Question 1

Galileo observed Venus to go through a full range of phases. Which other planet should also display a full range of phases when viewed from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury 
B)  Mars 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  any other planet 
A)  Mercury 
B)  Mars 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  any other planet

Question 2

In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle put forth the idea that

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe is governed by regular laws. 
B)  the Sun is the center of the solar system. 
C)  Earth is only one of hundreds of planets scattered throughout the galaxy. 
D)  gravitation keeps the planets in their orbits. 
A)  the universe is governed by regular laws. 
B)  the Sun is the center of the solar system. 
C)  Earth is only one of hundreds of planets scattered throughout the galaxy. 
D)  gravitation keeps the planets in their orbits.

Question 3

The intellectual foundation of science is

Accepted Answer

A)  observation, faith, and acceptance. 
B)  rejection of all observations that disagree with theory. 
C)  logical derivation entirely from fundamental principles. 
D)  observation, logic, and skepticism. 
A)  observation, faith, and acceptance. 
B)  rejection of all observations that disagree with theory. 
C)  logical derivation entirely from fundamental principles. 
D)  observation, logic, and skepticism.

Question 4

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive

Accepted Answer

A)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from the Sun. 
B)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from Earth. 
C)  identical configurations (e.g., opposition to opposition). 
D)  greatest elongations (e.g., greatest western elongation to greatest eastern elongation). 
A)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from the Sun. 
B)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from Earth. 
C)  identical configurations (e.g., opposition to opposition). 
D)  greatest elongations (e.g., greatest western elongation to greatest eastern elongation).

Question 5

An astronomer has a massive purple object in her laboratory. If she were to take it to the Moon, which of its characteristics would be guaranteed to change?

Accepted Answer

A)  weight 
B)  color 
C)  density (mass per unit volume) 
D)  mass 
A)  weight 
B)  color 
C)  density (mass per unit volume) 
D)  mass

Question 6

Which one of these is NOT part of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

A)  propose a new experiment 
B)  take a formal vote at a recognized international scientific conference 
C)  modify existing theory 
D)  make predictions 
A)  propose a new experiment 
B)  take a formal vote at a recognized international scientific conference 
C)  modify existing theory 
D)  make predictions

Question 7

When observing planetary motions from Earth, the phrase "direct motion" refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)  slow westward motion of the planet from night to night compared to the background stars. 
B)  apparent westward motion of the planet (and the Sun, the Moon, and stars) across the sky due to the rotation of Earth. 
C)  motion of the planet directly toward or away from Earth in certain parts of the planet's orbit. 
D)  slow eastward motion of the planet from night to night compared to the background stars. 
A)  slow westward motion of the planet from night to night compared to the background stars. 
B)  apparent westward motion of the planet (and the Sun, the Moon, and stars) across the sky due to the rotation of Earth. 
C)  motion of the planet directly toward or away from Earth in certain parts of the planet's orbit. 
D)  slow eastward motion of the planet from night to night compared to the background stars.

Question 8

The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between

Accepted Answer

A)  conjunction and opposition on any orbit. 
B)  two successive passages through identical configurations, for example, two successive conjunctions. 
C)  two successive appearances of the planet at its highest point in the observer's sky. 
D)  two successive passages of Earth through the vernal equinox. 
A)  conjunction and opposition on any orbit. 
B)  two successive passages through identical configurations, for example, two successive conjunctions. 
C)  two successive appearances of the planet at its highest point in the observer's sky. 
D)  two successive passages of Earth through the vernal equinox.

Question 9

The distance between a planet's aphelion point and its perihelion point is

Accepted Answer

A)  the semimajor axis of its ellipse. 
B)  twice the semimajor axis of its ellipse. 
C)  the eccentricity of its ellipse. 
D)  twice the eccentricity of its ellipse. 
A)  the semimajor axis of its ellipse. 
B)  twice the semimajor axis of its ellipse. 
C)  the eccentricity of its ellipse. 
D)  twice the eccentricity of its ellipse.

Question 10

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion regarding his parallax measurements of the stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  The parallax motion occurred too quickly for Tycho to detect with the equipment available to him at the time. Thus, he concluded that Earth is motionless. 
B)  The parallax motion was too small for Tycho to detect with the equipment available to him at the time. Thus, he concluded that Earth is motionless. 
C)  Tycho was able to measure parallax motion for the stars and thus concluded that the solar system is geocentric. 
D)  Tycho was able to measure parallax motion for the stars and thus concluded that the solar system is heliocentric. 
A)  The parallax motion occurred too quickly for Tycho to detect with the equipment available to him at the time. Thus, he concluded that Earth is motionless. 
B)  The parallax motion was too small for Tycho to detect with the equipment available to him at the time. Thus, he concluded that Earth is motionless. 
C)  Tycho was able to measure parallax motion for the stars and thus concluded that the solar system is geocentric. 
D)  Tycho was able to measure parallax motion for the stars and thus concluded that the solar system is heliocentric.

Question 11

In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

Accepted Answer

A)  Greece 
B)  England 
C)  Italy 
D)  Poland 
A)  Greece 
B)  England 
C)  Italy 
D)  Poland

Question 12

A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the

Accepted Answer

A)  discovery that Earth orbits the Sun. 
B)  discovery that planetary orbits are not circular. 
C)  observation of the phases of Venus. 
D)  idea of a gravitational force between Earth and the Sun. 
A)  discovery that Earth orbits the Sun. 
B)  discovery that planetary orbits are not circular. 
C)  observation of the phases of Venus. 
D)  idea of a gravitational force between Earth and the Sun.

Question 13

A body whose velocity is constant

Accepted Answer

A)  can have any nonzero acceleration. 
B)  has a positive acceleration. 
C)  has zero acceleration. 
D)  has a negative acceleration. 
A)  can have any nonzero acceleration. 
B)  has a positive acceleration. 
C)  has zero acceleration. 
D)  has a negative acceleration.

Question 14

A certain object in space is accelerating. From this, it is known for certain that its speed

Accepted Answer

A)  or its direction of travel is changing, or possibly both. 
B)  is changing. 
C)  and its direction of travel are both changing. 
D)  or its direction of travel is changing, but not both. 
A)  or its direction of travel is changing, or possibly both. 
B)  is changing. 
C)  and its direction of travel are both changing. 
D)  or its direction of travel is changing, but not both.

Question 15

When Mercury is at its farthest distance from Earth, it is at

Accepted Answer

A)  opposition. 
B)  greatest elongation. 
C)  inferior conjunction. 
D)  superior conjunction. 
A)  opposition. 
B)  greatest elongation. 
C)  inferior conjunction. 
D)  superior conjunction.

Question 16

A gravitational force is exerted by a large mass on a small mass a certain distance away. If the separation is increased to 3 times its original value and the large and small masses are then switched, what will happen to the gravitational force?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will remain the same. 
B)  It will increase by a factor of 3. 
C)  It will decrease by a factor of 3. 
D)  It will decrease by a factor of 9. 
A)  It will remain the same. 
B)  It will increase by a factor of 3. 
C)  It will decrease by a factor of 3. 
D)  It will decrease by a factor of 9.

Question 17

When Venus is at superior conjunction, it is

Accepted Answer

A)  at its smallest distance from Earth. 
B)  at its greatest angle from the Sun as seen from Earth. 
C)  traveling at its greatest speed in its orbit. 
D)  at its greatest distance from Earth. 
A)  at its smallest distance from Earth. 
B)  at its greatest angle from the Sun as seen from Earth. 
C)  traveling at its greatest speed in its orbit. 
D)  at its greatest distance from Earth.

Question 18

Which of these planetary configurations or positions is impossible for one of the outer planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  opposition 
B)  conjunction 
C)  perihelion 
D)  inferior conjunction 
A)  opposition 
B)  conjunction 
C)  perihelion 
D)  inferior conjunction

Question 19

A force can give a certain mass a certain acceleration. If one doubles the force and doubles the mass, the acceleration of this object will be

Accepted Answer

A)  a quarter of the original acceleration. 
B)  half the original acceleration. 
C)  the same as the original acceleration. 
D)  twice the original acceleration. 
A)  a quarter of the original acceleration. 
B)  half the original acceleration. 
C)  the same as the original acceleration. 
D)  twice the original acceleration.

Question 20

Kepler's third law, as derived by Newton from the law of gravitation, applies

Accepted Answer

A)  to all situations where two objects orbit each other solely under the influence of their mutual gravitational attraction. 
B)  only to situations similar to planets orbiting the Sun, where the mass of the orbiting body is small compared to the mass of the object being orbited. 
C)  accurately only when close to the Sun and becomes less accurate with increasing distance from the Sun. 
D)  only to planets orbiting the Sun. 
A)  to all situations where two objects orbit each other solely under the influence of their mutual gravitational attraction. 
B)  only to situations similar to planets orbiting the Sun, where the mass of the orbiting body is small compared to the mass of the object being orbited. 
C)  accurately only when close to the Sun and becomes less accurate with increasing distance from the Sun. 
D)  only to planets orbiting the Sun.

Galileo observed Venus to go through a full range of phases. Which other planet should also display a full range of phases when viewed from Earth?

In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle put forth the idea that

The intellectual foundation of science is

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive

An astronomer has a massive purple object in her laboratory. If she were to take it to the Moon, which of its characteristics would be guaranteed to change?

Which one of these is NOT part of the scientific method?

When observing planetary motions from Earth, the phrase "direct motion" refers to the

The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between

The distance between a planet's aphelion point and its perihelion point is

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion regarding his parallax measurements of the stars?

In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the

A body whose velocity is constant

A certain object in space is accelerating. From this, it is known for certain that its speed

When Mercury is at its farthest distance from Earth, it is at

A gravitational force is exerted by a large mass on a small mass a certain distance away. If the separation is increased to 3 times its original value and the large and small masses are then switched, what will happen to the gravitational force?

When Venus is at superior conjunction, it is

Which of these planetary configurations or positions is impossible for one of the outer planets?

A force can give a certain mass a certain acceleration. If one doubles the force and doubles the mass, the acceleration of this object will be

Kepler's third law, as derived by Newton from the law of gravitation, applies

Discovering the Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 2: Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Galileo observed Venus to go through a full range of phases. Which other planet should also display a full range of phases when viewed from Earth?

In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle put forth the idea that

The intellectual foundation of science is

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive

An astronomer has a massive purple object in her laboratory. If she were to take it to the Moon, which of its characteristics would be guaranteed to change?

Which one of these is NOT part of the scientific method?

When observing planetary motions from Earth, the phrase "direct motion" refers to the

The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between

The distance between a planet's aphelion point and its perihelion point is

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion regarding his parallax measurements of the stars?

In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the

A body whose velocity is constant

A certain object in space is accelerating. From this, it is known for certain that its speed

When Mercury is at its farthest distance from Earth, it is at

A gravitational force is exerted by a large mass on a small mass a certain distance away. If the separation is increased to 3 times its original value and the large and small masses are then switched, what will happen to the gravitational force?

When Venus is at superior conjunction, it is

Which of these planetary configurations or positions is impossible for one of the outer planets?

A force can give a certain mass a certain acceleration. If one doubles the force and doubles the mass, the acceleration of this object will be

Kepler's third law, as derived by Newton from the law of gravitation, applies

Discovering the Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters