Question 1

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY states the significance of Galileo's observation that Venus shows phases?

Accepted Answer

A)  The phases showed that, like the Moon, Venus is always much closer to Earth than the Sun is. 
B)  The phases were correlated with angular size in a way that supported the heliocentric theory. 
C)  The phases were interesting but did not have any other particular significance. 
D)  Because the phases were not correlated with angular size, they actually supported the geocentric theory more than the heliocentric theory. 
A)  The phases showed that, like the Moon, Venus is always much closer to Earth than the Sun is. 
B)  The phases were correlated with angular size in a way that supported the heliocentric theory. 
C)  The phases were interesting but did not have any other particular significance. 
D)  Because the phases were not correlated with angular size, they actually supported the geocentric theory more than the heliocentric theory.

Question 2

An apparent eastward motion of a planet from night to night compared with the background stars (as viewed from Earth)is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A)  rising (if in the east) or setting (if in the west). 
B)  direct motion. 
C)  precession. 
D)  retrograde motion. 
A)  rising (if in the east) or setting (if in the west). 
B)  direct motion. 
C)  precession. 
D)  retrograde motion.

Question 3

Tycho Brahe demonstrated that the supernova of 1572 was NOT a nearby event (close to Earth)by:

Accepted Answer

A)  proving that it did not show parallax over the course of one night. 
B)  showing that it did not pass in front of the Sun at conjunction. 
C)  proving that it did not move past the background stars like a planet in our solar system. 
D)  showing that it did not get brighter and fainter as Earth moved toward and away from it over the course of a year. 
A)  proving that it did not show parallax over the course of one night. 
B)  showing that it did not pass in front of the Sun at conjunction. 
C)  proving that it did not move past the background stars like a planet in our solar system. 
D)  showing that it did not get brighter and fainter as Earth moved toward and away from it over the course of a year.

Question 4

In applying the scientific method to the study of our natural surroundings,scientists are:

Accepted Answer

A)  discovering by observation the absolute truth about limited areas of science and are therefore slowly building up the correct view of the universe. 
B)  slowly amassing a vast bank of observations of nature that at some time in the future will be assembled into the correct description of the universe. 
C)  formulating hypotheses or models that describe the present observations of nature and that predict possible further tests for these models. 
D)  developing a theoretical view of the universe that incorporates all previous ideas and beliefs as part of an overall philosophy. 
A)  discovering by observation the absolute truth about limited areas of science and are therefore slowly building up the correct view of the universe. 
B)  slowly amassing a vast bank of observations of nature that at some time in the future will be assembled into the correct description of the universe. 
C)  formulating hypotheses or models that describe the present observations of nature and that predict possible further tests for these models. 
D)  developing a theoretical view of the universe that incorporates all previous ideas and beliefs as part of an overall philosophy.

Question 5

Retrograde motion causes the planets to:

Accepted Answer

A)  rise in the west and set in the east. 
B)  move westward with respect to the stars. 
C)  move at the same rate as the stars. 
D)  move eastward with respect to the stars. 
A)  rise in the west and set in the east. 
B)  move westward with respect to the stars. 
C)  move at the same rate as the stars. 
D)  move eastward with respect to the stars.

Question 6

The one significant observation Galileo made through his home-built telescope that convinced him that the planets revolved around the Sun was the:

Accepted Answer

A)  appearance of the Milky Way as a mass of individual stars. 
B)  discovery of rings around the planet Saturn. 
C)  appearance of mountains and craters on the Moon. 
D)  appearance of Venus following a cycle of phases, from crescent through quarter and gibbous phases to full. 
A)  appearance of the Milky Way as a mass of individual stars. 
B)  discovery of rings around the planet Saturn. 
C)  appearance of mountains and craters on the Moon. 
D)  appearance of Venus following a cycle of phases, from crescent through quarter and gibbous phases to full.

Question 7

The simplified version of Kepler's third law of planetary motion relates the period P (in sidereal years)to the length of the semimajor axis a (in astronomical units)in which way?

Accepted Answer

A)  P² = a³ 
B)  P = a² 
C)  P = 1/a² 
D)  P³ = a² 
A)  P² = a³ 
B)  P = a² 
C)  P = 1/a² 
D)  P³ = a²

Question 8

Why were Newton's three laws so important to astronomy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's laws showed that acceleration always results from a change in velocity. 
B)  Newton's laws showed why objects released from rest always fall to the ground. 
C)  Newton's laws showed that planets can move around the Sun by themselves forever, without coming to rest. 
D)  Newton's laws provided a physical basis that did not conflict with the Bible, Aristotle, or Plato. 
A)  Newton's laws showed that acceleration always results from a change in velocity. 
B)  Newton's laws showed why objects released from rest always fall to the ground. 
C)  Newton's laws showed that planets can move around the Sun by themselves forever, without coming to rest. 
D)  Newton's laws provided a physical basis that did not conflict with the Bible, Aristotle, or Plato.

Question 9

From Earth,we observe occasional retrograde motion in the motion of:

Accepted Answer

A)  only the inner planets-Mercury and Venus. 
B)  only the outer planets-Mars and beyond. 
C)  all the planets. 
D)  all the planets and the Moon. 
A)  only the inner planets-Mercury and Venus. 
B)  only the outer planets-Mars and beyond. 
C)  all the planets. 
D)  all the planets and the Moon.

Question 10

Where is a planet when it is moving MOST rapidly in its orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  at aphelion 
B)  at perihelion 
C)  approaching the closest distance to the Sun 
D)  at the focus of its orbit 
A)  at aphelion 
B)  at perihelion 
C)  approaching the closest distance to the Sun 
D)  at the focus of its orbit

Question 11

When Saturn is at its farthest distance from Earth,it is at:

Accepted Answer

A)  inferior conjunction. 
B)  opposition. 
C)  greatest elongation (about 47° from the Sun). 
D)  conjunction. 
A)  inferior conjunction. 
B)  opposition. 
C)  greatest elongation (about 47° from the Sun). 
D)  conjunction.

Question 12

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 13

The scientific method is a major force in science,and theories describing physical phenomena have been developed with the aim of ensuring that:

Accepted Answer

A)  they agree with what we find in experiments and observations. 
B)  results from experiments can be adjusted to agree with carefully constructed theoretical ideals. 
C)  they agree with the wisdom of the ancients. 
D)  they are so good and our faith in them is so strong that we never need to test them against observations. 
A)  they agree with what we find in experiments and observations. 
B)  results from experiments can be adjusted to agree with carefully constructed theoretical ideals. 
C)  they agree with the wisdom of the ancients. 
D)  they are so good and our faith in them is so strong that we never need to test them against observations.

Question 14

Which one of the following bodies would NOT exhibit retrograde motion if observed from Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Sun 
D)  Mars 
A)  Venus 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Sun 
D)  Mars

Question 15

According to Newton's laws,a force must be acting whenever:

Accepted Answer

A)  an object moves with some speed. 
B)  the direction of an object's motion changes. 
C)  time passes. 
D)  an object's position changes. 
A)  an object moves with some speed. 
B)  the direction of an object's motion changes. 
C)  time passes. 
D)  an object's position changes.

Question 16

Which of the following astronomers was a contemporary of (lived at the same time as)Galileo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton 
B)  Ptolemy 
C)  Kepler 
D)  Copernicus 
A)  Newton 
B)  Ptolemy 
C)  Kepler 
D)  Copernicus

Question 17

Which of the following statements about Copernicus's system of planetary motion is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion had Earth in the center of the solar system. 
B)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion was the first model in history to place the Sun is the center of the solar system. 
C)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion used uniform circular motion. 
D)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion included a physical explanation of why the planets move in their particular orbits. 
A)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion had Earth in the center of the solar system. 
B)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion was the first model in history to place the Sun is the center of the solar system. 
C)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion used uniform circular motion. 
D)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion included a physical explanation of why the planets move in their particular orbits.

Question 18

When Venus is at inferior conjunction,it is:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

If an astronomer finds an object at a distance of 6.8 AU from Earth,what is the object MOST likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A)  a star in our Galaxy 
B)  a distant galaxy 
C)  an artificial satellite orbiting Earth 
D)  a comet in our solar system 
A)  a star in our Galaxy 
B)  a distant galaxy 
C)  an artificial satellite orbiting Earth 
D)  a comet in our solar system

Question 20

Consider the synodic period for Saturn.Which planet (or planets)will be in the same place in its orbit at the beginning and at the end of one synodic period of Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  neither Saturn nor Earth 
B)  Earth but not Saturn 
C)  Saturn but not Earth 
D)  both Saturn and Earth 
A)  neither Saturn nor Earth 
B)  Earth but not Saturn 
C)  Saturn but not Earth 
D)  both Saturn and Earth

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY states the significance of Galileo's observation that Venus shows phases?

An apparent eastward motion of a planet from night to night compared with the background stars (as viewed from Earth)is referred to as:

Tycho Brahe demonstrated that the supernova of 1572 was NOT a nearby event (close to Earth)by:

In applying the scientific method to the study of our natural surroundings,scientists are:

Retrograde motion causes the planets to:

The one significant observation Galileo made through his home-built telescope that convinced him that the planets revolved around the Sun was the:

The simplified version of Kepler's third law of planetary motion relates the period P (in sidereal years)to the length of the semimajor axis a (in astronomical units)in which way?

Why were Newton's three laws so important to astronomy?

From Earth,we observe occasional retrograde motion in the motion of:

Where is a planet when it is moving MOST rapidly in its orbit?

When Saturn is at its farthest distance from Earth,it is at:

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

The scientific method is a major force in science,and theories describing physical phenomena have been developed with the aim of ensuring that:

Which one of the following bodies would NOT exhibit retrograde motion if observed from Mercury?

According to Newton's laws,a force must be acting whenever:

Which of the following astronomers was a contemporary of (lived at the same time as)Galileo?

Which of the following statements about Copernicus's system of planetary motion is CORRECT?

When Venus is at inferior conjunction,it is:

If an astronomer finds an object at a distance of 6.8 AU from Earth,what is the object MOST likely to be?

Consider the synodic period for Saturn.Which planet (or planets)will be in the same place in its orbit at the beginning and at the end of one synodic period of Saturn?

Discovering the Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 2: Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY states the significance of Galileo's observation that Venus shows phases?

An apparent eastward motion of a planet from night to night compared with the background stars (as viewed from Earth)is referred to as:

Tycho Brahe demonstrated that the supernova of 1572 was NOT a nearby event (close to Earth)by:

In applying the scientific method to the study of our natural surroundings,scientists are:

Retrograde motion causes the planets to:

The one significant observation Galileo made through his home-built telescope that convinced him that the planets revolved around the Sun was the:

The simplified version of Kepler's third law of planetary motion relates the period P (in sidereal years)to the length of the semimajor axis a (in astronomical units)in which way?

Why were Newton's three laws so important to astronomy?

From Earth,we observe occasional retrograde motion in the motion of:

Where is a planet when it is moving MOST rapidly in its orbit?

When Saturn is at its farthest distance from Earth,it is at:

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

The scientific method is a major force in science,and theories describing physical phenomena have been developed with the aim of ensuring that:

Which one of the following bodies would NOT exhibit retrograde motion if observed from Mercury?

According to Newton's laws,a force must be acting whenever:

Which of the following astronomers was a contemporary of (lived at the same time as)Galileo?

Which of the following statements about Copernicus's system of planetary motion is CORRECT?

When Venus is at inferior conjunction,it is:

If an astronomer finds an object at a distance of 6.8 AU from Earth,what is the object MOST likely to be?

Consider the synodic period for Saturn.Which planet (or planets)will be in the same place in its orbit at the beginning and at the end of one synodic period of Saturn?

Discovering the Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters