Question 1

The planets stay in orbit around the Sun because of a balance between gravity and___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  collapse 
B)  inertia 
C)  orbit 
D)  inclination 
A)  collapse 
B)  inertia 
C)  orbit 
D)  inclination

Question 2

The first modern astronomer to propose a Sun- centered universe was___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Tycho Brahe 
D)  Nicolaus Copernicus 
A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Tycho Brahe 
D)  Nicolaus Copernicus

Question 3

Which of these men formulated the Law of Universal Gravitation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Galileo 
B)  Johannes Kepler 
C)  Tycho Brahe 
D)  Sir Isaac Newton 
E)  Nicolaus Copernicus 
A)  Galileo 
B)  Johannes Kepler 
C)  Tycho Brahe 
D)  Sir Isaac Newton 
E)  Nicolaus Copernicus

Question 4

This scientist was the first to use the telescope in astronomy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Tycho Brahe 
D)  Nicolaus Copernicus 
A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Tycho Brahe 
D)  Nicolaus Copernicus

Question 5

The first modern astronomer to propose a Sun- centered universe was ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Ptolemy 
B)  Copernicus 
C)  Galileo 
D)  Eratosthenes 
A)  Ptolemy 
B)  Copernicus 
C)  Galileo 
D)  Eratosthenes

Question 6

A very slow motion of Earth's axis that requires 26,000 years to complete is called ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  retrograde motion 
B)  axial precession 
C)  occultation 
D)  perturbation 
E)  Ptolemaic motion 
A)  retrograde motion 
B)  axial precession 
C)  occultation 
D)  perturbation 
E)  Ptolemaic motion

Question 7

When the Moon appears as a thin crescent in the evening sky, just after Sunset, the lunar phase is___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  new Moon 
B)  between new Moon and first quarter 
C)  between second and third quarter 
D)  between first and second quarter 
A)  new Moon 
B)  between new Moon and first quarter 
C)  between second and third quarter 
D)  between first and second quarter

Question 8

Why do the planets "drift" east relative to the stars and then move west for periods of time?

Accepted Answer

A)  They don't move, they stay fixed relative to the stars. 
B)  They are moving in large elliptical orbits, so when observed from Earth, their motion changes depending on whether they are near or far from the Sun at a given time. 
C)  They are moving in the same rotation sense as the earth around the Sun, but as the earth moves faster or slower, depending on the planet. the motion appears to be backwards. 
D)  They are moving in separate orbits around the Sun as it goes around the earth, producing the periodic backtracking. 
A)  They don't move, they stay fixed relative to the stars. 
B)  They are moving in large elliptical orbits, so when observed from Earth, their motion changes depending on whether they are near or far from the Sun at a given time. 
C)  They are moving in the same rotation sense as the earth around the Sun, but as the earth moves faster or slower, depending on the planet. the motion appears to be backwards. 
D)  They are moving in separate orbits around the Sun as it goes around the earth, producing the periodic backtracking.

Question 9

The first scientist to use a telescope for astronomical purposes was___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Newton 
D)  Brahe 
A)  Kepler 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Newton 
D)  Brahe

Question 10

The diagram below illustrates the relationship of the Moon and the Earth during a lunar eclipse. Based on the illustration, would you expect lunar eclipses to occur more or less frequently than solar eclipses? Also, which type of eclipse would be seen by a larger portion of the Earth and therefore potentially more people.?

Accepted Answer

Lunar eclipses are more common and they

Question 11

The belt of constellations through which all the planets move is called the___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  synodic 
B)  ecliptic 
C)  zodiac 
D)  rotational 
A)  synodic 
B)  ecliptic 
C)  zodiac 
D)  rotational

Question 12

In the Ptolemaic Greek. model of the universe, the stars are attached to the___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  stadia 
B)  deferent 
C)  celestial sphere 
D)  zodiac 
E)  plane of the ecliptic 
A)  stadia 
B)  deferent 
C)  celestial sphere 
D)  zodiac 
E)  plane of the ecliptic

Question 13

How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  They used the height of sailing ships as they sailed over the horizon to estimate curvature of Earth, which allowed estimation of its size. 
B)  They didn't; everyone thought the world was flat until Columbus' time. 
C)  They measured the angle of the Sun above the horizon at midday in two places with different latitude and used the angle to estimate the circumference of Earth. 
D)  They measured the altitude of mountains in Greece, then used the distance they were lost from sight to estimate the curvature of Earth, which allowed estimation of the its size. 
A)  They used the height of sailing ships as they sailed over the horizon to estimate curvature of Earth, which allowed estimation of its size. 
B)  They didn't; everyone thought the world was flat until Columbus' time. 
C)  They measured the angle of the Sun above the horizon at midday in two places with different latitude and used the angle to estimate the circumference of Earth. 
D)  They measured the altitude of mountains in Greece, then used the distance they were lost from sight to estimate the curvature of Earth, which allowed estimation of the its size.

Question 14

The apparent westward "drift" of the planets compared to the background stars is called ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  precession 
B)  occultation 
C)  retrograde motion 
D)  Ptolemaic motion 
A)  precession 
B)  occultation 
C)  retrograde motion 
D)  Ptolemaic motion

Question 15

___________accurately recorded the position of the planet Mars.

Accepted Answer

A)  Brahe 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Kepler 
D)  Newton 
A)  Brahe 
B)  Galileo 
C)  Kepler 
D)  Newton

Question 16

The apparent path of the Sun upon the celestial sphere is called the ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ecliptic 
B)  parallax 
C)  declination 
D)  precession 
E)  sidereal 
A)  ecliptic 
B)  parallax 
C)  declination 
D)  precession 
E)  sidereal

Question 17

A very slow motion of Earth's axis that requires 26,000 years to complete is called___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  precession 
B)  inclination 
C)  eccentricity 
D)  rotation 
A)  precession 
B)  inclination 
C)  eccentricity 
D)  rotation

Question 18

Think about the correlation of the celestial coordinate system, the tilt of Earth's axis, and the positions on Earth. If you are an observer in the Southern Hemisphere, 2 degrees north of the Tropic of Capricorn, What time of year will you be able to see the North Star?

Accepted Answer

A)  on the Southern Hemisphere vernal equinox 
B)  Never; you can never see the North star from the Southern Hemisphere. 
C)  at the Northern Hemisphere summer solstice, around June 21 
D)  on the Southern Hemisphere summer solstice, around Dec. 21 
A)  on the Southern Hemisphere vernal equinox 
B)  Never; you can never see the North star from the Southern Hemisphere. 
C)  at the Northern Hemisphere summer solstice, around June 21 
D)  on the Southern Hemisphere summer solstice, around Dec. 21

Question 19

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  Galileo 
B)  Aristotle 
C)  Newton 
D)  Kepler 
A)  Galileo 
B)  Aristotle 
C)  Newton 
D)  Kepler

Question 20

The cycle of phases of the Moon is the basis for our ___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  year 
B)  day 
C)  month 
D)  light year 
A)  year 
B)  day 
C)  month 
D)  light year

Exam 21: Origins of Modern Astronomy

The planets stay in orbit around the Sun because of a balance between gravity and___________ .

The first modern astronomer to propose a Sun- centered universe was___________ .

Which of these men formulated the Law of Universal Gravitation?

This scientist was the first to use the telescope in astronomy.

The first modern astronomer to propose a Sun- centered universe was ___________.

A very slow motion of Earth's axis that requires 26,000 years to complete is called ___________.

When the Moon appears as a thin crescent in the evening sky, just after Sunset, the lunar phase is___________ .

Why do the planets "drift" east relative to the stars and then move west for periods of time?

The first scientist to use a telescope for astronomical purposes was___________ .

The belt of constellations through which all the planets move is called the___________.

In the Ptolemaic Greek. model of the universe, the stars are attached to the___________ .

How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth?

The apparent westward "drift" of the planets compared to the background stars is called ___________.

___________accurately recorded the position of the planet Mars.

The apparent path of the Sun upon the celestial sphere is called the ___________.

A very slow motion of Earth's axis that requires 26,000 years to complete is called___________ .

Think about the correlation of the celestial coordinate system, the tilt of Earth's axis, and the positions on Earth. If you are an observer in the Southern Hemisphere, 2 degrees north of the Tropic of Capricorn, What time of year will you be able to see the North Star?

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

The cycle of phases of the Moon is the basis for our ___________ .

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters