Question 1

Which of the following is a contribution to astronomy made by Galileo?

Accepted Answer

A)  The astronomical telescope can show us far more detail than the eye can. 
B)  Jupiter has four moons orbiting it. 
C)  The Moon has craters, mountain, valleys, and dark flat areas on its surface. 
D)  Venus appears almost fully lit when it lies on the far side of the Sun. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  The astronomical telescope can show us far more detail than the eye can. 
B)  Jupiter has four moons orbiting it. 
C)  The Moon has craters, mountain, valleys, and dark flat areas on its surface. 
D)  Venus appears almost fully lit when it lies on the far side of the Sun. 
E)  all of the above

Question 2

The force of gravity between two objects

Accepted Answer

A)  increases with the masses of the bodies, but decreases with their separations. 
B)  increases with the masses of the bodies, but decreases with the square of the distances between them. 
C)  increases with the square of their masses, but decreases with the cube of their periods of orbit about the Sun. 
D)  depends on the density, not the mass of the bodies. 
E)  depends on the temperature, density, and size of the bodies. 
A)  increases with the masses of the bodies, but decreases with their separations. 
B)  increases with the masses of the bodies, but decreases with the square of the distances between them. 
C)  increases with the square of their masses, but decreases with the cube of their periods of orbit about the Sun. 
D)  depends on the density, not the mass of the bodies. 
E)  depends on the temperature, density, and size of the bodies.

Question 3

Galileo's observations of the entire phase cycle of Venus proved that Ptolemy's epicycles could not be correct in keeping Venus between us and the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

All the terrestrial planets lie inside the asteroid belt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Relate Kepler's Second Law to the speeds of the planets.

Accepted Answer

In equal time intervals, the lines that

Question 6

Kepler found the orbits of planets are ellipses, not circles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

A planet whose distance from the Sun is 3 AU would have an orbital period of how many Earth-years?

Accepted Answer

A)  3 
B)  $\sqrt { 27 }$ 
C)  $\sqrt { 3 }$ 
D)  9 
E)  81 
A)  3 
B)  $\sqrt { 27 }$ 
C)  $\sqrt { 3 }$ 
D)  9 
E)  81

Question 8

Which statement about the motion of the planets is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most orbit above the Sun's equator. 
B)  All revolutions of major planets are counterclockwise. 
C)  The orbits of most planets are almost circular, with low eccentricities. 
D)  Most planets move in the Earth's equatorial plane. 
E)  Most planets rotate in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the North. 
A)  Most orbit above the Sun's equator. 
B)  All revolutions of major planets are counterclockwise. 
C)  The orbits of most planets are almost circular, with low eccentricities. 
D)  Most planets move in the Earth's equatorial plane. 
E)  Most planets rotate in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the North.

Question 9

Tycho Brahe's contribution to Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion were

Accepted Answer

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)  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.

Question 10

Newton's modification of Kepler's Third Law lets us measure the mass of the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which concept was NOT a part of Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  All planetary orbits are ellipses. 
B)  The square of the planet's period is equal to the cube of its average distance. 
C)  A planet must move fastest in its orbit at perihelion. 
D)  Epicycles are needed to explain the varying brightnesses of the planets. 
A)  All planetary orbits are ellipses. 
B)  The square of the planet's period is equal to the cube of its average distance. 
C)  A planet must move fastest in its orbit at perihelion. 
D)  Epicycles are needed to explain the varying brightnesses of the planets.

Question 12

Which of the statements below is part of both the Ptolemaic and Copernican models?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Earth orbits the Sun once a year. 
B)  The Sun lies in the center of the Cosmos. 
C)  The Moon orbits the Earth once a month. 
D)  Epicycles are needed to explain retrograde motion of the planets. 
E)  Venus' epicycle must always lie between us and the Sun. 
A)  The Earth orbits the Sun once a year. 
B)  The Sun lies in the center of the Cosmos. 
C)  The Moon orbits the Earth once a month. 
D)  Epicycles are needed to explain retrograde motion of the planets. 
E)  Venus' epicycle must always lie between us and the Sun.

Question 13

When a planet retrogrades, it appears to move westward.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Like the Sun and the Moon, the planets appear to move from west to east from one day to the next.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What is TRUE about solar system densities?

Accepted Answer

A)  The denser planets lie closer to the Sun. 
B)  In differentiated bodies, the denser materials lie near their surfaces. 
C)  The asteroids all have about the same density. 
D)  Saturn has the same density as water. 
E)  Planetary density increases with increasing distance from the Sun. 
A)  The denser planets lie closer to the Sun. 
B)  In differentiated bodies, the denser materials lie near their surfaces. 
C)  The asteroids all have about the same density. 
D)  Saturn has the same density as water. 
E)  Planetary density increases with increasing distance from the Sun.

Question 16

Of the Ptolemaic and Copernican models, who wins the battle of Occam's Razor for the simplest explanation of retrograde motions?

Accepted Answer

Copernicus simply had retrograde motion

Question 17

Scientists today do not accept the Ptolemaic model because

Accepted Answer

A)  it is ancient history. 
B)  it was too complicated, compared to Copernicus' heliocentric model. 
C)  it has been shown that Ptolemy faked his data. 
D)  it had no explanation for retrograde motion. 
A)  it is ancient history. 
B)  it was too complicated, compared to Copernicus' heliocentric model. 
C)  it has been shown that Ptolemy faked his data. 
D)  it had no explanation for retrograde motion.

Question 18

Today we rely largely on what technique to precisely measure distances in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Transits of Venus across the Sun 
B)  Radar echo timings 
C)  Measurement of stellar parallaxes. 
D)  Timings of the eclipses of its moons by Jupiter's shadow 
E)  Precise measurements of length of the year with atomic clocks 
A)  Transits of Venus across the Sun 
B)  Radar echo timings 
C)  Measurement of stellar parallaxes. 
D)  Timings of the eclipses of its moons by Jupiter's shadow 
E)  Precise measurements of length of the year with atomic clocks

Question 19

The planet's orbital period is

Accepted Answer

A)  the time it takes it to rotate and have the same face toward us again. 
B)  the time it takes to return to the same location in the sky, relative to the Sun. 
C)  the time it takes for a satellite to orbit it. 
D)  the time it takes for it to retrograde back to the same position as we pass it. 
E)  the time its magnetic field takes to spin once. 
A)  the time it takes it to rotate and have the same face toward us again. 
B)  the time it takes to return to the same location in the sky, relative to the Sun. 
C)  the time it takes for a satellite to orbit it. 
D)  the time it takes for it to retrograde back to the same position as we pass it. 
E)  the time its magnetic field takes to spin once.

Question 20

The plane in which almost all planets orbit the Sun is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  equator of the solar system. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  equant. 
D)  node. 
E)  galactic plane. 
A)  equator of the solar system. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  equant. 
D)  node. 
E)  galactic plane.

Which of the following is a contribution to astronomy made by Galileo?

The force of gravity between two objects

Galileo's observations of the entire phase cycle of Venus proved that Ptolemy's epicycles could not be correct in keeping Venus between us and the Sun.

All the terrestrial planets lie inside the asteroid belt.

Relate Kepler's Second Law to the speeds of the planets.

Kepler found the orbits of planets are ellipses, not circles.

A planet whose distance from the Sun is 3 AU would have an orbital period of how many Earth-years?

Which statement about the motion of the planets is INCORRECT?

Tycho Brahe's contribution to Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion were

Newton's modification of Kepler's Third Law lets us measure the mass of the Sun.

Which concept was NOT a part of Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion?

Which of the statements below is part of both the Ptolemaic and Copernican models?

When a planet retrogrades, it appears to move westward.

Like the Sun and the Moon, the planets appear to move from west to east from one day to the next.

What is TRUE about solar system densities?

Of the Ptolemaic and Copernican models, who wins the battle of Occam's Razor for the simplest explanation of retrograde motions?

Scientists today do not accept the Ptolemaic model because

Today we rely largely on what technique to precisely measure distances in the solar system?

The planet's orbital period is

The plane in which almost all planets orbit the Sun is called the

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

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Exam 3: The Solar System

Which of the following is a contribution to astronomy made by Galileo?

The force of gravity between two objects

Galileo's observations of the entire phase cycle of Venus proved that Ptolemy's epicycles could not be correct in keeping Venus between us and the Sun.

All the terrestrial planets lie inside the asteroid belt.

Relate Kepler's Second Law to the speeds of the planets.

Kepler found the orbits of planets are ellipses, not circles.

A planet whose distance from the Sun is 3 AU would have an orbital period of how many Earth-years?

Which statement about the motion of the planets is INCORRECT?

Tycho Brahe's contribution to Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion were

Newton's modification of Kepler's Third Law lets us measure the mass of the Sun.

Which concept was NOT a part of Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion?

Which of the statements below is part of both the Ptolemaic and Copernican models?

When a planet retrogrades, it appears to move westward.

Like the Sun and the Moon, the planets appear to move from west to east from one day to the next.

What is TRUE about solar system densities?

Of the Ptolemaic and Copernican models, who wins the battle of Occam's Razor for the simplest explanation of retrograde motions?

Scientists today do not accept the Ptolemaic model because

Today we rely largely on what technique to precisely measure distances in the solar system?

The planet's orbital period is

The plane in which almost all planets orbit the Sun is called the

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