Question 1

In pre-Copernican astronomy, it was almost universally believed that

Accepted Answer

A) the planets traveled in elliptical orbits about Earth. 
B) the center of the universe was the Sun with the Milky Way representing other distant planets. 
C) the Sun was at the center of the universe. 
D) Earth was at the center of the universe. 
E) None of the above was believed. 
A) the planets traveled in elliptical orbits about Earth. 
B) the center of the universe was the Sun with the Milky Way representing other distant planets. 
C) the Sun was at the center of the universe. 
D) Earth was at the center of the universe. 
E) None of the above was believed.

Question 2

The ____________________ Tables were based on a heliocentric model of the universe and used elliptical orbits for the planets.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ Tables were based on a...

Question 3

Galileo's observations of a complete set of phases of Venus proved

Accepted Answer

A) that Venus orbited the Sun. 
B) that Earth orbited the Sun. 
C) that all of the planets orbited the Sun. 
D) that the Moon orbited Earth. 
E) that Venus had an atmosphere. 
A) that Venus orbited the Sun. 
B) that Earth orbited the Sun. 
C) that all of the planets orbited the Sun. 
D) that the Moon orbited Earth. 
E) that Venus had an atmosphere.

Question 4

If an object's orbital velocity exceeds a celestial object's escape velocity, the object will follow closed orbits.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Parallax is

Accepted Answer

A) the apparent motion of an object due to the motion of the observer. 
B) the distance between two foci of an ellipse. 
C) the small circle that the planets slid along in Ptolemy's geocentric universe. 
D) the circular orbits used in Copernicus' heliocentric universe. 
E) half the length of the shortest diameter of an ellipse. 
A) the apparent motion of an object due to the motion of the observer. 
B) the distance between two foci of an ellipse. 
C) the small circle that the planets slid along in Ptolemy's geocentric universe. 
D) the circular orbits used in Copernicus' heliocentric universe. 
E) half the length of the shortest diameter of an ellipse.

Question 6

Spring tides occur

Accepted Answer

A) at new Moon and first-quarter Moon. 
B) at first quarter and third-quarter Moons. 
C) at new Moon and full Moon. 
D) at third-quarter and full Moons. 
E) at noon and midnight. 
A) at new Moon and first-quarter Moon. 
B) at first quarter and third-quarter Moons. 
C) at new Moon and full Moon. 
D) at third-quarter and full Moons. 
E) at noon and midnight.

Question 7

Copernicus

Accepted Answer

A) proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun. 
B) showed how retrograde motion could be explained without epicycles if the planets all orbited the Sun. 
C) neither proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun and showed how retrograde motion could be explained without epicycles if the planets all orbited the Sun. 
D) both proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun and showed how retrograde motion could be explained without epicycles if the planets all orbited the Sun. 
A) proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun. 
B) showed how retrograde motion could be explained without epicycles if the planets all orbited the Sun. 
C) neither proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun and showed how retrograde motion could be explained without epicycles if the planets all orbited the Sun. 
D) both proposed that the Earth orbited the Sun and showed how retrograde motion could be explained without epicycles if the planets all orbited the Sun.

Question 8

Many classical Greek astronomers believed Earth could not move because they detected no parallax.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

An object in orbit around Earth

Accepted Answer

A) is not experiencing gravity. 
B) is in free fall. 
C) is accelerating towards Earth. 
D) is in free fall and is accelerating toward Earth. 
A) is not experiencing gravity. 
B) is in free fall. 
C) is accelerating towards Earth. 
D) is in free fall and is accelerating toward Earth.

Question 10

Newton concluded that a force from the Earth had to act on the Moon because

Accepted Answer

A) a force is needed to keep the Moon in motion in its orbit. 
B) a force is needed to pull the Moon outward. 
C) a force is needed to accelerate the Moon toward Earth away from straight-line motion. 
D) the Moon moved at a constant velocity in a straight line. 
E) All of the other choices are correct. 
A) a force is needed to keep the Moon in motion in its orbit. 
B) a force is needed to pull the Moon outward. 
C) a force is needed to accelerate the Moon toward Earth away from straight-line motion. 
D) the Moon moved at a constant velocity in a straight line. 
E) All of the other choices are correct.

Question 11

Galileo used a telescope to observe the phases of Venus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What are Newton's three laws of motion

Accepted Answer

(1) A body continues at rest or in unifo

Question 13

Halley's comet has an orbital period of 76 years, what is the average distance of Comet Halley from the Sun

Accepted Answer

A) 51 AU 
B) 18 AU 
C) 114 AU 
D) 660 AU 
E) 38 AU 
A) 51 AU 
B) 18 AU 
C) 114 AU 
D) 660 AU 
E) 38 AU

Question 14

The 4 new 'planets' Galileo discovered are called the ___________________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The 4 new 'planets' Galileo discovered are...

Question 15

Describe one observation that would disprove the Ptolemaic model and explain why it would conflict with the model.

Accepted Answer

The Ptolemaic model was geocentric, with

Question 16

The circular velocity of a satellite orbiting Earth is given by   . In this equation,

Accepted Answer

A) M represents the mass of the satellite, and r is its radius. 
B) M represents the mass of Earth, and r the radius of Earth. 
C) M represents the mass of the satellite, and r the distance from Earth to the satellite. 
D) M represents the mass of Earth, and r the distance from Earth to the satellite. 
E) M represents the mass of the satellite, and r the distance from Earth's surface to the satellite. 
A) M represents the mass of the satellite, and r is its radius. 
B) M represents the mass of Earth, and r the radius of Earth. 
C) M represents the mass of the satellite, and r the distance from Earth to the satellite. 
D) M represents the mass of Earth, and r the distance from Earth to the satellite. 
E) M represents the mass of the satellite, and r the distance from Earth's surface to the satellite.

Question 17

A comet in a highly elliptical orbit is found to have a semimajor axis equal to one astronomical unit (AU). According to Kepler's 3rd law, what would be the sidereal period of this comet

Accepted Answer

A) more than one year 
B) one year 
C) less than one year 
D) 76 years; the same for every comet 
E) Not enough information is given to determine this. 
A) more than one year 
B) one year 
C) less than one year 
D) 76 years; the same for every comet 
E) Not enough information is given to determine this.

Question 18

How can tidal forces affect the rotation of celestial bodies and their orbital motion Hint: Consider Earth and the Moon.

Accepted Answer

Tidal forces affect orbital motion. For

Question 19

Saturn is on average 10 AU from the Sun. What is the approximate orbital period of Saturn

Accepted Answer

A) 10 years 
B) 32 years 
C) 100 years 
D) 1000 years 
E) 1,000,000 years 
A) 10 years 
B) 32 years 
C) 100 years 
D) 1000 years 
E) 1,000,000 years

Question 20

When Mars is located directly behind Earth with respect to the Sun in its orbit, it is

Accepted Answer

A) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at sunset. 
B) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at midnight. 
C) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at sunrise. 
D) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at noon. 
E) not visible in the night sky. 
A) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at sunset. 
B) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at midnight. 
C) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at sunrise. 
D) at the midpoint in the sky between east and west at noon. 
E) not visible in the night sky.

In pre-Copernican astronomy, it was almost universally believed that

The ____________________ Tables were based on a heliocentric model of the universe and used elliptical orbits for the planets.

Galileo's observations of a complete set of phases of Venus proved

If an object's orbital velocity exceeds a celestial object's escape velocity, the object will follow closed orbits.

Parallax is

Spring tides occur

Copernicus

Many classical Greek astronomers believed Earth could not move because they detected no parallax.

An object in orbit around Earth

Newton concluded that a force from the Earth had to act on the Moon because

Galileo used a telescope to observe the phases of Venus.

What are Newton's three laws of motion

Halley's comet has an orbital period of 76 years, what is the average distance of Comet Halley from the Sun

The 4 new 'planets' Galileo discovered are called the ___________________________.

Describe one observation that would disprove the Ptolemaic model and explain why it would conflict with the model.

The circular velocity of a satellite orbiting Earth is given by . In this equation,

A comet in a highly elliptical orbit is found to have a semimajor axis equal to one astronomical unit (AU). According to Kepler's 3rd law, what would be the sidereal period of this comet

How can tidal forces affect the rotation of celestial bodies and their orbital motion Hint: Consider Earth and the Moon.

Saturn is on average 10 AU from the Sun. What is the approximate orbital period of Saturn

When Mars is located directly behind Earth with respect to the Sun in its orbit, it is

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

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Exam 4: The Origin of Modern Astronomy

In pre-Copernican astronomy, it was almost universally believed that

The ____________________ Tables were based on a heliocentric model of the universe and used elliptical orbits for the planets.

Galileo's observations of a complete set of phases of Venus proved

If an object's orbital velocity exceeds a celestial object's escape velocity, the object will follow closed orbits.

Parallax is

Spring tides occur

Copernicus

Many classical Greek astronomers believed Earth could not move because they detected no parallax.

An object in orbit around Earth

Newton concluded that a force from the Earth had to act on the Moon because

Galileo used a telescope to observe the phases of Venus.

What are Newton's three laws of motion

Halley's comet has an orbital period of 76 years, what is the average distance of Comet Halley from the Sun

The 4 new 'planets' Galileo discovered are called the ___________________________.

Describe one observation that would disprove the Ptolemaic model and explain why it would conflict with the model.

The circular velocity of a satellite orbiting Earth is given by . In this equation,

A comet in a highly elliptical orbit is found to have a semimajor axis equal to one astronomical unit (AU). According to Kepler's 3rd law, what would be the sidereal period of this comet

How can tidal forces affect the rotation of celestial bodies and their orbital motion Hint: Consider Earth and the Moon.

Saturn is on average 10 AU from the Sun. What is the approximate orbital period of Saturn

When Mars is located directly behind Earth with respect to the Sun in its orbit, it is

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters