Question 1

We are at ________ in January, when we are closest to the Sun in our elliptical orbit.

Accepted Answer

The answer of We are at ________ in January, when...

Question 2

The Ptolemaic model of the universe

Accepted Answer

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)  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.

Question 3

A fatal flaw with Ptolemy's model is its inability to predict the observed phases of

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun during an eclipse. 
B)  the Moon in its monthly cycle. 
C)  Mercury and Venus. 
D)  Mars and Jupiter. 
E)  Jupiter and Saturn. 
A)  the Sun during an eclipse. 
B)  the Moon in its monthly cycle. 
C)  Mercury and Venus. 
D)  Mars and Jupiter. 
E)  Jupiter and Saturn.

Question 4

Galileo's observations of sunspots proved the Sun was rotating, like the Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Because he failed to observe stellar ________, Aristotle wrongly concluded we could not be in orbit around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because he failed to observe stellar ________,...

Question 6

How did Ptolemy explain the retrograde motion of Mars?

Accepted Answer

Mars will retrograde on the in

Question 7

Galileo's observations of the phases of ________ could not be explained by Ptolemy's epicyclic model.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Galileo's observations of the phases of ________...

Question 8

Using Newton's first law, describe the motion of a body is moving in the absence of any net external force.

Accepted Answer

in a strai

Question 9

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of Galileo to astronomy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sunspots showed the Sun was rotating on its axis, like the Earth does. 
B)  The four moons of Jupiter are a model for the solar system motions in general. 
C)  The phases of Venus prove it orbits completely around the Sun. 
D)  The changing appearance of Saturn's rings corresponds to our seasons. 
E)  The craters and mountains of the Moon prove it a world in its own right. 
A)  Sunspots showed the Sun was rotating on its axis, like the Earth does. 
B)  The four moons of Jupiter are a model for the solar system motions in general. 
C)  The phases of Venus prove it orbits completely around the Sun. 
D)  The changing appearance of Saturn's rings corresponds to our seasons. 
E)  The craters and mountains of the Moon prove it a world in its own right.

Question 10

How much stronger is the gravitational pull of the Sun on Earth, at 1 AU, than it is on Saturn at 10 AU?

Accepted Answer

A)  5X 
B)  10X 
C)  25X 
D)  100X 
E)  250X 
A)  5X 
B)  10X 
C)  25X 
D)  100X 
E)  250X

Question 11

It took two centuries for the Copernican model to replaced the Ptolemaic model because

Accepted Answer

A)  in Copernicus' time, there were no telescopes. 
B)  the Church wouldn't let anyone talk about Copernicus' model for 200 years. 
C)  there was no scientific evidence to support either model until Galileo made his observations. 
D)  the Ptolemaic model was simpler and more aesthetically pleasing. 
E)  the Copernican model required complicated new terms to explain it correctly. 
A)  in Copernicus' time, there were no telescopes. 
B)  the Church wouldn't let anyone talk about Copernicus' model for 200 years. 
C)  there was no scientific evidence to support either model until Galileo made his observations. 
D)  the Ptolemaic model was simpler and more aesthetically pleasing. 
E)  the Copernican model required complicated new terms to explain it correctly.

Question 12

Explain Occam's Razor.

Accepted Answer

Occam's Razor is the principle

Question 13

To explain retrograde motion as well as changes in planetary brightness, Ptolemy's model used ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To explain retrograde motion as well as...

Question 14

How can astronomers determine the mass of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Using Newton's Laws, we know that gravit

Question 15

How does Kepler's First Law refine the Copernican model greatly?

Accepted Answer

Copernicus, like the Greeks, thought all

Question 16

According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

Accepted Answer

A)  at inferior conjunction, when Mars laps the Earth and passes between us and the Sun. 
B)  at superior conjunction, when Mars lies on the far side of the Sun. 
C)  at quadrature, when Mars lies exactly 90 degrees east or west of the Sun. 
D)  at greatest elongation, when Mars can get up to 47 degrees from the Sun. 
E)  at opposition, when the Earth overtakes Mars and passes between Mars and the Sun. 
A)  at inferior conjunction, when Mars laps the Earth and passes between us and the Sun. 
B)  at superior conjunction, when Mars lies on the far side of the Sun. 
C)  at quadrature, when Mars lies exactly 90 degrees east or west of the Sun. 
D)  at greatest elongation, when Mars can get up to 47 degrees from the Sun. 
E)  at opposition, when the Earth overtakes Mars and passes between Mars and the Sun.

Question 17

The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed by

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler. 
B)  Galileo. 
C)  Newton. 
D)  Copernicus. 
E)  Einstein. 
A)  Kepler. 
B)  Galileo. 
C)  Newton. 
D)  Copernicus. 
E)  Einstein.

Question 18

The parallax shift of a star would be greater if viewed from Mars than from Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Newton's Law of Gravity would explain why Saturn, so far from the Sun, moves so slowly across the sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why do Newton's Laws show a force must be acting on the planets?

Accepted Answer

The planets are moving in elliptical orb

We are at ________ in January, when we are closest to the Sun in our elliptical orbit.

The Ptolemaic model of the universe

A fatal flaw with Ptolemy's model is its inability to predict the observed phases of

Galileo's observations of sunspots proved the Sun was rotating, like the Earth.

Because he failed to observe stellar ________, Aristotle wrongly concluded we could not be in orbit around the Sun.

How did Ptolemy explain the retrograde motion of Mars?

Galileo's observations of the phases of ________ could not be explained by Ptolemy's epicyclic model.

Using Newton's first law, describe the motion of a body is moving in the absence of any net external force.

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of Galileo to astronomy?

How much stronger is the gravitational pull of the Sun on Earth, at 1 AU, than it is on Saturn at 10 AU?

It took two centuries for the Copernican model to replaced the Ptolemaic model because

Explain Occam's Razor.

To explain retrograde motion as well as changes in planetary brightness, Ptolemy's model used ________.

How can astronomers determine the mass of the Sun?

How does Kepler's First Law refine the Copernican model greatly?

According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed by

The parallax shift of a star would be greater if viewed from Mars than from Earth.

Newton's Law of Gravity would explain why Saturn, so far from the Sun, moves so slowly across the sky.

Why do Newton's Laws show a force must be acting on the planets?

The Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Stellar Explosions

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters

Exam 3: The Solar System

We are at ________ in January, when we are closest to the Sun in our elliptical orbit.

The Ptolemaic model of the universe

A fatal flaw with Ptolemy's model is its inability to predict the observed phases of

Galileo's observations of sunspots proved the Sun was rotating, like the Earth.

Because he failed to observe stellar ________, Aristotle wrongly concluded we could not be in orbit around the Sun.

How did Ptolemy explain the retrograde motion of Mars?

Galileo's observations of the phases of ________ could not be explained by Ptolemy's epicyclic model.

Using Newton's first law, describe the motion of a body is moving in the absence of any net external force.

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of Galileo to astronomy?

How much stronger is the gravitational pull of the Sun on Earth, at 1 AU, than it is on Saturn at 10 AU?

It took two centuries for the Copernican model to replaced the Ptolemaic model because

Explain Occam's Razor.

To explain retrograde motion as well as changes in planetary brightness, Ptolemy's model used ________.

How can astronomers determine the mass of the Sun?

How does Kepler's First Law refine the Copernican model greatly?

According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed by

The parallax shift of a star would be greater if viewed from Mars than from Earth.

Newton's Law of Gravity would explain why Saturn, so far from the Sun, moves so slowly across the sky.

Why do Newton's Laws show a force must be acting on the planets?

The Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Stellar Explosions

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters