Astronomy Final Exam
A gas particle will escape a planet's atmosphere if it moves faster than the ...
"escape speed"
How many asteroids (that we know of) are on a potential collision course with Earth?
0 - 5
What is the linear diameter (in meters) of an object that has an angular diameter of 22 arcseconds and a distance of 1,400 m?
0.149
How long will it take the Sun to move through the sky and return back to the same location relative to the stars?
1 day
What is the force of gravity (in Newtons) acting between the Earth and a 125-kg person standing on the surface of the Earth?
1,226.68
The gas in the solar nebula began at a temperature of about ....
2000 K
What is the orbital period (in years) of a planet with a semimajor axis of 35 AU?
207.06
What is the azimuth of due west?
270 degrees
If it takes a planet 0.8 years to orbit the Sun, how long (in years) will it take the planet to go all the way around our sky once?
4
A star located halfway up the sky due south would have an altitude of ....
45 degrees
What is the angular diameter (in arcseconds) of an object that has a linear diameter of 75 cm and a distance of 2 km?
77.35
The Spirit and Opportunity rover missions continued for several years despite being designed to operate for only ...
90 days
The discovery of _________ prompted astronomers to reconsider whether Pluto should really be called a planet.
Eris
Copernicus was the first person to suggest that the Sun is at the center of our solar system.
False
Virtually no one acknowledged Galileo's work during his lifetime.
False
The first proof that the Earth orbits the Sun was provided by...
Galileo's observation of the phases of Venus
The idea that planets do not move at constant speeds in their orbits can be attributed to...
Kepler
What was the relationship between Tycho and Kepler?
Kepler worked for Tycho
The statement: "A planet's orbital period squared is equal to its semimajor axis cubed." is also known as ...
Kepler's Third Law
The appearance of Earth's moon is nearly identical to ...
Mercury
Which cities would be covered with water if the Greenland Ice Sheet melted completely?
Miami and Amsterdam
Which of the following has the hottest surface temperatures?
Venus
If the full moon is setting, what time is it?
sun rise
If the new moon is setting, what time is it?
sun set
According to Newton's Law of Gravity, if two objects were to move twice as far apart, the force of gravity between them would be...
four times smaller
The presence of ___________ on the surface of Mars provides additional evidence for a wet Martian past.
gas
What factor most helps the Earth maintain a relatively constant temperature?
greenhouse gases
Compared to the Earth, Mars is about ...
half the size
Over the course of the year, the Sun's declination ...
increases and decreases
Mercury gets incredibly hot and incredibly cold because ...
it does not have an atmosphere.
Observing Mars is difficult because...
it is so small on our night sky
The moon Titan is special because....
its surface is wet
In the southern hemisphere, the Sun will reach its highest point in the sky on ...
our winter solstice
Where did the oxygen in our atmosphere come from?
photosynthesis of living organisms
The surface of the moon is covered with a fine powder of pulverized rock called...
regolith
Aristarchus was able to prove that ...
the Sun is larger than the Earth
Latitude measures up/down from...
the equator
In many ancient cultures, the "red planet" was named after ...
the god of war
Why does liquid water boil away when exposed to the Martian atmosphere?
the low air pressure lowers the boiling point
Why doesn't Mars have active volcanoes today?
the planet lost its internal heat to cold space
On the equator, the Sun will reach its highest point in the sky on ...
the summer solstice
The longest day of the year in Michigan is ...
the summer solstice
If the moon is rising at midnight, what phase is it?
third quarter
Jupiter weighs roughly ....
twice as much as all the other planets combined
The surface of the moon contains geologic evidence for ___________ on the moon in the past.
volcanoes
Which phase comes between full and third quarter?
waning gibbous
Which phase comes between new and first quarter?
waxing crescent
One of the main objections to the heliocentric model was that ...
we do not feel the Earth moving
If it takes a planet 2.8 years to orbit the Sun, how long (in years) will it take the planet to go all the way around our sky once?
1.56
What is the distance (in meters) of an object that has an angular diameter of 100 arcseconds and a linear diameter of 50 meters?
103132.5
What is the linear diameter (in meters) of an object that has an angular diameter of 110 arcseconds and a distance of 25,000 m?
13.33
What is the force of gravity (in Newtons) acting between the Earth and a 5-kg bowling ball that is resting on the surface of the Earth?
49.07
What is the orbital period (in years) of a planet with a semimajor axis of 65 AU?
524.05
If it takes a planet 1.2 years to orbit the Sun, how long (in years) will it take the planet to go all the way around our sky once?
6
Which of the following was not listed as an unexpected benefit of astronomy research? a. X-ray scanners for airport security b. Medical and scientific imaging c. Theme park ride engineering d. New methods for treating cancer
New methods for treating cancer
A complete physical theory to explain the motion of the planets was developed by ...
Newton
The largest mountain in the solar system is ...
Olympus Mons
Where did Earth's oceans come from?
Rain from water vapor in the early atmosphere
On the winter solstice, the Sun will rise ...
South of East
What initiated the runaway greenhouse effect on Venus?
The lack of water vapor on Venus
The zero point of longitude is ....
The prime meridian
Why do some astronomers object to the new definition of a planet that was adopted in 2006?
There was never a vote on whether to adopt the new definition or not. By this definition, Earth, Jupiter, and other planets should not be considered planets.
Describe how the stars in a constellation are connected to one another. a. They are connected by faint lines in the night sky b. They are completely unrelated to one another c. They all formed together as a group d. They are loosely bound together by gravitational forces
They are completely unrelated to one another
True or False: Our living bodies ultimately come from non-living material found on Earth.
True
True or False: Professional astronomers, in general, know very few constellations in the night sky.
True
Virtually every planetary scientist agrees that liquid water did flow at one time on ancient Mars.
True
Virtually no one acknowledged Kepler's work during his lifetime.
True
What reasons are given for studying astronomy? [all that apply] a. The study of astronomy lets us address the most profound questions humans have ever asked b. Technical innovations created by astronomers have benefited humanity c. It can help address global poverty and disease d. Our human curiosity demands that we better understand the universe
a. The study of astronomy lets us address the most profound questions humans have ever asked b. Technical innovations created by astronomers have benefited humanity d. Our human curiosity demands that we better understand the universe
Newton is credited with which of the following? [all that apply] a. discovering principles of gravitational attraction b. single-handedly developing calculus c. uncovering important properties of light d. improving the telescope
a. discovering principles of gravitational attraction b. single-handedly developing calculus c. uncovering important properties of light d. improving the telescope
Which of the following tools were necessary to measure the size of the Earth? [all that apply] a. feet b. sticks c. eyes d. a zest for experiment
a. feet b. sticks c. eyes d. a zest for experiment
The angle measured up from the horizon is called the ...
altitude
The two coordinates of the "horizon coordinate system" are... [2 answer]
azimuth, altitude
On Mercury and the Moon, we notice that larger craters __________ smaller craters.
came before
The astronomer Schiaparelli was convinced that he could observe __________ on Mars.
canals
The atmosphere of Venus is composed almost entirely of ...
carbon dioxide
What molecules dominated the Earth's primordial atmosphere?
carbon dioxide and water vapor
A planet in orbit about the Sun will move the fastest when it is ...
closest to the Sun
A respected scientist and mathematician, Carl Gauss, recommended that we build a large right triangle on the surface of the Earth in order to ...
communicate with Martians
The best time to observe the moon to see its crater is during a ....
crescent moon
The angle that measures north and south from the celestial equator is called the ...
declination
The change in seasons is caused by the change in the Sun's ...
declination
The north celestial pole has a(n) ________ of 90 degrees.
declination
The most clear evidence for the presence of water on ancient Mars is...
dry riverbeds
Which of the following provides observational evidence that Mars has weather and an atmosphere?
dust devils, eroded craters, wind streaks
The bright circles around impact craters are called ...
ejecta
What is the linear diameter (in meters) of an object that has an angular diameter of 25 arcseconds and a distance of 65 km?
7.878
Why were constellations essential for ancient peoples? a. Constellations helped them find a suitable mate b. Constellations helped them navigate c. Constellations helped them tell the time of day d. Constellations provided a calendar to support agriculture
Constellations provided a calendar to support agriculture
Ptolemy's model of the solar system was by far the simplest and most elegant model.
False
Galileo was able to observe polar caps on Mars with his first telescope observations.
False
Mars comes closer to Earth than any other planet.
False
The size of the Earth could be measured accurately in ancient times by using ...
shadows on Earth
How did Copernicus figure out which planets were closer to the Sun and which were further?
sidereal and synodic periods
Your noontime shadow will be the longest on which day of the year?
winter solstice
How can astronomers see stars right next to the sun?
with space telescopes
The point directly overhead is called the ...
zenith
