Week 1-5 Quizzes

Which of the following is the most likely distance to a star in the Big Dipper? - 10 AU - 10 meters - 10 light years - 10 billion light years

10 light years

Which of these numbers is the largest and by how many times: 1012 and 108? - 10^8 by 10,000 times - 10^12 by 4 times - 10^8 by 4 times - 10^12 by 10,000 times

10^12 by 10,000 times

Betelgeuse rises at 4:20pm tonight. What time will it rise one month from now? -4:24pm - 2:20pm - 6:20pm - 4:16pm - 4:20pm

2:20pm

Star A has RA = 8hr and will transit tonight at 11pm. What time will a star with RA = 5hr transit tonight? - 11pm - 8pm - Midnight - 2am - 10pm

8pm

Which of the following is true about eclipses? - A partial solar eclipse occurs when only some of the Sun is blocked by the Moon. - A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth is in between the Moon and the Sun. - Solar eclipses are much more common to see than lunar eclipses. - All of the statements are true.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when only some of the Sun is blocked by the Moon.

Which of the following statements is NOT true? - According to Kepler, planets orbit the Sun in ellipses, but the orbits are pretty close to being circles. - The Sun is the center of the solar system in the heliocentric model. - The heliocentric model is the correct model of our solar system. - According to Kepler's 2nd law, the Earth will be moving fastest when it is farthest from the Sun.

According to Kepler's 2nd law, the Earth will be moving fastest when it is farthest from the Sun.

Which of these definitions is correct? - Local noon = When the Sun is at its highest point (crosses your meridian) - All answers are correct. - Circumpolar stars = Stars that never dip below the horizon - Zenith = point directly above where ever you are. - Altitude = angle of an object above the horizon.

All answers are correct.

Which of these is a reason to use a telescope to study the sky compared with just the naked eye? - Telescopes help you see objects that are fainter. - Telescopes help you see objects that are farther away. - Telescopes help make objects look bigger. - All of the answers are correct.

All of the answers are correct.

Which of these statements is true? - All of the answers are correct. - An object with high eccentricity will have a large change in speed during its orbit. - Planets have low eccentricity orbits. - An object with low eccentricity will only have a small change in distance from the Sun during its orbit.

All of the answers are correct.

Which of these definitions of moon phases is correct? - Full - the entire moon appears lit - All of the definitions are true. - Crescent - less than half of the moon appears lit. - Gibbous - more than half of the moon appears lit. - Quarter - half the moon appears lit.

All of the definitions are true.

Which of the following statements is true? - There are more hours of daylight on April 2nd than March 2nd in Los Angeles. - A planet with a large tilt would have extreme seasons. - All of the statements are true. - If the Earth had no water or atmosphere, the hottest day of the year would be the summer solstice. - A location that has long days in the summer will have short days in the winter.

All of the statements are true.

A star is transiting when: - it is at its highest point in the sky it will reach. - All the answers are correct. - it is at the largest altitude that it will have. - it is either north or south.

All the answers are correct.

Which of the following is true about the astronomical unit (AU)? - It is smaller than a light year. - It is the best unit for measuring distances in our solar system. - It is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun. - All the answers are correct.

All the answers are correct.

Which of these is true about visible light? - Particles of visible light are called photons. - Visible light has a wavelength roughly between 400 - 700 nm. - Visible light can act both like a particle and a wave. - All the answers are correct.

All the answers are correct.

Topocentric coordinates (altitude and azimuth) for a star: - Will change between now and two hours from now (if the star is not Polaris). - All the statements are true. - Will be different for observers at two different places on Earth. - Give the location of that star in the sky.

All the statements are true.

A star is setting (at the horizon to the west). What is the altitude and azimuth for the star? - Altitude = 0, Azimuth = 270 - Altitude = 0, Azimuth = 90 - Altitude = 90, Azimuth = 270 - Altitude = 90, Azimuth = 90 - Altitude = 270, Azimuth = 0

Altitude = 0, Azimuth = 270

Which of these is true about eclipses? - The corona of the Sun is easily visible everyday - but it turns red during a solar eclipse. - An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is very close to the Earth. - Solar eclipses only occur during a full moon. - At any one location on Earth, lunar eclipses will be seen more often than solar eclipses. - All of the answers are correct.

At any one location on Earth, lunar eclipses will be seen more often than solar eclipses.

What color light has the most energy? Which has the shortest wavelength? - Blue = most energy and shortest wavelength - Blue = most energy but Red = shortest wavelength - Red = most energy and shortest wavelength - Red = most energy but Blue = shortest wavelength

Blue = most energy and shortest wavelength

Interferometry: - Helps to improve the angular resolution of radio telescopes. - Both answers are correct. - Combines the signals from multiple telescopes.

Both answers are correct.

Which of the following statements is NOT true? - Polaris is higher in the sky as you go further north. - There is a point in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere that does not move, but there is no south star located there currently. - At the North Pole, you can only see half the stars that are in the sky. - Circumpolar stars are most commonly seen at the equator.

Circumpolar stars are most commonly seen at the equator.

The major mistake that Copernicus's model of the solar system had was: - Copernicus thought epicycles explained retrograde motion. - Copernicus did not realize that Jupiter and Saturn were planets. - Copernicus thought that planets orbit the Sun in circles. - Copernicus thought the Earth was in the middle.

Copernicus thought that planets orbit the Sun in circles.

Mars is undergoing retrograde motion. In the diagram, what letter shows where Mars must be? - D - C - B - A

D

Which of these is NOT an observation or discovery made by Galileo? - Discovering that Jupiter has moons. - Discovering Uranus. - Discovering the rings of Saturn. - Seeing mountains and craters on the Moon.

Discovering Uranus.

Which of the following is the smallest? - Solar System - Galaxy - Earth - Supercluster

Earth

In the geocentric model of the solar system, - Retrograde motion was explained by a faster planet passing a slower planet. - Venus should have all the same phases as the Moon. - All of the answers are correct. - Earth is in the middle.

Earth is in the middle.

Which of the following statements is true? - If you drop a bowling ball and a feather from the same height, if there is no air resistance the bowling ball will hit the ground first. - All of the answers are correct. - Escape velocity is the speed needed to escape the gravity of an object. - Inertia says that objects that are moving will naturally stop moving.

Escape velocity is the speed needed to escape the gravity of an object.

Our solar system is made up of the Sun and: - The 8 planets. - Everything that orbits the Sun. - All the stars in our galaxy. - Everything larger than our Moon.

Everything that orbits the Sun.

Match each astronomer to their contribution to astronomy: First to use a telescope to study the night sky: Used the law of gravity and the laws of motion to prove Kepler's Laws: Developed the heliocentric model but only published it after his death: Used epicycles to explain retrograde motion in the geocentric model:

First to use a telescope to study the night sky: Galileo Used the law of gravity and the laws of motion to prove Kepler's Laws: Newton Developed the heliocentric model but only published it after his death: Copernicus Used epicycles to explain retrograde motion in the geocentric model: Ptolemy

Which of these parts of our cosmic address is NOT correct? - Galaxy = Milky Way - Galaxy Cluster = Virgo Group - Planet = Earth - Galaxy Supercluster = Virgo/Local/Laniakea Supercluster

Galaxy Cluster = Virgo Group

Which of these types of electromagnetic radiation: Has the least energy: Is used in night vision goggles:

Has the least energy: Radio Waves Is used in night vision goggles: Infrared

Match each telescope property with its description. Use each answer only once. How many times larger an object looks: The size of the mirror or lens: How sharp or crisp your image is: How much of the sky you see through the telescope:

How many times larger an object looks: Magnification The size of the mirror or lens: Collecting Area How sharp or crisp your image is: Angular Resolution How much of the sky you see through the telescope: Field of view

Which of these is true about eclipses? - There will be a total solar eclipse visible in Los Angeles in 2024. - Lunar and solar eclipses would happen less often if the Moon did not orbit the Earth with an inclination/tilt. - All of the answers are correct. - If a solar eclipse is happening today, then a lunar eclipse likely occurred about two weeks ago or will occur two weeks from now.

If a solar eclipse is happening today, then a lunar eclipse likely occurred about two weeks ago or will occur two weeks from now.

Which of the following statements is true? - Local noon is defined as the time each day when the moon transits. - All of the statements are true. - If the Earth did not orbit the Sun, stars would rise at the same time each day. - Local noon occurs at the same time for an observer in LA and an observer in Palm Springs (100 miles east of Los Angeles).

If the Earth did not orbit the Sun, stars would rise at the same time each day.

Which of the following statements is true? - Local noon is defined each day when the moon transits. - Local noon occurs at the same time for an observer in LA and an observer in Palm Springs, 100 miles to the east. - All of the answers are true. - If the Earth didn't orbit the Sun, stars would rise at the same time each day.

If the Earth didn't orbit the Sun, stars would rise at the same time each day.

Which of the following statements is true? - If you go to the Moon, your mass will stay the same but your weight will change. - Newton was the first person to use a telescope to make significant discoveries in astronomy. - As you increase the force on an object, the acceleration will get smaller. - If two numbers are directly proportional, when one number gets bigger the other will get smaller.

If you go to the Moon, your mass will stay the same but your weight will change.

Imagine that a star that was 100 light years from Earth exploded. We would see the explosion: - In 100 million years - Instantly - In 100 days - In 100 years

In 100 years

A new asteroid is discovered that is 0.5 AU from the Sun. The asteroid will orbit the Sun: - We need to know the weight of the asteroid. - You Answered In exactly one year. - In more than a year. - In less than a year.

In less than a year.

As an object gets closer to the Earth, its angular size: - Decreases - Stays the same - Increases

Increases

Newton discovered that white light: - Is actually made up of particles. - Is made up of all the colors of the rainbow put together - Has a wavelength of exactly 500 nm. - All of the answers are correct.

Is made up of all the colors of the rainbow put together

Precession: - Is the wobbling of the Earth's rotation axis. - Is the reason why the zodiac signs match up perfectly with the location of the Sun. - All of the statements are true. - Means that Polaris will ALWAYS be the North Star.

Is the wobbling of the Earth's rotation axis.

Earth is closest to the Sun on January 5th and farthest on July 4th. What day of the year will the Earth be moving the FASTEST around the Sun? - January 5th - Same speed each day - July 4th

January 5th

A star is located to the northwest. In a few minutes its altitude will most likely be: - Stay the same - Impossible to tell - Higher - Lower

Lower

As the length of a telescope increases, what happens to the properties of the telescope? - Collecting area increases. - Angular resolution increases. - Magnification increases. - All of the answers are correct.

Magnification increases.

Which of these statements is true? - According to the cosmological principle, the laws of physics and astronomy are probably different on Earth compared toa planet in a different galaxy. - The closest natural object in space to the Earth is the Sun. - Many of the elements in our body were made inside of stars. - Occam's Razor says that we should always choose the most complicated explanation for a hypothesis.

Many of the elements in our body were made inside of stars.

Match each description with the type of electromagnetic radiation being described. You may use a type of radiation more than once. Most energy: Shortest wavelength: Humans are glowing in this type of radiation: Produced a lot by the Sun - we need to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves from it: Used to see inside our bodies: Visible light and this type of radiation are the only kinds that easily get through our atmosphere:

Most energy: Gamma Rays Shortest wavelength: Gamma Rays Humans are glowing in this type of radiation: Infrared Produced a lot by the Sun - we need to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves from it: Ultraviolet Used to see inside our bodies: X-rays Visible light and this type of radiation are the only kinds that easily get through our atmosphere: Radio

How did Aristotle show that the Earth was round? - Observing the shadow of the Earth during a lunar eclipse. - Trick question - the Earth is actually flat. - Measuring the altitude of the Sun at transit - Determining how long a total solar eclipse lasts on Earth

Observing the shadow of the Earth during a lunar eclipse.

Which of the following statements is true? - If the Earth's rotation axis had no tilt, we would have very extreme seasons (ie. large differences between summer and winter). - All of the answers are correct. - The Sun is highest in the sky in winter time. - On the vernal equinox there are 12 hours of daylight everywhere on Earth. - The North Pole is always cold because it is at a high elevation (~10,000 ft above sea level).

On the vernal equinox there are 12 hours of daylight everywhere on Earth.

Which of the following statements is true? - On the vernal equinox there are 12 hours of daylight everywhere on Earth. - All of the statements are true. - The Sun is highest in the sky in winter time. - If the Earth's rotation axis had no tilt, we would have very extreme seasons (ie. large differences between summer and winter). - The North Pole is always cold because it is at a high elevation (~10,000 ft above sea level).

On the vernal equinox there are 12 hours of daylight everywhere on Earth.

Imagine that you are in Los Angeles and see a total solar eclipse. At the same tie, what would a friend in San Francisco (350 miles away) see? - Lunar Eclipse - Total Solar Eclipse - No eclipse - Partial Solar Eclipse

Partial Solar Eclipse

Which of these is true about telescope detectors? - All of the answers are correct. - CCDs are very inefficient - only about 10% of the light that hits a CCD is recorded. - The first type of detectors were CCDs, but they aren't used any more. - Photographic plates were better than your eye in part because you could take a long exposure with a photographic plate.

Photographic plates were better than your eye in part because you could take a long exposure with a photographic plate.

Particles of light are called: - Periods - Leptons - Photons - Lightinos

Photons

Why does the Moon look red during a total lunar eclipse? - Light from the red corona of the Sun gets to the Moon. - Space aliens living on the Moon all turn on red flashlights. - Red light bends in Earth's atmosphere enough to reach the Moon. - Only red light can tunnel through the Earth to get to the Moon.

Red light bends in Earth's atmosphere enough to reach the Moon.

Which of these stars will be in the sky the longest time in Los Angeles (Lat = 34N)? - Star with declination = -15 deg - Star with declination = 34 deg - Star with declination = 54 deg - All 3 stars will be in the sky the same amount of time.

Star with declination = 54 deg

Match each ancient site with its astronomical connection. Stonehenge: Great Pyramids: Chichen Itza: Newgrange Passage Tombs:

Stonehenge: Sun rises over Heel Stone on Summer Solstice Great Pyramids: Air shafts point to stars in Orion's Belt Chichen Itza: Shadow of a snake is visible on the equinoxes Newgrange Passage Tombs: Rising Sun lights up central chamber on Winter Solstice

Why is it warmer during the summer than during the winter? - The Sun puts out more light during the summer. - The center of the earth is closer to the Sun in the summer. - Sunlight hits us more directly in the summer. - The earth rotates faster during the summer.

Sunlight hits us more directly in the summer.

Which of the following is the largest? - Supercluster - Solar System - Galaxy - Earth

Supercluster

Which of the following statements is NOT true about angular size? - When the moon is close to the horizon, its angular size is the same as when the moon is high in the sky. - Answer The Sun has a much larger angular size than the Moon. - Angular size is the angle in teh sky taken up by an object,. - Angular size is important for astronomy because it is not always easy to measure the physical size of an object.

The Sun has a much larger angular size than the Moon.

Which of these is true about the summer solstice? - All of the statements are true. - It will be the shortest day (from sunrise to sunset) of the year. - The Sun will rise exactly east and set exactly west. - The Sun will be highest in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Sun will be highest in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere.

The alpha star of a constellation is normally: - All answers are correct. - The youngest star. - The brightest star. - The closest star to Earth.

The brightest star.

Which of the following is NOT true? - The celestial equator is directly above Earth's North Pole. - There are more circumpolar stars at the North Pole than the equator. - At the North Pole, stars keep the same altitude as they move around the sky. - The north celestial pole does not move in the sky each day.

The celestial equator is directly above Earth's North Pole.

Which of these describes a full moon? - The full moon phase comes right after the waxing gibbous phase. - All answers are correct. - Full moons are when we see half of the lit side of the moon. - Full moons are in the sky during the daytime.

The full moon phase comes right after the waxing gibbous phase.

What color light (blue or red) has: The highest frequency: Blue The most energy: Blue The longest wavelength: Red

The highest frequency: Blue The most energy: Blue The longest wavelength: Red

Which of these statements is true? - The new moon is in the sky during the daytime. - If the Moon is visible in the sky at sunset, then it must be a crescent moon. - All of the answers are correct. - The Moon rises 4 minutes earlier each day. - If the moon is waxing, then less and less of the moon is visible each day.

The new moon is in the sky during the daytime.

Which of these is true about the Moon? - Haklf of the moon never receives sunlight - it is always dark. - The same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. - All of the statements are true. - The moon does not rotate.

The same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

Which of these is true about the Moon? - The Moon takes approximately 1 day to orbit the Earth. - Half of the Moon never receives any sunlight - it is always dark there. - All of the answers are true. - The same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

The same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

Which of these is true about the scientific method? - The scientific method for astronomy has to mostly use observations instead of experiments in a lab to test hypotheses. - The scientific method ends after astronomers test a hypothesis two times. - All of the answers are correct. - When astronomers call something a theory, they mean it is an idea that hasn't really been tested. - An idea that is impossible to test can be considered a scientific theory.

The scientific method for astronomy has to mostly use observations instead of experiments in a lab to test hypotheses.

Which of the following is true about constellations? - There are large parts of the sky that are not part of any constellation. - There are a total of 88 constellations. - All the stars in a constellation are the same distance from Earth. - Anyone can make up a constellation, but asterisms are official shapes approved by astronomers at meetings.

There are a total of 88 constellations.

Which of these types of electromagnetic radiation travels the fastest? - They all travel at the same speed. - Visible Light - Radio waves - X-rays

They all travel at the same speed.

Why do astronauts float in space? - Space has an anti-gravity that fights against Earth's gravity. - They are free falling at the same speed as their spacecraft. - There is no gravity in space because they are so far away. - All of the answers are correct.

They are free falling at the same speed as their spacecraft.

Why do astronauts float in space? - There is no gravity in space because they are so far away. - They are free falling at the same speed as their spacecraft. - All of the answers are correct. - Space has an anti-gravity that fights against Earth's gravity.

They are free falling at the same speed as their spacecraft.

Which of these is NOT a reason to build a telescope in space? - To avoid light pollution - To build a big telescope for a cheaper price than one on Earth. - To see types of electromagnetic radiation blocked by Earth's atmosphere. - To avoid the turbulence in Earth's atmosphere and get better angular resolution.

To build a big telescope for a cheaper price than one on Earth.

For each description tell whether it describes a reflecting telescope or a refracting telescope or both: Uses a lens to focus light: Uses a curved mirror to focus light: One design has the eyepiece sticking out the side of the telescope: Most large research telescopes are this type: Developed by Galileo: Can only be held up on the sides, not from behind:

Uses a lens to focus light: Refracting Uses a curved mirror to focus light: Reflecting One design has the eyepiece sticking out the side of the telescope: Reflecting Most large research telescopes are this type: Reflecting Developed by Galileo: Refracting Can only be held up on the sides, not from behind: Refracting

What phase of the Moon is shown in the picture here? - Waxing crescent - Waxing gibbous - Waning Crescent - Waning gibbous

Waning Crescent

Which of the following best describes the reason for the phases of the Moon? - All of the answers are true. - We see different amounts of the lit side of the moon as it orbits the Earth. - The Moon orbits the Sun - we see different phases depending on the distance to the Sun. - Different amounts of Earth's shadow fall on the moon as it orbits the Earth.

We see different amounts of the lit side of the moon as it orbits the Earth.