astronomy semester 1 final

The Full Moon sets at Multiple choice question. A) sunrise. B) sunset. C) midnight. D) noon.

A) sunrise.

The sidereal month is _________. Multiple choice question. A) the time the Moon takes to complete an orbit relative to the background stars B) the time it takes Earth to rotate 30 times on its axis C) the time it takes the Moon to complete an orbit relative to the Sun D) the time between successive new moons

A) the time the Moon takes to complete an orbit relative to the background stars

An annular solar eclipse occurs Multiple choice question. A) when the Moon in its orbit is farthest from Earth, and, so not able to cover the complete disk of the Sun. B) when the Moon in its orbit is closest to Earth, and, so not able to cover the complete disk of the Sun. C) every year when the Sun is highest in the sky. D) None of these choices is correct.

A) when the Moon in its orbit is farthest from Earth, and, so not able to cover the complete disk of the Sun.

Which of the following is NOT a jovian planet? A) Earth B)Neptune C)Uranus D)Saturn

A) earth

Kepler's ____ law states that the orbits of planets are elliptical, with the Sun at one focus. Multiple choice question. A)First B)Second C)Third D)Fourth

A)First

Imagine the much more massive Jupiter were to switch places with the less massive Mercury. Which of the following would accurately describe the outcome? Multiple choice question. A)Jupiter would orbit the Sun in less time than it did before. B)Jupiter would orbit the sun in more time than it did before. C)Mercury would orbit the Sun in less time than it did before. D)The orbital time for each of the planets would not change.

A)Jupiter would orbit the Sun in less time than it did before.

During a solar eclipse, the _____ casts a small circular shadow on the ____. Multiple choice question. A)Moon; Earth B)Sun; Moon C)Earth; Sun D)Moon; Sun E)Earth; Moon

A)Moon; Earth

If the Moon sets at 10 A.M. today, approximately what time did the Moon set yesterday? Multiple choice question. A) 10:04 A.M. B) 9:56 A.M. C) 10:50 A.M. D) 9:10 A.M.

D) 9:10 A.M.

Explain the major difference between the geocentric and heliocentric models of the universe.

The geocentric model stated the everything spins around earth. That earth is at the center of the solar system. The heliocentric model showed that the sun was at the center of the solar system and all of the planet traveled around it.

According to Kepler's laws the Sun is located at one of the foci of Earth's orbit. True false question. True False

true

Copernicus was able to calculate the distances to the observed planets relative to Earth's distance from the Sun. True false question. True False

true

During the month of January, Earth goes through the point of closest approach to the Sun. Using Kepler's Second law we can conclude that Earth moves faster in January than in July. True False

true

Parallax is the shift in a star's apparent position due to Earth's motion around the Sun. True false question. True False

true

Which is the most efficient means of recording light? Multiple choice question. A) photographic films B) photomultiplier tubes C) charge-coupled device (CCD) D) the human eye

C) charge-coupled device (CCD)

What process limits a telescope's resolving power? Multiple choice question. A) reflection B) refraction C) diffraction D) distraction

C) diffraction

The similarity of the Sun's and the Moon's angular sizes allow ____ to occur. Multiple choice question. A) tides B) lunar phases C) eclipses D) sunspots E) seasons

C) eclipses

Where will a planet in retrograde motion rise? Multiple choice question. A) in the north B) in the south C) in the east (just like everything else in the sky) D) in the west (the opposite of everything else in the sky)

C) in the east (just like everything else in the sky)

Using ___________, scientists can use a few smaller telescopes to take images with the same resolution as a much larger telescope. Multiple choice question. A) satellite telescopes B) charge-coupled devices (CCDs) C) interferometry D) adaptive optics

C) interferometry

The Moon appears larger when it rises than when it is high in the sky because Multiple choice question. A) you are closer to it when it rises (angular-size relation). B) you are farther from it when it rises (angular-size relation). C) it's an illusion from comparison to objects on the horizon. D) it's brighter when it rises.

C) it's an illusion from comparison to objects on the horizon.

What is retrograde motion? Multiple choice question. A) east to west motion of the Sun over many successive nights B) east to west motion of the Moon relative to the stars over many successive nights C) occasional east to west motion of the planets relative to the stars over many successive nights D) occasional west to east motion of the planets relative to the stars over many successive nights

C) occasional east to west motion of the planets relative to the stars over many successive nights

One phenomenon that the geocentric models struggled to explain was ____. Multiple choice question. A) sunspots B) the rotation of Earth C) retrograde motion D) parallax E) epicycles

C) retrograde motion

From the observation that the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, one can conclude that Multiple choice question. A) the Moon does not rotate. B) the Moon completes one rotation each time Earth rotates. C) the Moon completes one rotation each time it completes an orbit around Earth. D)the Moon completes two rotations each time it completes an orbit around Earth.

C) the Moon completes one rotation each time it completes an orbit around Earth.

One observation that supported an Earth-centered solar system is _________. Multiple choice question. A) retrograde motion B) the phases of the Moon C) the lack of parallax in the stars D) the shape of Earth's shadow on the Moon E) the phases of Venus

C) the lack of parallax in the stars

The equinox is the time when Multiple choice question. A) the number of daylight hours is longest in the Northern Hemisphere. B) the number of daylight hours is shortest in the Northern Hemisphere. C) the number of daylight hours equals the number of nighttime hours everywhere on Earth. D) all the nights are equally long throughout the month.

C) the number of daylight hours equals the number of nighttime hours everywhere on Earth.

For which of the following is the celestial sphere an accurate representation of reality? Multiple choice question. A) the distance to the stars B) the spherical bubble that surrounds Earth C) the view of the stars from Earth D) the motion of the Sun around Earth E) the motion of the planets around Earth

C) the view of the stars from Earth

When does the new Moon phase occur? Multiple choice question. A) when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon B) when the Sun is between Earth and the Moon C) when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun D) when the Sun and the Moon are on the Celestial Equator

C) when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun

What do we call a specific pattern of stars in the sky, often named for an animal? Multiple choice question. A) a cluster B) a star animal C) a constellation D) the ecliptic

C) a constellation

The Sun and the Moon have the same angular size. If the Sun is 400 times farther away from the Moon, the Sun must be ____ times the size of the Moon. Multiple choice question. A) 400 B) 1/400 C) 1/4 D) 4 E) 4π

A) 400

Which of the following is a contribution that Eratosthenes made to astronomy? Multiple choice question. A) He determined the circumference of Earth. B) He discovered epicycles. C) He discovered his Three laws (of Planetary Motion). D) He was the first person known to have pointed a telescope at the sky.

A) He determined the circumference of Earth.

Why doesn't the Moon have an atmosphere? Multiple choice question. A) It had very few volcanoes and the gravity is too weak to hold a substantial atmosphere. B) The blasts that formed the craters blew it away. C) The Moon's atmosphere was drawn away from it by Earth's stronger gravitational force. D) The solar wind evaporated the Moon's atmosphere.

A) It had very few volcanoes and the gravity is too weak to hold a substantial atmosphere.

How will high tides differ from their average values when the Moon and the Sun are on the same side of Earth? Multiple choice question. A) They will be higher than average. B) They will be lower than average. C) They will not differ from average values significantly. D) There are no high tides when the Moon is near the Sun in the sky.

A) They will be higher than average.

______ major contribution to astronomy is his extensive series of measurements of planetary positions. Multiple choice question. A) Tycho Brahe's B) Galileo's C) Kepler's D)Copernicus's

A) Tycho Brahe's

The process in which a gas cools and its molecules stick together to form liquid particles is called Multiple choice question. A) condensation. B) depression. C) evaporation. D) sublimation.

A) condensation.

As the planets orbit the Sun, they are never far from the ____ on the celestial sphere. Multiple choice question. A) ecliptic B) celestial equator C) horizon D) celestial pole E) meridian

A) ecliptic

During which phase of the moon do you expect to observe a lunar eclipse? Multiple choice question. A) full moon B) new moon C) first quarter D) third quarter E) Lunar eclipses can occur at any phase of the moon

A) full moon

If there is a full moon visible from Paris one evening, twelve hours later in Australia there will be a _________ visible. Multiple choice question. A) full moon B) new moon C) first quarter moon D) crescent moon

A) full moon

The parallax shift of a nearby star would be ____ that of a more distant star. Multiple choice question. A) greater than B) less than C) the same as D) brighter than E) faster than

A) greater than

Ground-based observations can be made easily in the ____ part(s) of the spectrum. Multiple choice question. A) radio and visible B) ultraviolet and visible C) radio and ultraviolet D) infrared

A) radio and visible

After a full moon, about how long is it until the next new moon? Multiple choice question. A) a month B) 2 weeks C) a week D) 6 hours

B) 2 weeks

At solar noon on the winter solstice, the Sun is located _________. Multiple choice question. A) 23.5 degrees above the Celestial Equator B) 23.5 degrees below the Celestial Equator C) 23.5 degrees above the ecliptic D) 23.5 degrees below the ecliptic E) 23.5 degrees above the horizon

B) 23.5 degrees below the Celestial Equator

What is the difference between a reflecting and a refracting telescope? Multiple choice question. A reflecting telescope uses a lens to focus light; a refracting telescope uses a mirror. B) A reflecting telescope uses a mirror to focus light; a refracting telescope uses a lens. C) Both use a mirror to focus light, but a reflecting telescope uses mirrors elsewhere to bend light. D) There is no difference. "Refracting" is an outmoded way of saying "reflecting."

B) A reflecting telescope uses a mirror to focus light; a refracting telescope uses a lens.

All celestial objects rise in the east and set in the west because Multiple choice question. A) Earth is rotating from east to west. B) Earth is rotating from west to east. C) Earth is orbiting around the Sun from east to west. D) the celestial sphere is rotating from east to west

B) Earth is rotating from west to east.

Which of the following hypotheses for the origins of the Moon is generally accepted by astronomers? Multiple choice question. A)The Moon formed alongside Earth (the twin theory). B) The Moon is the result of a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object in the early days of the solar system (the collision theory). C)The Moon was originally a bulge on Earth that was flung off by the rapidly spinning Earth (fission theory). D)The Moon formed somewhere else and was later captured by Earth (capture theory).

B) The Moon is the result of a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object in the early days of the solar system (the collision theory).

How will high tides differ from their average values when the Moon is in its first- or third-quarter phase? Multiple choice question. A) They will be higher than average. B) They will be lower than average. C) They will not differ from average values significantly. D) There are no high tides when the Moon is full.

B) They will be lower than average.

How do we most accurately measure the distance to the Moon? Multiple choice question. A) We measure the lunar period and use Kepler's Third Law. B) We bounce a pulse of light off the lunar surface and measure how long the trip takes. C) We know how long it took Apollo astronauts to get there, and how fast the rocket traveled. D) We measure its angular size and compare it to its actual diameter, which gives us its distance. E) All of these choices provide equally accurate measurements.

B) We bounce a pulse of light off the lunar surface and measure how long the trip takes.

The accretion disk of a black hole is typically very hot. What kind of telescope would we use to observe it at its strongest wavelength? Multiple choice question. A) a ground-based X-ray telescope B) a space-based X-ray telescope C) a ground-based gamma-ray telescope D) a space-based radio telescope E) None of these choices are correct.

B) a space-based X-ray telescope

The lunar maria are primarily composed of ____. Multiple choice question. A) anorthosite B) basalt C) olivine D) silicon dioxide

B) basalt

At the North Pole, the summer solstice Sun ____________________. Multiple choice question. A) circles the pole along the horizon B) circles the pole 23.5 degrees above the horizon C) circles the pole 23.5 degrees below the horizon D) is directly overhead for the entire day E) rises north of east and sets north of west

B) circles the pole 23.5 degrees above the horizon

"Annual motion" refers to changes in the positions of stars in the sky as the result of _________. Multiple choice question. A) Earth's rotation on its axis B) earth's motion as it orbits the sun C) the rotation of the celestial sphere around Earth D) the motion of the Sun around Earth E) the Sun's orbit around the center of the galaxy

B) earth's motion as it orbits the sun

Radio telescopes allow us to observe objects that are too cold to emit strongly in the visible part of the spectrum. Astronomers still use images of these object for study. What kind of images are these? Multiple choice question. A) artist's renditions B) false-color images C) black-and-white images D) holographic images E) Astronomers do not use images to study radio objects.

B) false-color images

In the Northern Hemisphere, between what dates does the location of the Sun's rising and setting shift a little farther south each day? Multiple choice question. A) from March 20 until September 22 B) from June 21 until December 21 C) from September 22 until March 20 D) from December 21 until June 21

B) from June 21 until December 21

According to the nebular hypothesis, which of the following sequences of events are chronologically correct? Multiple choice question. A) Solar nebula, interstellar cloud, collisions between planetesimals, accretion, planets B) interstellar cloud, Solar nebula, accretion, collisions between planetesimals, planets C) interstellar cloud, accretion, Solar nebula, collisions between planetesimals, planets D) accretion, Solar nebula, interstellar cloud, collisions between planets, planetesimals

B) interstellar cloud, Solar nebula, accretion, collisions between planetesimals, planets

During which phase of the moon do you expect to observe a solar eclipse? Multiple choice question. A) full moon B) new moon C) first quarter D) third quarter E) Solar eclipses can occur at any phase of the moon.

B) new moon

The ability of a telescope to show two very close objects separately is called its ________. Multiple choice question. A) light-gathering power B) resolving power C) magnification D) focal length

B) resolving power

Kepler's Third, or harmonic, law states that the Multiple choice question. A) period of an orbit cubed equals the semi-major axis squared. B) semi-major axis of an orbit cubed equals the period squared. C) planets move fastest when they are closest to the Sun. D) semi-major axis of an orbit is inversely proportional to the period.

B) semi-major axis of an orbit cubed equals the period squared.

Over the course of a single night, stars move overhead due to _________. Multiple choice question. A) their motion around Earth B) the rotation of Earth on its axis C) the motion of the Sun around the galaxy D) the rotation of the celestial sphere E) the tilt of Earth's axis

B) the rotation of Earth on its axis

What causes the seasons? Multiple choice question.A) the changing distance between Earth and the Sun B) the tilt of Earth's spin axis relative to Earth's orbit C) Earth's spin axis is tilted from the poles of the celestial sphere D) the elliptical shape of Earth's equator

B) the tilt of Earth's spin axis relative to Earth's orbit

Relative to the stars, the Moon moves from _____ to ______. Multiple choice question. A) east; west B) west; east

B) west; east

In which season is Earth farthest from the Sun? Multiple choice question. A) when it is winter in North America B) when it is summer in North America C) when it is autumn in North America D) when it is spring in North America

B) when it is summer in North America

Are the Sun and the Moon ever above the horizon at the same time? Multiple choice question. A) yes, always B) yes, sometimes C) no, never D)the moon always rises as the sun sets

B) yes, sometimes

Comets with short orbital periods are located in what region? A) inner solar system B) Oort cloud C) kuiper belt D) none of the above

B) Oort cloud

What is the Celestial Equator? Multiple choice question. A) a band of constellations through which the planets and Sun appear to move B) the line that the Sun traces across the celestial sphere C) an imaginary line in the sky, directly above Earth's equator D) the cycle of lunar phases

C) an imaginary line in the sky, directly above Earth's equator

icy bodies about 10 km or less that can grow very long tails of gas and dust as they near the sun and are vaporized by its heat are called A) satellites B) comets C) meteoroids D) asteroids

B) comets

The paths of the planets in the sky are tilted with respect to the celestial equator by about Multiple choice question. A)5 degrees. B)23 degrees. C)45 degrees. D)90 degrees.

B)23 degrees.

Lunar eclipses do not occur every full Moon, because the path of the ____ is tilted relative to the _____. Multiple choice question. A)Earth; ecliptic B)Moon; ecliptic C)Sun; ecliptic D)Moon; equator

B)Moon; ecliptic

From Kepler's ____ law, we conclude that the planets do not move with constant speed. Multiple choice question. A)First B)Second C)Third D)Fourth

B)Second

Earth's axis is tilted by ____ degrees relative to the Celestial Equator. Multiple choice question. A) 32.5 B) 11 C) 23.5 D) 25 E) 66.5

C) 23.5

The Moon takes approximately ____ to go through a cycle of phases. Multiple choice question. A) 1 day B) 7 days C) 30 days D) 90 days

C) 30 days

The star Vega rises today at 6:40 A.M. Tomorrow it will rise at ____. Multiple choice question. A) 6:44 A.M. B) 6:40 A.M. C) 6:36 A.M. D) 6:32 A.M. E) 6:44 P.M.

C) 6:36 A.M.

Which of the following statements about eclipses is true? Multiple choice question. A)A total solar eclipse is visible from any location on the day-side of Earth. B)A partial solar eclipse happens every month, but not the total solar eclipse. C) A lunar eclipse is visible from any location on the night-side of Earth. D) All of these choices are correct.

C) A lunar eclipse is visible from any location on the night-side of Earth.

If you triple your distance from an object, what happens to its angular size? Multiple choice question. A) It decreases by one half. B) It stays the same. C) It reduces to one third of what it was. D) It increases by a factor of nine.

C) It reduces to one third of what it was.

_______ used the extensive records of planetary positions measured by ______ to discover that the orbits of the planets are ________. Multiple choice question. A) Tycho; Kepler; circular B) Tycho; Kepler; elliptical C) Kepler; Tycho; elliptical D) Kepler; Galileo; elliptical

C) Kepler; Tycho; elliptical

A spherical region that surrounds the Solar System and extends up to about 100,000 AU from the Sun is called the Multiple choice question. A)Asteroid belt. B)Kuiper belt. C)Oort cloud. D) Solar nebula.

C) Oort Cloud

A huge interstellar cloud collapsed into a rotating disk with a central bulge. What did this object become? Multiple choice question. A) The disk was the Solar nebula and the bulge became Jupiter. B) A large belt containing asteroids in a gap between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. C) The disk was the solar nebula and the bulge became the Sun. D) They formed the outer planets which eventually met up with the Sun.

C) The disk was the solar nebula and the bulge became the Sun.

From Kepler's ____ law, we conclude that Mars completes a full orbit much faster than Pluto. Multiple choice question. A)First B)Second C)Third D)Fourth

C)Third

The general heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus was appealing, and eventually became preferred, because Multiple choice question. A) it explained why we do not observe stellar parallax. B)it replaced Earth with the Sun as the center of the solar system. C)it was more aesthetically pleasing than the complicated Ptolemaic model. D) it made more accurate predictions than the Ptolemaic model.

C)it was more aesthetically pleasing than the complicated Ptolemaic model.

Which of the following is true during the equinoxes? Multiple choice question.A)The Sun is on the ecliptic.B) The Sun is on the Celestial Equator. C)The Sun rises due east and sets due west. D) All of these choices are correct.

D) All of these choices are correct

Which of the following objects passes through the zodiac? Multiple choice question. A) Sun B) Planets C) Earth and Moon D) All of these choices are correct. E) None of these choices is correct.

D) All of these choices are correct.

How much time is there between when a star rises and when it sets? Multiple choice question. A) less than twelve hours B) about twelve hours C) more than twelve hours D) It depends on the star.

D) It depends on the star.

If you see a bright "star" in the sky, how could you tell whether it is a star or a planet? Multiple choice question. A) Planets are too dim to be seen without a telescope. B) Planets are round; stars have five points. C) Planets always appear right next to the Moon. D) Look at it several days later—if it's a planet, it will move across the background stars.

D) Look at it several days later—if it's a planet, it will move across the background stars.

The planets (other than Earth) known to ancient Western cultures were ____. Multiple choice question. A) Mercury, Venus, and Mars B) Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn C) Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune D) Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn E) Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn

D) Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn

The star nearest the North Celestial Pole is ____. Multiple choice question. A) Vega B) Thuban C) Denebola D) Polaris E) Mizar

D) Polaris

One observation supporting the idea of a spherical Earth is that _________. Multiple choice question. A) the shape of Earth's shadow on the Moon during an eclipse is circular B) a traveler moving south will see stars they could not previously see C) a ship moving away from the observer will move such that the hull is not seen, then the sails D) all of these choices are correct

D) all of these choices are correct

Stars in a constellation _________. A) are close to one another in space B) all formed at about the same time C) neither rise nor set D) are in the same direction in the sky E) None of these choices is correct.

D) are in the same direction in the sky

Why do the constellations that are visible in the sky at night change with the seasons? Multiple choice question. A) because the celestial sphere revolves around Earth B) because Earth is a sphere C) because Earth rotates about an axis D) because Earth revolves around the Sun

D) because Earth revolves around the Sun

A constellation directly overhead at midnight in June will be _________ at midnight in December. Multiple choice question. A) directly overhead B) on the eastern horizon C) on the western horizon D) below the horizon E) None of these choices is correct.

D) below the horizon

The Northern Hemisphere is warmer in its summer months because _________. Multiple choice question. A) Earth is closer to the Sun during this time B) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time C) the Sun is more directly overhead during this time D) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time and the Sun is more directly overhead during this time E) Earth is closer to the Sun during this time and the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time

D) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time and the Sun is more directly overhead during this time

What is the celestial sphere? Multiple choice question. A) an observatory dome B) the Sun C) Earth D) the imaginary sphere of the sky, on which stars lie

D) the imaginary sphere of the sky, on which stars lie

A spherical region that surrounds the Solar System and extends up to about 100,000 AU from the Sun is called the A) Kuiper belt B) Asteroid belt C) solar nebula D) oort cloud

D) Oort cloud

the formation of the solar system from a huge cloud of dust and gases is called the A) protoplanet theory B) planetesimal theory C) nebular theory D) solar theory

D) nebular theory

During the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere, _________. Multiple choice question. A) Earth is closer to the Sun B) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time C) the Sun is more directly overhead during this time D) the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter weather E) All of these choices are correct.

E) All of these choices are correct.

On the autumnal equinox, the Sun sets _________. Multiple choice question. A) north of east B) south of east C) due east D) south of west E) due west

E) due west

Which of the following statement(s) describes the ecliptic? Multiple choice question. A) the path of the Moon on the celestial sphere B) the extension of Earth's equator on the celestial sphere C) the extension of Earth's path on the celestial sphere D) the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere E) the extension of Earth's equator on the celestial sphere and the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere are correct.

E) the extension of Earth's equator on the celestial sphere and the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere are correct.

The Sun is located at the center of Earth's elliptical orbit. True false question. True False

false

The concept of the epicycle was introduced in the heliocentric model to explain the retrograde motion of the planets. True false question. True False

false

Tycho Brahe relied on the use of telescopes to record his accurate positions for the planets. True false question. True False

false