Astro 1
According to Copernicus, the center of the retrograde motion for Mars must occur around: A. conjunction, when it passes on the other side of the Sun opposite to us. B. quadrature, when the planet is 90 degrees away from the Sun. C. opposition, when the planet lies opposite the Sun in the sky. D. when the Earth is closest to the planet E. both C and D
E
First measured the size of the earth. A. Aristotle. B. Pythagoras. C. Hipparchus. D. Ptolemy. E. Eratosthenes.
E
How long is the precession cycle? A. 1 day B. 29.5 days C. 365.24 days D. 18 years, 11.3 days E. 26,000 years
E
If a source of light is approaching us at 3,000 km/sec, then all its waves are: A. redshifted by 1%. B. not affected, as c is constant regardless of the direction of motion. C. redshifted out of the visible into the infrared. D. blueshifted out of the visible spectrum into the ultraviolet. E. blueshifted by 1%.
E
Typical stellar spectra appear as: A. a very redshifted rainbow due to the expansion of the universe. B. a series of bright, colored lines. C. an unbroken rainbow of colors. D. a rainbow with some bright lines on top of the continuum. E. a rainbow, but with some dark lines mixed in.
E
When the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky, its phase is: A. new. B. waxing or waning crescent. C. first or third quarter. D. waxing or waning gibbous. E. full.
E
Why are most large telescopes reflectors, not refractors? A. Large lenses deform under their own weight, but mirrors can be supported. B. Large mirrors need only one optical surface, achromats four surfaces to grind. C. Reflectors do not suffer from chromatic aberration like refractors do. D. Large, very clear lenses are harder to cast than more tolerant mirror blanks. E. All of the above are correct.
E
A solar eclipse can only happen during a: A. new Moon. B. solstice. C. first quarter Moon. D. full Moon. E. perihelion passage of the Sun
A
In Oct. 1610, Galileo's observations of the _______ phase of the planet ______ immediately proved the Ptolemaic system wrong in at least import one important way. Fill the second blank with one of the following. A. Venus B. Mars C. Jupiter D. Saturn E. Moon F. Sun
A
Kepler's first law worked, where Copernicus' original heliocentric model failed, because Kepler described the orbits as: A. elliptical, not circular. B. much larger than Copernicus had envisioned. C. around the Sun, not the Earth. D. being on equants instead of epicycles. E. complex, with epicycles to account for retrograde motions.
A
The Ptolemaic model of the universe: A. explained and predicted the motions of the planets with deferents and epicycles. B. is the basis of our modern cosmology. C. could not account for the stellar parallax observed by Hipparchus. D. describes the orbits of the planets as being ellipses, not circles. E. always kept Mars and Mercury between the Earth and Sun.
A
The constellations of the zodiac fall along: A. the ecliptic. B. the celestial equator. C. lines of longitude. D. lines of latitude.
A
The element first found in the Sun's spectrum, then on Earth 30 years later, is: A. helium. B. technetium. C. hydrogen. D. aluminum. E. solarium.
A
The energy required to move an electron in a hydrogen atom from energy level 1 to energy level 2 is: A. 10.2 eV. B. 12.75 eV. C. 12.1 eV. D. 13.6 eV. E. 13.1 eV.
A
Tycho Brahe's contribution to Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion was: A. his detailed and accurate observations of the planet's position. B. his observations of Jupiter's moons. C. a mathematical explanation of epicycles. D. a precise lunar calendar. E. the correct explanation of lunar phases.
A
What conditions are necessary for a total (as opposed to annular) solar eclipse? A. new Moon on ecliptic near perigee B. full Moon on ecliptic near aphelion C. new Moon on equator at perigee D. full Moon on equator at perigee E. new Moon on ecliptic near aphelion
A
While watching a star, you see it moves 15 degrees across the sky. How long have you been watching it? A. 1 hour B. 3 hours C. 15 minutes D. 15 seconds E. 1 minute
A
Compiled/recorded more than 1000 years of astronomical data and divided the circle into 360 degrees. A. Egyptians B. Samarians-Babylonians-Assyrians C. Greeks D. Romans
B
Escape velocity is the speed required to: A. orbit an object. B. overcome the gravitational pull of an object. C. overtake an object in orbit and pass it. D. keep from falling out of orbit around an object. E. maintain a constant distance from an object.
B
Galileo's observations of which of the following objects did NOT play a role in his refutation of the Ptolemaic universe and celestial-perfection philosophy of Aristotle? A. Venus B. Mars C. Jupiter D. Saturn E. Moon F. Sun
B
Refractor telescopes suffer from this separation of light into its component colors. A. limited diffraction B. spherical aberration C. chromatic aberration D. bad seeing E. refraction
C
In Oct. 1610, Galileo's observations of the _______ phase of the planet ______ immediately proved the Ptolemaic system wrong in at least import one important way. Fill the first blank with one of the following. A. crescent B. gibbous C. full
B
Seasons on Earth are primarily caused by: A. the distance from the Earth to the Sun. B. the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis. C. the tilt of the Earth's magnetic axis. D. the precession of the Earth's rotational axis. E. the dates of the solstices and equinoxes.
B
That Polaris will not always be the pole star is due to: A. the sidereal day being shorter than the solar day. B. precession shifting the celestial pole. C. the Moon following the ecliptic, instead of the equator. D. the Earth's revolution being slightly less than exactly 365.25 days. E. the Solar winds blowing the Earth farther away from the Sun.
B
The Orion Nebula, M-42, is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, so its spectrum is: A. a few dark lines in the continuum. B. a few bright lines against a dark background. C. a continuum, but with both bright and dark lines mixed in. D. a continuum, strongest in the color red. E. not in the visible portion of the spectrum.
B
The new Moon happens about once a month, and is often described as happening when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. Why isn't there an eclipse during every new Moon? A. The apparent size of the Moon is only occasionally large enough to block the Sun. B. The Moon is not actually directly between the Earth and the Sun during the new Moon because its orbit is tilted relative to the ecliptic plane. C. The Moon is not actually directly between the Earth and the Sun during the new Moon because its orbit is tilted relative to the celestial equator. D. The Moon can only block the Sun when it is furthest away from Earth, and most new Moons happen when the Moon is at another place on its orbit.
B
What are constellations? A. groups of galaxies gravitationally bound and close together in the sky B. groups of stars making an apparent pattern in the celestial sphere C. groups of stars gravitationally bound and appearing close together in the sky D. ancient story boards, useless to modern astronomers E. apparent groupings of stars and planets visible on a given evening
B
What is the light-gathering power of an 8-inch telescope compared to a 4-inch telescope? A. 2 times better B. 4 times better C. 8 times better D. 16 times better E. 32 times better
B
What is the primary purpose of an astronomical telescope? A. to access wavelengths that we cannot see visually B. to collect a lot of light and bring it to a focus C. to separate light into its component colors D. to measure the intensity of light very accurately E. to magnify and make distant objects appear closer
B
Which design has a convex primary mirror and flat secondary mirror, with the eyepiece located on the top side of the telescope tube? A. refractor B. Newtonian reflector C. Cassegrain reflector D. prime focus reflector E. interferometer
B
A lunar eclipse can only happen during a: A. new Moon. B. equinox. C. full Moon. D. perigee. E. aphelion.
C
A star with a large parallax: A. is at a great distance from Earth. B. is moving at a great speed with respect to Earth. C. is at a short distance from Earth. D. is moving at a slow speed with respect to Earth. E. is not moving with respect to Earth.
C
An incandescent light (glowing tungsten filament) produces: A. a continuum, with bright tungsten lines added. B. an emission spectrum, with bright lines due to ionized tungsten. C. a continuous spectrum, with the peak giving the temperature of the filament. D. an absorption spectrum, with dark lines due to the solid filament. E. a continuum, with dark lines of tungsten and argon as well.
C
Cataloged 850 stellar positions and brightnesses while inventing the modern brightnesses magnitude system: A. Aristotle. B. Pythagoras. C. Hipparchus. D. Ptolemy. E. Eratosthenes.
C
Compared to orbital velocity, escape velocity is about: A. the same. B. 70% less. C. 40% more. D. twice as large. E. four times greater.
C
In Bohr's model of the atom, electrons: A. can be halfway between orbits. B. are spread uniformly through a large, positive mass. C. only make transitions between orbitals of specific energies. D. move from orbit to orbit in many small steps. E. are not confined to specific orbits.
C
In the atom, which particles give the element its identity (atomic number)? A. neutrons B. electrons C. protons D. neutrinos E. positrons
C
Refractor telescopes suffer from this separation of light into its component colors. A. limited diffraction B. spherical aberration C. chromatic aberration D. bad seeing E. refraction
C
The angular size of an object depends on which two quantities? A. the object's actual size and its mass B. the object's distance from us and its brightness C. the object's actual size and its distance from us D. the objects brightness and its mass
C
The heliocentric model was actually first proposed by: A. Aristotle B. Archimedes C. Aristarchus D. Alexander the Great E. Hipparchus
C
The tendency of a wave to bend as it passes from one transparent medium to another is called: A. reflection. B. dispersion. C. refraction. D. diffraction. E. interference.
C
What information about an astronomical object can be determined by observing its spectrum? A. its temperature B. its radial motion C. all of the above D. its chemical composition
C
What phase is the Moon in when it rises around noon? A. full B. new C. first quarter D. third quarter E. None of the above because the Moon always rises around sunset.
C
Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the lowest energy? A. ultraviolet B. infrared C. radio D. X-ray E. visible
C
2 Which of the choices below correctly lists things in order from largest to smallest? A. Local Group, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe B. Universe, Milky Way, Local Group, Solar System C. Solar System, Local Group, Universe, Milky Way D. Universe, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System E. Milky Way, Universe, Solar System, Local Group
D
If the angular size of a spherical object is known, along with its distance from Earth, what third quantity can be determined? A. the object's brightness B. the object's mass C. the baseline D. the object's diameter
D
In Ptolemy's model of the solar system, what were epicycles used for? A. to produce the seasonal motion of the Sun B. to produce the monthly motion of the Moon C. to explain solar eclipse cycles D. to produce the retrograde motion of the planets E. to produce the daily motions of the stars
D
In both reflecting and refracting telescopes, the main role that an eyepiece plays is to: A. collect more light. B. turn the image right side up. C. correct the colors of the image. D. magnify the image.
D
Jupiter lies about 5 A.U. from the Sun, so at its distance: A. the Sun's gravity is just as strong as it is here at Earth. B. the Sun's gravity must be five times stronger to hold massive Jupiter in orbit. C. the Sun's gravity is five times weaker there than at one A.U. distance. D. the Sun's gravity is 25 times weaker than its pull on the Earth. E. the Sun's gravity is so weak that ultimately Jupiter will escape the solar system.
D
Kepler's second law implies what about planetary motion? A. A planet moves at a constant speed during its orbit of the Sun. B. A planet moves faster when it is farther from the Sun. C. A planet moves slower when it is closer to the Sun. D. A planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun. E. This law implies nothing about a planet's motion.
D
Ordered the translation of cuneiform astronomical tablets into Greek: A. Aristotle. B. Archimedes. C. Aristarchus. D. Alexander the Great. E. Hipparchus.
D
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array achieves exceptional resolution by using exceptionally: A. large radio antennas in a fixed array. B. large radio antennas in a mobile array. C. many radio antennas in a fixed array. D. many radio antennas in a mobile array. E. many portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
D
The Ptolemaic model probably persisted for all these reasons EXCEPT: A. it had the authority of Aristotle behind it. B. it was consistent with the doctrines of the Catholic Church. C. it used perfect circles, which appealed to geometry. D. it accounted well for Galileo's observations of the phase cycle of Venus. E. it explained why stellar parallax was not observed by the Greeks.
D
The greatest contribution of the Greeks to modern thought was: A. the idea that all the planets orbited the Sun. B. that their mythology was the basis for the naming of the constellations. C. that their observation of stellar parallax proved the Earth orbited the Sun. D. the development of scientific inquiry and model building. E. the invention of the telescope.
D
The most accurate Greek attempt to explain planetary motion was the model of: A. Aristotle. B. Pythagoras. C. Hipparchus. D. Ptolemy. E. Eratosthenes.
D
The places where the Sun crosses the equator are called the: A. annalemmas. B. prime meridians. C. zeniths. D. equinoxes. E. solstices.
D
What problem does adaptive optics correct? A. defects in the optics of the telescope, such as the original Hubble mirror B. the opacity of the Earth's atmosphere to some wavelengths of light C. the light pollution of urban areas D. turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere which creates twinkling E. chromatic aberration due to use of only a single lens objective
D
Which of the following greatly improves the angular resolution of radio maps? A. Schmidt corrector plates B. more sensitive spectrometers C. switching from photographic plates to CCD imaging D. use of interferometers E. chilling the infrared detectors
D
Which statement about the ecliptic is FALSE? A. The Sun appears to move about a degree per day eastward along it. B) It is tilted 23.5 degrees with respect to the equator. C) The year is marked by the Sun's return to the same place along it. D) The Moon can never leave it, but moves twelve times faster than the Sun. E) The major planets stay close to it, but not always on it.
D
Why is there a two day difference in the sidereal and synodic months? A. The Moon speeds up at perigee, and slows down at apogee. B. The sidereal day is four minutes shorter than the solar day, and it adds up. C. The Earth is closer to the Sun during the sidereal month. D. The Earth is also revolving around the Sun, so the Moon must "catch up." E. The Moslem lunar year is only 354 days long, on average.
D
