Astronomy 2 Final Exam Review ————C.
What are constellations? A. Apparent groupings of stars and planets visible on a given evening B. Groups of stars gravitationally bound and appearing close together in the sky C. Groups of stars making an apparent pattern in the celestial sphere D. Ancient story boards, useless to modern astronomers E. Groups of galaxies gravitationally bound and close together in the sky
C. Groups of stars making an apparent pattern in the celestial sphere
How does the axial tilt of Mars compare with our own? A. Like Saturn, it's about 27 degrees. B. It is about half our own, 12 degrees. C. It is almost identical to the Earth. D. Like Jupiter, Mars always keeps its equator pointing at the Sun. E. Like Uranus, it is 98 degrees and flopped over on its side.
C. It is almost identical to the Earth.
What is interesting about Jupiter's rotation period? A. It is the same as its orbital period. B. It is the same as the Sun's. C. It is the fastest in the solar system. D. It is the same as Earth's. E. It is the slowest in the solar system.
C. It is the fastest in the solar system.
Our best data about the surface topography of Venus has come from: A. the three flybys of Mariner 10. B. orbiter photos from Pioneer Venus Orbiter. C. Magellan radar data and radar observations of the planet from Earth. D. spacecraft flybys like Mariner 2 and visual observations of the planet. E. radio and visual observations.
C. Magellan radar data and radar observations of the planet from Earth.
What is true of the Moon's orbital and rotational periods? A. The rotational period varies with the Moon's phase. B. The orbital period is greatest at full moon. C. They are equal. D. The rotational period is longer. E.The orbital period is longer.
C. They are equal.
A moon that goes inside the Roche Limit will A. collide with a major satellite. B. become a planet. C. be torn apart by the planet's tidal forces. D. escape its planet's gravity.
C. be torn apart by the planet's tidal forces.
A lunar eclipse can only happen during a: A. perigee. B. new moon. C. full moon. D. equinox. E. aphelion.
C. full moon.
When the sun rises it is located in the constellation Gemini. When the sun sets later that same day it will be A. in the constellation Taurus. B. in the constellation Cancer. C. in the constellation Gemini. D. in the constellation Leo. E. in the constellation Aries.
C. in the constellation Gemini.
The atmospheric pressure on Venus: A. is about the same as on Mercury. B. shows an extreme change with the seasons. C. is much higher than on Earth. D. causes variations in surface temperature. E. is much lower than on Earth.
C. is much higher than on Earth.
What is the resolution of a telescope? A. its ability to see very faint objects B. its ability to make distant objects appear much closer to us C. its ability to distinguish two adjacent objects close together in the sky D. its ability to focus more than just visible light for imaging E. its ability to separate light into its component colors for analysis
C. its ability to distinguish two adjacent objects close together in the sky
Which characteristic listed below describes the jovian planets? A. solid surfaces B. close to the Sun C. low density D. small masses E. slow rotational period
C. low density
Which major atmospheric component is chiefly a product of life processes? A. carbon dioxide B. water C. oxygen D. nitrogen E. hydrogen sulfide
C. oxygen
Which of these was NOT seen telescopically by Galileo? A. sunspots B. Four moons around Jupiter C. stellar parallax D. Craters and mare on the Moon D. Venus' phase cycle
C. stellar parallax
Which of these is not a product of plate tectonics and hot spots? A. Hawaii B. Yellowstone and Old Faithful C. the Grand Canyon's eroded depths D. the Mid Atlantic Rift E. the Andes
C. the Grand Canyon's eroded depths
The Roche limit is the point at which A. the mass of an object classifies it as a moon. B. a moon orbiting a planet experiences synchronous rotation. C. the external tidal forces on an object become greater than the internal forces that hold it together. D. the internal forces that hold an object together weaken so that the object falls apart. E. the external tidal forces on an object are strong enough to be felt by the object.
C. the external tidal forces on an object become greater than the internal forces that hold it together.
The most famous prehistoric astronomical observatory is: A. Stonehenge. B. Mount Rushmore. C. Carcacol. D. Big Horn stone circle. E. the Sphinx.
A. Stonehenge.
What is true about solar system densities? A. The denser planets lie closer to the Sun. B. The asteroids all have about the same density. C. Planetary density increases with increasing distance from the Sun. D. Saturn has the same density as water. E. In differentiated bodies, the denser materials lie near their surfaces.
A. The denser planets lie closer to the Sun.
Which of the jovian moons is the largest and also the largest moon in the solar system, even bigger than Mercury? A. Triton B. Ganymede C.Callisto D. Umbriel E. Titan
B. Ganymede
Which of the Galilean moons is the densest and most geologically active? A. Titan B. Io C. Europa D. Callisto E. Ganymede
B. Io
The density of the Sun is most similar to which object? A. Halley's Comet's nucleus B. Jupiter C. Mercury D. the Earth E. the Moon
B. Jupiter
Which planet by itself contains the majority of mass of all the planets? A. Saturn B. Jupiter C. Uranus D. Venus E. the earth
B. Jupiter
Which of the following are the Jovian planets? A. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto B. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune only C. only Jupiter D. only Jupiter and Saturn E. everything past Mars and the asteroid belt
B. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune only
Which planet had the Great Dark Spot in 1989, but had lost it by 1995? A. Saturn B. Neptune C. Jupiter D. Mars E. Uranus
B. Neptune
How do the densities of the jovian and terrestrial planets compare? A. The closer a planet lies to the Sun, the less its density. B. Made from the same solar nebula, they are all similar. C. No real pattern here; densities vary greatly and are very individual to each world. D. All terrestrials are more dense than any of the jovians. E. More massive jovians all have high densities, compared to the tiny terrestrials.
D. All terrestrials are more dense than any of the jovians.
Which statement about the first quarter moon is FALSE? A. It is the half moon of the evening sky. B. It rises about noon. C. It is highest in the sky at sunset. D. From the Earth, it appears 25% sunlit. E. It occurs about a week after new moon.
D. From the Earth, it appears 25% sunlit.
The most abundant component of the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune is A. Ammonia. B. Helium. C. Nitrogen. D. Hydrogen. E. Methane.
D. Hydrogen.
What is interesting about Saturn's large moon Titan? A. It is one of Saturn's two large moons. B. It orbits Saturn in a retrograde sense. C. It has a 2:1 resonance with Mimas and a 4:1 resonance with the Cassini gap. D. It has an atmosphere. E. It has its own moon.
D. It has an atmosphere.
What is the result of the Greenhouse effect on the surface environment of Venus? A. It causes the surface temperature of Venus to become hotter than the Sun. B. Its effect is about the same as on Earth. C.It has little or no effect. D. It has raised the surface temperature by hundreds of degrees Celsius E. It has reduced the surface temperature by about 30 degrees Celsius.
D. It has raised the surface temperature by hundreds of degrees Celsius
Kepler's second law implies what about planetary motion? A. A planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun. B. A planet moves faster when it is farther from the Sun. C. A planet moves at a constant speed during its orbit of the Sun. D. This law implies nothing about a planet's motion. E. A planet moves slower when it is closer to the Sun.
A. A planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun.
The largest asteroid, and probably the only one to be a spherical "world" is A. Ceres. B. Ida. C. Vesta. D. Eros. E. Gaspra.
A. Ceres.
How does the density of Jupiter compare to the terrestrial planets? A. Its density is less than any terrestrial. B. It is denser than all the terrestrial planets combined. C. It is denser than the Moon, but less dense than any of the others. D. Its density is slightly less than Mercury, but more than Mars. E. Its density is about the same as Mars.
A. Its density is less than any terrestrial.
Essentially, the Great Red Spot is A. a large cyclonic storm (hurricane). B. traveling north and south across Jupiter's face. C. always located within 10 degrees of Jupiter's north pole. D. composed primarily of iron oxide. E. Neptune's largest atmospheric feature.
A. a large cyclonic storm (hurricane).
Planetary orbits A. are almost circular, with low eccentricities. B. are spaced more closely together as they get further from the Sun. C. are evenly spaced throughout the solar system. D. are highly inclined to the ecliptic. E. have the Sun at their exact center.
A. are almost circular, with low eccentricities.
The tail of a comet always points A. away from the Sun and becomes longest and brightest at perihelion. B. away from the Sun and disappears at perihelion. C. toward Earth and never varies. D. toward the Sun and disappears at perihelion. E. in the direction of the comet's motion.
A. away from the Sun and becomes longest and brightest at perihelion.
Most asteroids are found: A. between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. B. in the orbit of Jupiter, but 60 degrees ahead or behind it. C. orbiting the jovian planets in captured, retrograde orbits. D. beyond the orbit of Neptune. E. between the Earth and Sun.
A. between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
When water vapor condenses out at the cool tops of convection cells, what happens? A. clouds form B. it rains C. it snows D. a hurricane forms E. a tropical depression forms.
A. clouds form
The primary purpose of a telescope is to A. collect a large amount of light and bring it into focus. B. make distant objects appear nearby. C.measure the brightness of stars very accurately. D. separate light into its component wavelengths. E. magnify distant objects.
A. collect a large amount of light and bring it into focus.
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. being on equants instead of epicycles. D. complex, with epicycles to account for retrograde motions. E. around the Sun, not the earth.
A. elliptical, not circular.
Tycho Brahe's contribution to Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion were A. his detailed and accurate observations of the planet's position. B. a mathematical explanation of epicycles. C. a precise lunar calendar. D. the correct explanation of lunar phases. E. his observations of Jupiter's moons.
A. his detailed and accurate observations of the planet's position.
One advantage of the Hubble Space telescope over ground based ones is that A. in orbit, it can operate close to its diffraction limit at visible wavelengths. B. its adaptive optics controls atmospheric blurring better. C. it can better focus X-ray images. D. it can make better observations of the ozone layer. E. it is larger than any Earth-based scopes.
A. in orbit, it can operate close to its diffraction limit at visible wavelengths.
The smallest sort of interplanetary matter is called A. interplanetary dust. B. an asteroid. C. a meteoroid. D. a Kuiper Belt Object. E. a comet.
A. interplanetary dust.
The critical part of the atmosphere for protecting life on the ground from excessive ultraviolet radiation is the: A. ozone layer. B. troposphere. C.hydrosphere. D. ionosphere. E. stratosphere.
A. ozone layer.
The place in a planet's orbit that is closest to the Sun is called A. perihelion B. vernal equinox C. crossing the ecliptic. D. aphelion E. None of these; a planet's distance from the Sun never changes.
A. perihelion
From inside out, which is in the correct order for the structure of the Sun? A. radiative zone, convective zone, chromosphere B. convective zone, radiative zone, granulation C. core, convective zone, radiative zone D. photosphere, radiative zone, corona E. core, chromosphere, photosphere
A. radiative zone, convective zone, chromosphere
Why is the sky blue? A. the atmosphere scatters the light from the Sun B. the atmosphere reflects the light from the Sun C. the oceans refract the light from the Sun into the atmosphere D. the oceans reflect the light from the Sun into the atmosphere E. the atmosphere reflects the color of the oceans
A. the atmosphere scatters the light from the Sun
Which of these was NOT a telescopic discovery of Galileo? A. the moons of Saturn B. the craters and mare of the Moon C. sunspots and the rotation of the Sun D. the four largest moons of Jupiter E. the phases of Venus
A. the moons of Saturn
Why are Saturn's rings so noticeable? A. Saturn is so bright, the rings reflect a lot of light from both Saturn and the Sun. B. They are made of lots of fresh, bright icy particles from a recent breakup. C. The particles in the rings are highly polished from numerous collisions with other particles. D. They are made of nitrogen frost, like the bright surface of Triton. E. They are made of metallic hydrogen.
B. They are made of lots of fresh, bright icy particles from a recent breakup.
Pluto is most similar to A. Europa. B. Triton. C. Miranda. D. our Moon. E. Mercury.
B. Triton.
Which of the following have an icy composition? A. meteoroids B. comets C. meteorites and most asteroids D. most asteroids E. the surface of Mars
B. comets
The plane in which almost all planets orbit the sun is called the: A. galactic plane. B. ecliptic. C. equator of the solar system. D. equant. E. node.
B. ecliptic.
The orbits of most asteroids A. cross the orbit of Mars. B. lie entirely beyond the orbit of Mars. C. cross the orbits of all four terrestrial planets. D. cross the orbit of Earth. E. lie beyond Neptune.
B. lie entirely beyond the orbit of Mars.
In order to determine the mass of a planet by applying Newton's laws of motion and gravity, the planet must have A. rings. B. moons. C. a known size and distance from Earth. D. a solid surface. E. planets further from the Sun than itself.
B. moons
From the center outward, the correct order is: A. solid metal core, molten metal hydrosphere, rocky lithosphere, gases in atmosphere. B. solid metallic inner core, molten metal outer core, silicate mantle and crust. C. liquid iron inner core, solid nickel outer core, rocky mantle, silicate crust. D. molten metal hydrosphere, molten rock lithosphere, solid silicate crust. E. solid rock core, liquid metal mantle, solid rock crust.
B. solid metallic inner core, molten metal outer core, silicate mantle and crust.
Diffraction is the tendency of light to: A. separate into its component colors. B. spread around corners. C. reflect off a mirror. D. bend through a lens. E. disperse within a prism.
B. spread around corners.
The planet's orbital period is: A. the time it takes for a satellite to orbit it. B. the time its magnetic field takes to spin once. C. the time it takes to return to the same location in the sky, relative to the Sun. D. the time it takes for it to retrograde back to the same position as we pass it. E. the time it takes it to rotate and have the same face toward us again.
C. the time it takes to return to the same location in the sky, relative to the Sun.
In what part of our atmosphere do we live? A. exosphere B. stratosphere C. troposphere D. mesosphere E. ionosphere
C. troposphere
The principal greenhouse gases in our present atmosphere are: A. sulfuric acid vapor and carbon dioxide. B. hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide. C. water vapor and carbon dioxide. D. methane and ammonia. E. hydrogen and helium.
C. water vapor and carbon dioxide.
How does the heat Jupiter radiates compare to the energy it receives from the Sun? A. Jupiter is a red dwarf, about a tenth the Sun's luminosity. B. They are equal, as you would expect for a highly reflective planet. C. Jupiter is a brown dwarf, about a hundred times less luminous than the Sun. D. Jupiter radiates back into space about twice the energy it gets from the Sun. E. Jupiter's dark belts absorb most of the solar radiation, so it is cooler in the infrared.
D. Jupiter radiates back into space about twice the energy it gets from the Sun.
Mercury's surface most resembles that of which other body? A. Io B. Venus C. Mars D. Moon E. Earth
D. Moon
Why is Mars red? A. Mercuric oxide is abundant and has a red tint. B. Sulfuric acid rain etched a reddish color into iron-rich surface rocks. C. Dust storms on the planet have blasted the planet so fiercely that the rocks have reddened. D. The iron in the surface rocks have been oxidized over time. E. The ancient volcanoes poured out vast plains of molten sulfur, much as on Io, which has now solidified and preserved the reddish color.
D. The iron in the surface rocks have been oxidized over time.
What is the primary purpose of an astronomical telescope? A. To access wavelengths that we cannot see visually. B. To measure the intensity of light very accurately. C. To magnify and make distant objects appear closer. D. To collect a lot of light and bring it to a focus. E. To separate light into its component colors.
D. To collect a lot of light and bring it to a focus.
A meteorite is A. a streak of light in the atmosphere. B. a chunk of space debris orbiting the Earth. C. an icy body with a long tail extending from it. D. a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground. E. an irregularly shaped body, mostly found orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.
D. a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground.
What is the main constituent of the atmosphere of Venus? A. oxygen B. hydrogen C. nitrogen D. carbon dioxide E. sulfuric acid
D. carbon dioxide
When the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky, its phase is A. waxing or waning crescent B. waxing or waning gibbous. C. new. D. full. E. first or third quarter.
D. full.
Shepherd satellites are defined as: A. moons that orbit inside the system of rings.e B. moons that follow the exact orbit of another, larger, moon. C. a type of moon that orbits another moon. D. moons that confine a narrow ring. E. satellites in the coma of a comet.
D. moons that confine a narrow ring.
A solar eclipse can only happen during a: A. first quarter moon. B. full moon. C. solstice. D. new moon. E. perihelion passage of the Sun.
D. new moon.
What gas is the primary constituent of our atmosphere? A. hydrogen B. carbon dioxide C. helium D. nitrogen E. oxygen
D. nitrogen
The process occurring when photons bounce off a polished surface is called: A. refraction. B. dispersion. C. diffraction. D. reflection. E. interference.
D. reflection.
Which design is subject to chromatic aberration? A. Newtonian reflector B. Gregorian reflector C. Cassegrain reflector D. refractor E. prime focus reflector
D. refractor
Earth and Venus are often called sister planets; in which ways are they most alike? A. polar caps and rusty red deserts B. surface temperature and pressure C. atmospheric composition and density D. size, density, and surface gravity E. cloud composition and meteorology
D. size, density, and surface gravity
The greatest contribution of the Greeks to modern thought was: A. that their mythology was the basis for the naming of the constellations. B. the idea that all the planets orbited the Sun. C. the invention of the telescope. D. the development of scientific inquiry and model building. E. that their observation of stellar parallax proved the Earth orbited the Sun.
D. the development of scientific inquiry and model building.
Moonquakes on the Moon were detected by: A. seismographs attached to the Russian Lunar rovers. B. telescopic observations of lunar landslides. C. laser beams reflected off mirrors left on the Moon by Apollo missions. D. the seismographs left these by the Apollo astronauts. E. the radar observations over time from earth.
D. the seismographs left these by the Apollo astronauts.
What celestial line is a product of the Earth's orbit around the Sun? A. Equator B. Galactic Plane C. Analemma D. Prime Meridian E. Ecliptic
E. Ecliptic
How do the atmospheres of the Moon and Mercury compare? A. They are about equal, each only 1% as dense as ours. B. Mercury's is much denser, like Venus, with much carbon dioxide. C. As no spacecraft has yet landed there, no information exists about Mercury's. D. The cooler Moon retains a thicker nitrogen atmosphere. E. Neither body has a permanent atmosphere.
E. Neither body has a permanent atmosphere.
The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed by: A. Galileo. B. Einstein. C. Copernicus. D. Kepler. E. Newton.
E. Newton.
The largest shield volcano yet discovered is: A. Maxwell Mons on Venus. B. Prometheus on Io. C. Kilimanjaro on Earth. D. Caloris on Mercury. E. Olympus Mons on Mars.
E. Olympus Mons on Mars.
Which of the choices below correctly lists things in order from largest to smallest? A. Local Group, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe B. Milky Way, Universe, Solar System, Local Group C. Universe, Milky Way, Local Group, Solar System D. Solar System, Local Group, Universe, Milky Way E. Universe, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System
E. Universe, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System
The planet whose pole was facing the Sun when Voyager 2 approached in 1986 was A. Jupiter. B. Neptune. C. Saturn. D. Mars. E. Uranus.
E. Uranus.
The only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune was: A. Voyager 1. B. Pioneer 10. C. Cassini. D. Pioneer 11. E. Voyager 2.
E. Voyager 2.
If you are in the Moon's umbral shadow, then you will witness A. a total lunar eclipse. B. some kind of lunar eclipse. C. nighttime. D. a partial solar eclipse. E. a total solar eclipse.
E. a total solar eclipse.
The jovian planets A. are all much more dense than any of the terrestrials planets. B. have satellite systems with less than 4 moons. C. all spin slower than the earth. D. all lie less than 5 AU from the Sun. E. all have rings around their equators.
E. all have rings around their equators.
What is the name used to describe the dark bands encircling Jupiter? A. convection cells B. brown stripes C. zonal flows D. zones E. belts
E. belts
The main constituent of the Martian atmosphere is A. helium. B. hydrogen. C. nitrogen. D. methane. E. carbon dioxide.
E. carbon dioxide.
One of the effects of Mercury's very slow spin is A. tectonic activity. B. large variations in the size of its polar cap. C. an intensely powerful magnetic field. D. wind patterns that are slow, but global in size. E. extreme variations in its surface temperature.
E. extreme variations in its surface temperature.
The atmosphere of Saturn is composed mostly of: A. carbon dioxide and ethane. B. methane and ammonia. C. hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. D. nitrogen and oxygen. E. hydrogen and helium.
E. hydrogen and helium.
Earth's magnetic field: A. is a remnant of the solar nebula's magnetic field. B. is the force behind plate tectonics. C. is weakening the Van Allen radiation belts. D. lines intersect the atmosphere at the equator. E. prevents charged particles in the solar wind from reaching the surface.
E. prevents charged particles in the solar wind from reaching the surface.
What are Saturn's rings? A. large rocky boulders moving in orbit around Saturn B. a glowing, flat magnetospheric auroral display C. a solid thin disc of material encircling Saturn D. a great disk of liquid helium E. small icy particles moving in orbit around Saturn
E. small icy particles moving in orbit around Saturn
The luminosity of the Sun is a measure of A. the energy emitted by the Sun at the photosphere. B.the energy received by the Sun on Earth's surface. C. the energy received by the Sun at the location of Earth. D. the energy received by the Sun at any location in the solar system. E. the total energy emitted by the Sun in all directions.
E. the total energy emitted by the Sun in all directions.
Neptune and Uranus have a bluish tint because: A. ammonia ice reflects blue light better than any other color. B. their atmospheres contain hydrogen and helium. C. they are far away and distance makes objects appear bluish. D. at their distances, the Sun appears blue, the red absorbed by dust in the ecliptic. E. their atmospheres contain methane, which absorbs red light.
E. their atmospheres contain methane, which absorbs red light.
The rotation periods of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are difficult to determine because A. they rotate so fast. B. they are all gas giants. C. each one has a large satellite that interferes with this measurement. D. they are so far away from the Sun. E. their surface features are obscured by their atmospheres.
E. their surface features are obscured by their atmospheres.
If new Moon fell on March 2nd, what is the Moon's phase on March 14th? A. full B. waxing crescent C. waning crescent D. first quarter E. waxing gibbous
E. waxing gibbous