. longitude. b. International Date Line. c. equator. d. meridian.

equator.

The imaginary line encircling Earth at its surface, halfway between the north and south geographic poles, is called the a. meridian. b. equator. c. International Date Line. d. longitude. e. latitude.

equator.

Kepler's third law of planetary motion is also known as the ______________ law. a. periodic b. elliptical path c. harmonic d. heliocentric

harmonic

Planets in a planetary system other than the solar system a. have never been detected. b. have been detected. c. are an impossibility. d. are universally present.

have been detected.

The planet Earth a. has retrograde motion. b. is the closest planet to Venus. c. is the smallest of the terrestrial planets. d. has a unique circular orbit.

is the closest planet to Venus.

The planet Mercury a. has retrograde motion. b. is the closest planet to Venus. c. is the smallest of the terrestrial planets. d. has a uniquely circular orbit.

is the smallest of the terrestrial planets.

An attempt to remedy the difference in apparent solar days was the calculation of a a. meridian day. b. 24-hour day. c. sidereal day. d. mean solar day.

mean solar day.

Consider the following pairs of points: F: 0°N, 40°W 0°N, 20°W G: 10°N, 60°W 10°N, 40°W H: 20°S, 130°E 20°S, 150°E J: 30°S, 170°E 30°S, 150°E Which pair is closest together? a. J b. F c. G d. H e. All are the same distance apart

J

The planet with Red Spot Junior is a. Jupiter b. Neptune c. Uranus d. Saturn e. Mars

Jupiter

The planet with the Great Red Spot is a. Jupiter b. Neptune c. Uranus d. Saturn e. Mars

Jupiter

The planet with the largest number of moons is a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune

Jupiter

Which of the following is not a terrestrial planet? a. Earth b. Mars c. Jupiter d. Venus

Jupiter

The Greenwich meridian is also known as the a. zero, or prime, meridian. b. reference circle. c. east-west coordinate parallel. d. hour meridian.

zero, or prime, meridian.

On March 21, the noonday Sun is overhead at what latitude? a. 0° b. 23.5°N c. 23.5°S d. That of the Tropic of Cancer

0°

The most southern latitude from which an observer on Earth can see the North Star (Polaris) is a. 66.5°S. b. 23.5°S. c. 0°. d. 23.5°N.

0°.

If it is 1:00 P.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in Denver, Colorado, the longitude of which is 30° more westerly? a. 9:00 A.M. MST b. 11:00 A.M. MST c. 3:00 P.M. MST d. Noon. MST

11:00 A.M. MST

Earth's axis is tilted ______________ degrees from the normal to the ecliptic plane. a. zero b. 90 c. 45 d. 23.5

23.5

The plane of Earth's equator is tilted ______________° with respect to the plane of Earth's orbit about the Sun. a. 90 b. 18 c. 5 d. 23.5 e. 180

23.5

How many minor planets are known to exist in the solar system, using today's classification system? a. 1 b. 3 c. 2 d. 4

3

At which latitude is the noonday Sun overhead only once a year? a. 10°S b. 23°S c. 4°N d. 30°N

30°N

The Gregorian calendar assumed that there were ______________ days in a year. a. 365 b. 366 c. 365.2422

365.2422

Which of the following divisions of time cannot be changed by a human decision? a. 60 minutes in an hour b. 365.2422 days in a year c. 7 days in a week d. 24 hours in a day

365.2422 days in a year

The geocentric model of the solar system is attributed to a. Kepler b. Brahe c. Copernicus d. Aristotle

Aristotle

Which of the following is a technique used by astronomers in their search for other planetary systems? a. Observation of the star's rotation only b. Observation of the Doppler shifts in the star's spectrum only c. Both (A) and (B) d. The search for alien signals

Both (A) and (B)

Which of the following is believed to have played a major role in the condensation process predicted by the condensation theory? a. Dust b. Temperature c. Retrograde motion d. Protosuns

Dust

At different times of the year, the Sun appears to be in different parts of the sky among different groups of stars. This is so because a. Earth revolves about the Sun. b. the Sun rotates on its axis. c. the Sun moves through space. d. stars move. e. Earth rotates on its axis.

Earth revolves about the Sun.

Which of the following is the largest dwarf planet? a. Ceres b. Mercury c. Pluto d. Eris

Eris

Consider the following pairs of points: F: 0°N, 40°W 0°N, 20°W G: 70°N, 60°W 70°N, 40°W H: 20°S, 130°E 20°S, 150°E J: 30°S, 170°E 30°S, 170°W Which pair is closest together? a. J b. F c. G d. H e. All are the same distance apart.

G

The maximum east or west longitude possible is also called the a. meridian b. longitude c. International Date Line. d. equator

International Date Line.

______________ is defined as the angular measurement, in degrees, east or west of the Greenwich, or prime, meridian. a. The equator b. The International Date Line c. Latitude d. Longitude

Longitude

The Sun is at the vernal equinox within one or two days of which of the following dates? a. March 21 b. September 22 c. December 22 d. June 21

March 21

A terrestrial planet that has seasonal changes is a. Venus b. Mars c. Mercury d. Saturn

Mars

The planet with the largest volcano in the solar system is a. Earth b. Mars c. Venus d. Mercury

Mars

Which of the following planets can be in opposition? a. Mercury b. Venus c. Earth d. Mars

Mars

Which of the following planets moves the slowest in its orbit around the Sun? a. Earth b. Mars c. Venus d. Mercury

Mars

Which of the following is not a dwarf planet? a. Ceres b. Mercury c. Pluto d. Eris

Mercury

Which of the following planets cannot be in opposition? a. Mercury b. Jupiter c. Saturn d. Mars

Mercury

Which planet moves the fastest? a. Earth b. Mars c. Venus d. Mercury

Mercury

Most of the Rocky Mountains, in the western United States, lie in the ______________ Standard Time zone. a. Mountain b. Eastern c. Central d. Central

Mountain

The 105°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States. a. Pacific b. Mountain c. Eastern d. Central

Mountain

The planet with the Great Dark Spot is a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune

Neptune

Which of the following planets can be in opposition? a. Mercury b. Venus c. Earth d. Neptune

Neptune

Los Angeles, California, is in the ______________ Standard Time zone. a. Mountain b. Pacific c. Central d. Eastern

Pacific

The 120°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States. a. Pacific b. Mountain c. Eastern d. Central

Pacific

The longest-daylight day for people in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 25°N occurs when the noon Sun is overhead at the a. Greenwich meridian. b. Tropic of Cancer. c. equator. d. Tropic of Capricorn.

Tropic of Cancer.

The most distant planet that can be seen with the unaided eye is a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune

Uranus

Which of the following planets can be in opposition? a. Mercury b. Venus c. Earth d. Uranus

Uranus

The closest planet to Earth is a. Mars b. Venus c. Mercury d. Saturn

Venus

Which of the following planets cannot be in opposition? a. Venus b. Jupiter c. Saturn d. Mars

Venus

The third brightest object in the sky is a. the Sun. b. the Moon. c. Venus. d. Mars.

Venus.

Latitude is the angular measurement in degrees a. east or west of the prime meridian. b. north or south of the prime meridian. c. north or south of the equator. d. north or south of the celestial equator.

north or south of the equator.

The name given to the point of a planet's orbit that is closest to the Sun is a. aphelion b. focus c. perihelion d. solstice

perihelion

At present, the formation of the solar system is believed by most astronomers to have begun with a large, swirling volume of cold gas and dust called the ______________ nebula. a. condensation b. primordial c. accretion d. celestial

primordial

Stellar paralax proves that Earth is a. rotating b. revolving c. precessing d. an oblate spheroid

revolving

The aberration of starlight gives proof that Earth is a. rotating b. revolving c. precessing d. none of these

revolving

The actual amount of time it takes for Earth to rotate 360° on its axis is called a a. meridian day. b. 24-hour day. c. sidereal day. d. mean solar day. e. solar day.

sidereal day.

The flattened, rotating disk of gas and dust around the protosun, from which planets were believed to have formed, is called the a. solar nebula. b. planetary nebula. c. condensation nebula. d. primordial nebula.

solar nebula.

Other planetary systems are best detected by the Doppler shifts that change the pattern of the star's a. spectrum b. brightness c. rotational period d. twinkling

spectrum

The longest day (daylight) of the year for the Northern Hemisphere occurs at the time of the a. autumnal equinox. b. vernal equinox. c. winter solstice. d. summer solstice.

summer solstice.

The longest-daylight day for people in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°N occurs at the a. summer solstice. b. vernal equinox. c. winter solstice. d. autumnal equinox.

summer solstice.

The shortest-daylight day for people in the Southern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°S occurs at the a. summer solstice. b. vernal equinox. c. winter solstice. d. autumnal equinox.

summer solstice.

The second brightest object in the sky is a. the Sun. b. the Moon. c. Venus. d. Mars.

the Moon.

The brightest object in the sky is a. the Sun. b. the Moon. c. Venus. d. Mars.

the Sun.

Pope Gregory XIII decreed that 10 days would be skipped in 1582 because a. the calendar and the seasons were out of sync. b. of a meteor impact. c. he was insane. d. skipping his birthday would prevent his removal.

the calendar and the seasons were out of sync.

When one travels west while passing over the International Date Line, a. the date is decreased one day. b. the time is decreased one hour. c. the time is advanced one hour. d. the date is advanced one day. e. none of these occurs.

the date is advanced one day.

When one travels east while passing over the International Date Line, a. the date is decreased one day. b. the time is decreased one hour. c. the time is advanced one hour. d. the date is advanced one day. e. none of these occurs.

the date is decreased one day.

Which of the following is true? The number of daylight hours depends on a. the International Date Line. b. the longitude. c. the latitude. d. all of these.

the latitude.

At the time of the summer solstice, in the United States, a. the number of hours of daylight is greater than the number of hours of darkness. b. the number of hours of daylight is equal to the number of hours of darkness. c. the number of hours of daylight is less than the number of hours of darkness. d. none of the above is true.

the number of hours of daylight is greater than the number of hours of darkness.

An imaginary line from one geographic pole to the other along the surface of Earth perpendicular to the equator, and that passes through Greenwich, England, is called a. a longitude. b. a meridian. c. the International Date Line. d. a parallel. e. the prime meridian.

the prime meridian.

It is generally believed that there are 7 days in a week because a. there are 7 stars in the Big Dipper. b. it is necessary to have 52 weeks in a year. c. there are 7 visible bodies in the sky that move against the background of the fixed stars. d. it is easy to multiply by 7.

there are 7 visible bodies in the sky that move against the background of the fixed stars.

Six months of daylight at the North Pole begins when the Sun is at the a. winter solstice. b. summer solstice. c. autumnal equinox. d. vernal equinox.

vernal equinox.

The shortest-daylight day for people in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°N occurs at the a. summer solstice. b. vernal equinox. c. winter solstice. d. autumnal equinox.

winter solstice.