Astronomy Midterm 1

The Sun is 23 1/2 degrees north of the equator on A. June 21st B. March 21st C. December 21st D. September 21st

A. June 21st

Where on Earth are you if the stars appear to move in horizontal circles? A. North Pole B. Equator C. Tropic of Cancer D. Tropic of Capricorn E. The stars appear to move in horizontal circles from every place on Earth. F. none of the above

A. North Pole

The Earth moves fastest in its orbit when it is A. closest to the Sun B. farthest from the Sun C. the speed is constant

A. closest to the Sun

In the Copernican system, the apparent size of Venus is largest when its phase is A. crescent B. gibbous C. full D. The apparent size of Venus never changes.

A. crescent

On the spring equinox, the Sun is A. directly over the equator B. directly over the north pole C. directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2 degrees N of the equator) D. directly over the Tropic of Capricorn (23 1/2 degrees S of the equator)

A. directly over the equator

If the mass of the Earth were to double (with the size unchanged), the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Sun would A. double B. decrease by two times C. increase by four times D. decrease by four times E. not change

A. double

Pluto's orbit about the Sun has what shape? A. ellipse B. hexagon C. hyperbola D. straight line E. circle

A. ellipse

What is the phase of the moon during a solar eclipse? A. new B. waxing crescent C. waning crescent D. waxing gibbous E. waning gibbous F. first quarter (waxing half-moon) G. third quarter (waning half-moon) H. full

A. new

In the scientific method, the primary use of observations (data) is to A. test predictions made by theories B. classify objects or natural phenomena C. generate catalogs D. prove theories

A. test predictions made by theories

The Sun is 23 1/2 degrees south of the equator on A. the northern winter solstice B. both solstices C. neither solstice D. the northern summer solstice

A. the northern winter solstice

How many days during each year is the Sun directly over the equator? A. 1 B. 2 C. 182 or 183 D. 365

B. 2

What causes the Moon's phases? A. The Earth's shadow covers part of the Moon. B. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the part of the Moon that is lit is a changing fraction of the part that faces the Earth. C. Depending on where the Moon is in its orbit, light from the Sun lights up a larger or smaller part of the Moon's surface. D. The Earth interferes with the Sun's rays in a way that depends on where the Moon is in its orbit. E. None of the above

B. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the part of the Moon that is lit is a changing fraction of the part that faces the Earth.

During retrograde motion, planets actually stop and move backwards in space. A. True B. False

B. False

The Copernican revolution began with the invention of the telescope. A. True B. False

B. False

The reason for the seasons is the varying distance between the sun and earth. A. True B. False

B. False

Describe the daily motion of Polaris: A. It rises due west and sets due east once in every 24-hour period. B. It stays nearly fixed in the northern sky above our North Pole. C. It rises due east and sets due west once in every 24-hour period. D. It moves eastward by slightly less than 1 degree per day.

B. It stays nearly fixed in the northern sky above our North Pole.

There is an eclipse on a day when the Moon rises at 6pm. Is it an eclipse of the Sun or of the Moon? A. Sun B. Moon

B. Moon

From the following names, whose model of the universe used epicycles to explain retrograde motion? A. Eratosthenes B. Ptolemy C. Newton D. Galileo E. Copernicus

B. Ptolemy

Which one of the following people did not believe that the Earth revolves around the Sun? A. Kepler B. Ptolemy C. Aristarchus

B. Ptolemy

During the course of a year the Sun A. appears to move from southeast to northwest through the Milky Way B. appears to move from west to east through the constellations of the zodiac C. appears to move from northeast to southwest along the Milky Way D. is always in front of the same constellation E. rises in the west and sets in the east F. appears to move from Polaris to the Southern Cross and back again

B. appears to move from west to east through the constellations of the zodiac

Two stars in the same constellation A. are in roughly the same direction in the sky and at roughly the same distance from us. B. are in roughly the same direction in the sky but are not generally at the same distance from us. C. can be in opposite directions in the sky but are always at roughly the same distance from us. D. can be in opposite directions in the sky and at very different distances from us.

B. are in roughly the same direction in the sky but are not generally at the same distance from us.

The Sun is directly over the equator on the A. summer solstice B. at neither solstice C. at both solstices D. winter solstice

B. at neither solstice

If we see a first quarter Moon today, what will people on the other side of the Earth see later today? A. new Moon B. first quarter Moon C. full Moon D. third quarter Moon E. Any of the above, depending on the time of night.

B. first quarter Moon

If the Moon's orbit were exactly in the plane of the Earth's orbit about the Sun, one would expect an eclipse of the Moon to occur about once every A. 2 weeks B. month C. week D. never E. year

B. month

The Moon revolves around the Earth about once every A. year B. month C. day D. 26,000 years E. week

B. month

What time is it when the new Moon is highest in the sky? A. sunrise B. noon C. sunset D. midnight

B. noon

A solar eclipse occurs when: A. the Moon casts a shadow on the Sun B. the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth C. the Earth casts a shadow on the Sun D. the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon

B. the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth

The shortest night of the year in Milwaukee is on A. the spring equinox B. the summer solstice C. the winter solstice D. the autumn equinox

B. the summer solstice

If the axis of the Earth were upright with no tilt compared to the plane of its orbit, would the average temperature in Milwaukee in January be colder, warmer or the same as it actually is during the month of January? A. colder B. warmer C. the same

B. warmer

A confused polar bear wakes up 15° S of the North Pole on December 21 at noon. She looks up and sees Polaris: A. on the horizon B. 75° from zenith C. 15° from zenith D. directly overhead

C. 15° from zenith

The ice planet Hoth has the same radius as the earth but has only half the earth's mass. If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, how many pounds would you weigh on Hoth? A. 12.5 B. 25 C. 50 D. 100 E. 200 F. 400 G. 800

C. 50

Where on Earth are you if the stars appear to move in vertical circles, rising and setting perpendicular to the horizon? A. The stars appear to move in vertical circles from every place on Earth. B. North Pole C. Equator D. The stars appear to move in vertical circles from nowhere on Earth. E. Tropic of Cancer F. Tropic of Capricorn

C. Equator

Which two fundamental misconceptions made Ptolemy's geocentric model very complicated and prevented it from adequately describing the movements of bodies in the solar system? I) The Sun is at the center of the universe. II) All heavenly bodies move in combinations of perfect circles. III) The Earth is at the center of the universe. IV) The stars never move. A. III only B. I and IV C. II and III D. II only

C. II and III

Which of the following objects can never be seen in an opposite direction in the sky from the sun? A. The moon B. Mars C. Mercury D. Jupiter

C. Mercury

Which of the following changes would cause the gravitational force on the Moon by the Earth to increase by the largest amount? A. Double the mass of the Moon B. Double the mass of the Earth C. Move the Moon two times closer to the Earth D. Due to Newton's third law, the Moon's force on Earth will always be the same size as Earth's force on the Moon, so none of the choices listed above could cause the force to increase.

C. Move the Moon two times closer to the Earth

What would the days and seasons be like if the Earth still rotated at the same speed, but the Earth's axis were tilted 80 degrees on its side instead of 23 degrees? (A day is the amount of time the Earth takes to make a full rotation.) A. Both days and seasons would be half a year long. B. The days would be the same length, but the seasons would be half a year long. C. The days and seasons would be the same length as ours, but the seasons would have more extreme temperature changes. D. There would be no seasons, but days would always be 24 hours long.

C. The days and seasons would be the same length as ours, but the seasons would have more extreme temperature changes.

The mass of the Earth is about 80 times the mass of the Moon. How does the strength of the gravitational force the Earth exerts on the Moon compare to the strength of the gravitational force the Moon exerts on the Earth? A. The force the Earth exerts on the Moon is about 80 times stronger than the force the Moon exerts on the Earth. B. The force the Earth exerts on the Moon is about 80 times weaker than the force the Moon exerts on the Earth. C. The forces the Earth exerts on the Moon and the Moon exerts on the Earth are equal in strength. D. It is not possible to answer this question without also knowing the sizes of the Earth and the Moon.

C. The forces the Earth exerts on the Moon and the Moon exerts on the Earth are equal in strength.

A comet and an asteroid are orbiting around the Sun. The size of the comet's orbit is twice the size of the asteroid's orbit. How does the period of the comet's orbit compare to the period of the asteroid's orbit? A. The period of the comet's orbit is less than two times longer than the period of the asteroid's orbit. B. The period of the comet's orbit is two times longer than the period of the asteroid's orbit. C. The period of the comet's orbit is more than two times longer than the period of the asteroid's orbit.

C. The period of the comet's orbit is more than two times longer than the period of the asteroid's orbit.

If Earth's orbit around the Sun were twice as large as it is now, the orbit would take A. less than twice as long to traverse B. two times longer to traverse C. more than two times longer to traverse

C. more than two times longer to traverse

At full moon, as seen from the Earth, the Moon lies A. close to the Sun in the sky B. 90 degrees west of the sun C. opposite the Sun D. 90 degrees east of the Sun

C. opposite the Sun

The plane of the ecliptic is A. the plane of the Earth's equator B. the plane of the Moon's orbit about the Earth C. the plane of the Earth's orbit about the Sun D. the plane determined by the line from the Earth to the Sun and from the Earth's north pole to the center of the Earth at the time of a solar eclipse. E. the plane determined by the line from the Earth to the Sun and from the Earth's north pole to the center of the Earth at the time of a lunar eclipse.

C. the plane of the Earth's orbit about the Sun

The average temperature is hotter in summer than winter. This is ultimately caused by A. the greenhouse effect that warms the Earth by trapping infrared radiation. B. the fact that the Sun emits more energy per second in the summer than it does in the winter C. the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Earth's orbit. D. the fact that the Earth is closer to the Sun in summer.

C. the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Earth's orbit.

On a night when the Moon rises at 3 am, what is its phase? A. waning gibbous B. waxing gibbous C. waning crescent D. waxing crescent E. third quarter F. full

C. waning crescent

On a night when the Moon rises at 9 pm, what is its phase? A. waning crescent B. full C. waning gibbous D. waxing crescent E. waxing gibbous F. third quarter

C. waning gibbous

A planet in the solar system whose period is 1 year is what distance from the Sun? A. 12 AU B. 8 AU C. 2 AU D. 1 AU

D. 1 AU

Ecuador is Spanish for equator. It's September 21 and you're in the capital, Quito. At noon, how many degrees above the horizon is the Sun? A. 0 B. 30 C. 60 D. 90

D. 90

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between a planet's mass and its orbital period? A. Planets that have large masses have longer orbital periods than planets with small masses. B. Planets with the same mass will also have the same orbital period. C. Planets that have small masses have longer orbital periods than planets with large masses. D. A planet's mass does not affect its orbital period.

D. A planet's mass does not affect its orbital period.

Which of the following is not a hypothesis that can be tested by the scientific method? A. Gravity causes massive objects to attract other massive objects. B. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet traps heat. C. People who are born when the Sun is in the constellation of Capricorn are better at math than people born when the Sun is in the constellation of Leo. D. Cats are cuter than fish.

D. Cats are cuter than fish.

An observer on Earth sees a total lunar eclipse. If someone else is standing on the side of the Moon facing the Earth at the same time, they would see the A. Earth's night side, not eclipsing the Sun B. Earth's day side, not eclipsing the Sun C. Earth partially eclipsing the Sun D. Earth completely eclipsing the Sun

D. Earth completely eclipsing the Sun

From the following names, who first discovered the moons of Jupiter? A. Ptolemy B. Newton C. Eratosthenes D. Galileo E. Copernicus

D. Galileo

If the distance between the Earth and Sun were to double (with the masses and sizes of both unchanged), the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Sun would A. double B. decrease by two times C. increase by four times D. decrease by four times E. not change

D. decrease by four times

Suppose tonight is new moon. You are on the side of the Moon facing the Earth. What phase Earth do you see? A. You can't see the Earth because it is eclipsed by the Sun. B. new Earth C. first quarter Earth D. full Earth E. third quarter Earth

D. full Earth

Which of the following objects has an apparent motion with retrograde loops? A. the Sun B. the Moon C. Polaris D. none of these E. all of these

D. none of these

Each zodiac constellation contains part of the A. celestial equator B. horizon C. future of humankind D. plane of the Earth's orbit

D. plane of the Earth's orbit

In ancient times, the motions of the planets were more difficult to explain than the motions of the Sun and Moon because the A. planets move much faster than the Sun and the Moon B. Sun and Moon always go in retrograde motion C. planets are much fainter than the Sun and the Moon D. planets sometimes reverse their motion (retrograde motion)

D. planets sometimes reverse their motion (retrograde motion)

The apparent retrograde motion of Jupiter is caused by the: A. real motion of Jupiter along its epicycle B. real motion of our Moon C. real motion of Jupiter's moons D. real revolution of the Earth about the Sun

D. real revolution of the Earth about the Sun

The reason that visitors to the South Pole do not fall off the planet is that A. gravity points down and so do the visitors B. atmospheric pressure is larger at the South Pole C. centrifugal force caused by the planet's rotation keeps them there D. the force of gravity comes from the center of the Earth

D. the force of gravity comes from the center of the Earth

When you are on the top floor of a building, your weight is ____________ when you are on the ground floor. A. much greater than B. very slightly greater than C. equal to D. very slightly less than E. much less than

D. very slightly less than

The best test of a scientific theory is how A. well it explains all known observations. B. well it agrees with other known theories. C. simply it explains all known observations. D. well it predicts new observations. E. easily it is transcribed into mathematical notation.

D. well it predicts new observations.

From the following names, who first found that gravity could account for the motion of the planets? A. Copernicus B. Ptolemy C. Eratosthenes D. Galileo E. Newton

E. Newton

If the radius of the Earth were to double, with no change in its mass, a person's weight would A. be unchanged B. double C. be cut in half D. increase by a factor of 4 E. decrease by a factor of 4

E. decrease by a factor of 4

You are in Milwaukee at 3 pm, and you want to look at the full Moon. The best idea would be to A. look toward the southern horizon. B. look toward the western horizon. C. look toward the eastern horizon. D. look overhead. E. give up and try again later.

E. give up and try again later.

If the size of the Earth were to double (with the mass unchanged), the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Sun would A. double B. decrease by two times C. increase by four times D. decrease by four times E. not change

E. not change

A lunar eclipse occurs when: A. the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth B. the Moon casts a shadow on the Sun C. the Earth casts a shadow on the Sun D. the Sun blocks the Moon E. the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon

E. the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon

The Earth revolves around the Sun once each A. minute B. hour C. day D. month E. year F. century G. 26,000 years

E. year

Where on Earth are you if Polaris is on your horizon? A. Duluth B. north pole C. south pole D. Tropic of Cancer E. Tropic of Capricorn F. equator G. none of the above

F. equator

On a night when the Moon rises at midnight, what is its phase? A. waning gibbous B. waxing gibbous C. waning crescent D. waxing crescent E. first quarter F. third quarter

F. third quarter

In what month is the Sun closest to the Earth? A. June B. July C. August D. September E. October F. November G. December H. January

H. January

What is the phase of the moon on the night of a lunar eclipse? A. new B. waxing crescent C. waning crescent D. waxing gibbous E. waning gibbous F. first quarter (waxing half-moon) G. third quarter (waning half-moon) H. full

H. full