Pre-CH 3-1, 3-2, W3 : The Science of Astronomy

In Ptolemy's Earth-centered model, when would Venus appear directly behind the Sun as viewed from Earth? A. when it is in farthest from Earth B. when it is in a crescent phase C. never D. when it is in closest to Earth

C. never

An original observation of Galileo's that helped to overturn the ancient Earth-centered model was A. stellar parallax B. that planets move in elliptical orbits C. the phases of Venus D. retrograde motion of planets in our sky

C. the phases of Venus

Which of the following belonged to the Early Copernican Revolution (about 1543-1600) time period? - Suggestion that Earth might orbit the sun - Ability to predict planetary position within 1 minute of arc - Planetary observations accurate within 1 minute of arc - Mathematical description of how gravity determines planetary orbits - Recognition that Sun-centered model should lead to stellar parallax - Copernicus proposes Sun-centered model - Observations of stellar parallax - Observation of phases of Venus - Ability to predict planetary positions within a few degrees of arc - Sun-centered model with elliptical orbits

- Copernicus proposes Sun-centered model - Planetary observations accurate within 1 minute of arc

Which of the following belonged to the Later Copernican Revolution (about 1609-1630) time period? - Suggestion that Earth might orbit the sun - Ability to predict planetary position within 1 minute of arc - Planetary observations accurate within 1 minute of arc - Mathematical description of how gravity determines planetary orbits - Recognition that Sun-centered model should lead to stellar parallax - Copernicus proposes Sun-centered model - Observations of stellar parallax - Observation of phases of Venus - Ability to predict planetary positions within a few degrees of arc - Sun-centered model with elliptical orbits

- Ability to predict planetary position within 1 minute of arc - Observation of phases of Venus - Sun-centered model with elliptical orbits

Which of the following belonged to the Ancient Greece Through Ptolemy (about 150 A.D.) time period? - Suggestion that Earth might orbit the sun - Ability to predict planetary position within 1 minute of arc - Planetary observations accurate within 1 minute of arc - Mathematical description of how gravity determines planetary orbits - Recognition that Sun-centered model should lead to stellar parallax - Copernicus proposes Sun-centered model - Observations of stellar parallax - Observation of phases of Venus - Ability to predict planetary positions within a few degrees of arc - Sun-centered model with elliptical orbits

- Suggestion that Earth might orbit the sun - Recognition that Sun-centered model should lead to stellar parallax - Ability to predict planetary positions within a few degrees of arc

You are an astronomer on planet Tirth, which orbits a distant star. It has recently been accepted that Tirth is spherical in shape, though no one knows its size. One day, you learn that on the equinox your sun is directly overhead in the city of Tyene, located 400 kilometers due north of you. On the equinox, you go outside in Alectown and observe that the altitude of your sun is 82 degrees. What is the circumference of Tirth?

1.8 x 10^4 km

Which of the following can you observe about Venus with the naked eye? Select all that apply. A. Venus sometimes shines brightly in the western sky shortly after sunset B. Venus sometimes shines brightly in the eastern sky shortly before dawn C. When Venus is brightest, it is visible all night long D. Venus is visible at midnight when it is in its full phase

A, B

Which of the following were key pieces of evidence that led to widespread acceptance of the Sun-centered model "extraordinary claim" during the period from about 1609 to 1630? Select all that apply. A. The fact that the Copernican model explained apparent retrograde motion of the planets. B. Galileo's telescopic observations. C. Observations of stellar parallax. D. The fact that Kepler's laws allowed virtually perfect prediction of planetary positions. E. The discovery of planets around other stars.

B, D

The Metonic cycle is the A. period between successive Easters. B. 19-year period over which the lunar phases occur on about the same dates. C. 12-month period of a lunar calendar. D. 18-year, 11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. E. 29 1/2-day period of the lunar cycle.

B. 19-year period over which the lunar phases occur on about the same dates.

Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July. How does the area swept out by Earth's orbit around the Sun during the 31 days of January compare to the area swept out during the 31 days of July? A. The area swept out in July is larger. B. Both areas are the same. C. The area swept out in January is larger.

B. Both areas are the same.

In Carl Sagan's statement "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," what does he mean by "extraordinary evidence"? A. Evidence that was very difficult to obtain. B. Evidence that is extremely strong. C. Evidence that is of a highly unusual type compared to standard scientific evidence. D. Evidence that no one could possibly dispute, even if they believe the Earth is flat.

B. Evidence that is extremely strong.

All of the following statements are true. Which one can be explained by Kepler's second law? A. All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane. B. Mars moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun. C. Venus orbits the Sun at a faster orbital speed than Earth. D. The Sun is not in the precise center of Saturn's orbit. E. Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July

B. Mars moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.

All of the following statements are true. Which one can be explained by Kepler's third law? A. All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane. B. Venus orbits the Sun at a faster orbital speed than Earth. C. Mars moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun. D. Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July. E. The Sun is not in the precise center of Saturn's orbit.

B. Venus orbits the Sun at a faster orbital speed than Earth.

What was the Ptolemaic model? A. the Earth-centered model of the cosmos in which Earth was surrounded by seven perfect spheres, one each for the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn B. an Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy C. a Sun-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy D. the first scientific model to successfully predict solar and lunar eclipses

B. an Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy

The great contribution of Tycho Brahe was to _________. A. discover four moons orbiting Jupiter, thereby lending strong support to the idea that the Earth is not the center of the universe B. observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy so that Kepler could later use the data to discover the laws of planetary motion C. offer the first detailed model of a Sun-centered solar system, thereby beginning the process of overturning the Earth-centered model of the Greeks D. discover that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits with varying speed

B. observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy so that Kepler could later use the data to discover the laws of planetary motion

The shadow cast by a simple stick or obelisk allowed ancient people to A. observe retrograde motion of the planets B. tell the time of day C. record accurate measurements of the motions of the stars D. show that the solar system is really Sun-centered

B. tell the time of day

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because _________. A. they were the first people to realize that Earth is a planet orbiting the Sun B. they were the first people known to try to explain nature with models based on reason and mathematics, without resort to the supernatural C. they were the only ancient culture that kept written records of their astronomical observations D. the books of every other culture were lost in the destruction of the library of Alexandria

B. they were the first people known to try to explain nature with models based on reason and mathematics, without resort to the supernatural

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because _________. A. they were the only ancient culture that kept written records of their astronomical observations B. they were the first people to realize that Earth is a planet orbiting the Sun C. they were the first people known to try to explain nature with models based on reason and mathematics, without resort to the supernatural D. the books of every other culture were lost in the destruction of the library of Alexandria

C. they were the first people known to try to explain nature with models based on reason and mathematics, without resort to the supernatural

Which of the following statements about an ellipse is NOT true? A. The semimajor axis of an ellipse is half the length of the longest line that you can draw across an ellipse. B. An ellipse with a large eccentricity looks much more elongated (stretched out) than an ellipse with a small eccentricity. C. A circle is considered to be a special type of ellipse. D. The focus of an ellipse is always located precisely at the center of the ellipse.

D. The focus of an ellipse is always located precisely at the center of the ellipse.

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _________. A. a paradigm B. a Ptolemaic model C. a hypothesis D. a theory

D. a theory

How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.? A. by sending fleets of ships around Earth B. by measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse C. by observing the duration of a solar eclipse D. by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the summer solstice E. We don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed.

D. by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the summer solstice

The great contribution of Tycho Brahe was to _________. A. discover four moons orbiting Jupiter, thereby lending strong support to the idea that Earth is not the center of the universe B. offer the first detailed model of a Sun-centered solar system, thereby beginning the process of overturning the Earth-centered model of the Greeks C. discover that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits with varying speed D. observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy so that Kepler could later use the data to discover the laws of planetary motion

D. observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy so that Kepler could later use the data to discover the laws of planetary motion

The Metonic cycle is A. the ancient Greek name for the cycle of lunar phases that repeats every 29 1/2 days. B. the 18-year, 11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. C. used to predict the future orientation of the Earth's axis in space. D. used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars.

D. used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars.

Kepler's third law states that a planet's orbital period, p, is related to its average (semimajor axis) orbital distance, a, according to the mathematical relationship p2=a3. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system that is explained by Kepler's third law? Check all that apply. A. Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side. B. Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun. C. All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane. D. The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit. E. Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun. F. Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.

E, F

Which of the following belonged to the Newton and Beyond (after about 1687) time period? - Suggestion that Earth might orbit the sun - Ability to predict planetary position within 1 minute of arc - Planetary observations accurate within 1 minute of arc - Mathematical description of how gravity determines planetary orbits - Recognition that Sun-centered model should lead to stellar parallax - Copernicus proposes Sun-centered model - Observations of stellar parallax - Observation of phases of Venus - Ability to predict planetary positions within a few degrees of arc - Sun-centered model with elliptical orbits

- Observations of stellar parallax - Mathematical description of how gravity determines planetary orbits

Which of the following statements about scientific models is true? A. A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena. B. A model tries to represent all aspects of nature. C. A model tries to represent only one aspect of nature. D. All current models are correct. E. All models that explain nature well are correct.

A. A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.

What do we mean by a geocentric model of the universe? A. A model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having the Earth located in the center of the universe. B. It is the name given to sphere-shaped models that show all the constellations as they appear in our sky on the celestial sphere. C. A model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having the Earth orbit the Sun. D. A model of the Milky Way Galaxy that has our solar system located at its center.

A. A model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having the Earth located in the center of the universe.

Kepler's second law states that as a planet orbits the Sun, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system that is explained by Kepler's second law? Check all that apply. A. Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun. B. Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun. C. Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets. D. Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side. E. All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane. F. The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit.

A. Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.

Which of the following was not observed by Galileo? View Available Hint(s) A. Stellar parallax B. Mountains and valleys on the Moon C. Phases of Venus D. Four moons orbiting Jupiter

A. Stellar parallax

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _________. A. a theory B. a Ptolemaic model C. a paradigm D. a hypothesis

A. a theory

Why wasn't the Sun-centered model of Copernicus immediately adopted after he proposed it? A. it was not noticeably more accurate than the old Ptolemaic model B. observations made with telescopes ruled it out C. Aristarchus had already formulated a Sun-centered model some 1500 years earlier. D. it featured the Earth at the center, which had already been ruled out by observations

A. it was not noticeably more accurate than the old Ptolemaic model

Scientific models are used to _________. A. make specific predictions that can be tested through observations or experiments B. present the scale of the solar system to the general public C. prove that past paradigms no longer hold true D. make miniature representations of the universe

A. make specific predictions that can be tested through observations or experiments

Which of the following was NOT observed by Galileo? A. stellar parallax B. phases of Venus C. mountains and valleys on the Moon D. four moons orbiting Jupiter

A. stellar parallax

The names of the 7 days of the week are based on _________. A. the seven naked-eye objects that appear to move among the constellations B. the names of prophets in the Bible C. the names of the seven planets closest to the Sun D. the seven most prominent constellations in the summer sky

A. the seven naked-eye objects that appear to move among the constellations

Which of the following best explains the success of the central African rainfall-prediction technique of observing the waxing crescent Moon? A. When the Moon is in Capricorn, there is always more tempestuous weather, while when in Pisces, it is just plain rainy. B. The Moon's orientation varies seasonally, and so does the weather. C. When the Moon is aligned in a U-shape, it can hold more water, so there is more rain. When it is tilted, it can hold less, so the weather is drier. D. The Moon causes the tides and affects the weather. E. Clouds cover part of the Moon's surface, so the smaller the crescent, the more likely it is to rain.

B. The Moon's orientation varies seasonally, and so does the weather.

You discover an asteroid that orbits the Sun with the same 1-year orbital period as Earth. Which of the following statements must be true? A. The asteroid will eventually collide with Earth. B. The asteroid's average (semimajor axis) distance from the Sun is 1AU. C. The asteroid shares the same orbit around the Sun as Earth. D. The asteroid has the same perihelion distance as Earth. E. The asteroid has a more eccentric orbit than Earth.

B. The asteroid's average (semimajor axis) distance from the Sun is 1AU.

Which of the following is not one of, nor a direct consequence of, Kepler's Laws? A. The orbit of each planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. B. The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers. C. A planet or comet in a noncircular orbit travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. D. More distant planets orbit the Sun at slower speeds. E. As a planet moves around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

B. The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers.

What do the structures of Stonehenge, the Templo Mayor, and the Sun Dagger all have in common? A. They all can be used as lunar calendars. B. They were all used by ancient peoples for astronomical observations. C. They were all built on the orders of ancient Mediterranean kings. D. They were all places used for religious sacrifice. E. all of the above

B. They were all used by ancient peoples for astronomical observations.

Which of the following are the three key hallmarks of science? Select exactly three statements. A. Scientific models are miniature representations of reality. B. Scientific models must be structured so that they can be proved true by a single good observation or experiment. C. Science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature that explain the observations as simply as possible. D. Models must make testable predictions that will force us to revise or abandon the model if they do not agree with observations. E. Modern science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on natural causes. F. Science progresses through careful application of what is called the scientific method.

C, D, E

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system that is explained by Kepler's first law? Check all that apply. A. Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets. B. Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun. C. Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side. D. Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun. E. The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit. F. All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.

C, E

Jupiter orbits the Sun at an average distance of 5.203 AU and takes 11.86years to complete each orbit. Based on these facts, which statement is true? A. Jupiter's orbital period is 5.203^2 times Earth's orbital period. B. Jupiter's orbital period is 5.203^3 times Earth's orbital period. C. 11.86^2 = 5.203^3 D. 5.203^2 = 11.86^3

C. 11.86^2 = 5.203^3

From Kepler's third law, an asteroid with an orbital period of 8 years lies at an average distance from the Sun equal to A. 8 astronomical units. B. 16 astronomical units. C. 4 astronomical units. D. 2 astronomical units. E. It depends on the asteroid's mass.

C. 4 astronomical units.

What was the Ptolemaic model? A. A Sun-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy B. The Earth-centered model of the cosmos in which the Earth was surrounded by seven perfect spheres, one each for the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn C. An Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy D. The first scientific model to successfully predict solar and lunar eclipses

C. An Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy

Which of the following best describes how modern astronomers view astrology? A. Astrology was a great idea until it was disprove by the work of Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, and Galileo. B. Astrology is a synonym for astronomy. C. Astrology played an important part in the development of astronomy in ancient times, but it is not a science by modern standards. D. Astrology is new age mumbo-jumbo that was a waste of time when it was invented thousands of years ago and remains a waste of time today.

C. Astrology played an important part in the development of astronomy in ancient times, but it is not a science by modern standards.

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations? A. It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. B. It helped them understand our cosmic origins. C. It helped them keep track of time and seasons, and it was used by some cultures for navigation. D. It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge.

C. It helped them keep track of time and seasons, and it was used by some cultures for navigation.

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations? A. It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. B. It helped them understand our cosmic origins. C. It helped them keep track of time and seasons, and it was used by some cultures for navigation. D. It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge.

C. It helped them keep track of time and seasons, and it was used by some cultures for navigation.

In which of the four time periods did the Sun-centered model gain widespread acceptance, meaning that nearly everyone who looked at the evidence concluded that it was correct? A. Ancient Greece (through Ptolemy, ~150 A.D.) B. Early Copernican Revolution (about 1543 - 1600) C. Later Copernican Revolution (about 1609-1630) D. Newton and beyond (after about 1687)

C. Later Copernican Revolution (about 1609-1630)

Which of the following claims can be tested by scientific means? A. Blue is the best color for walls. B. God exists. C. People born when the Sun is in the constellation of Leo are more financially successful than other people. D. The final thoughts of Abraham Lincoln were about the fate of his country.

C. People born when the Sun is in the constellation of Leo are more financially successful than other people.

Which of the following statements about an ellipse is not true? A. An ellipse with a large eccentricity looks much more elongated (stretched out) than an ellipse with a small eccentricity. B. The semimajor axis of an ellipse is half the length of the longest line that you can draw across an ellipse. C. The focus of an ellipse is always located precisely at the center of the ellipse. D. A circle is considered to be a special type of ellipse.

C. The focus of an ellipse is always located precisely at the center of the ellipse.

What do we mean by a geocentric model of the universe? A. a model of the Milky Way Galaxy that has our solar system located at its center B. a model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having Earth orbit the Sun C. a model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having Earth located in the center of the universe D. the name given to sphere-shaped models that show all the constellations as they appear in our sky on the celestial sphere

C. a model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having Earth located in the center of the universe

Scientific thinking is _________. A. an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt B. a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well C. based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments D. completely different from any other type of thinking

C. based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments

Scientific thinking is _________. A. an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt B. completely different from any other type of thinking C. based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments D. a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well

C. based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to _________. A. discover the laws of planetary motion B. discover the law of gravity C. create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center D. prove that the Earth is not the center of the universe

C. create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to _________. A.discover the laws of planetary motion B. discover the law of gravity C. create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center D. prove that Earth is not the center of the universe

C. create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he _________. A. was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles B. was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center C. developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries D. developed the first scientific model of the universe

C. developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries