Question 1

A planet at inferior conjunction is always:

Accepted Answer

A)  on the opposite side of the sky from the Sun as seen from Earth. 
B)  closer to Earth than the Sun is. 
C)  below Earth's horizon and therefore invisible. 
D)  farther away from Earth than the Sun is. 
A)  on the opposite side of the sky from the Sun as seen from Earth. 
B)  closer to Earth than the Sun is. 
C)  below Earth's horizon and therefore invisible. 
D)  farther away from Earth than the Sun is.

Question 2

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 with the mass of the object being orbited. 
C)  accurately only 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 with the mass of the object being orbited. 
C)  accurately only close to the Sun and becomes less accurate with increasing distance from the Sun. 
D)  only to planets orbiting the Sun.

Question 3

A feather and a boulder will have equal accelerations when falling under the influence of gravity in a vacuum because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the ratio of the object's weight to its mass is the same. 
B)  gravity does not act in a vacuum. 
C)  the gravitational force on each object is the same. 
D)  all gravitational accelerations everywhere are equal. 
A)  the ratio of the object's weight to its mass is the same. 
B)  gravity does not act in a vacuum. 
C)  the gravitational force on each object is the same. 
D)  all gravitational accelerations everywhere are equal.

Question 4

The development of the scientific theory related to the Higgs boson was unusual in that:

Accepted Answer

A)  it began with observations made a century ago. 
B)  it began with theoretical calculations rather than observations. 
C)  the observations that began the investigation disproved the currently accepted model, thus leaving theorists with no structure to build upon. 
D)  the original theory was an outgrowth of an entirely unrelated area of anthropology. 
A)  it began with observations made a century ago. 
B)  it began with theoretical calculations rather than observations. 
C)  the observations that began the investigation disproved the currently accepted model, thus leaving theorists with no structure to build upon. 
D)  the original theory was an outgrowth of an entirely unrelated area of anthropology.

Question 5

When the planet Mars is moving in a retrograde direction,its motion against the background stars is seen to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  stationary, with no motion against the stars. 
B)  exactly perpendicular to the equator. 
C)  eastward. 
D)  westward. 
A)  stationary, with no motion against the stars. 
B)  exactly perpendicular to the equator. 
C)  eastward. 
D)  westward.

Question 6

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 7

Venus shows changes in angular size and also shows phases similar to the phases of the Moon.According to Galileo,who first saw the phases,these observations showed that Venus:

Accepted Answer

A)  orbits Earth in an elliptical orbit. 
B)  moves in epicycles. 
C)  does not rotate on its axis. 
D)  orbits the Sun. 
A)  orbits Earth in an elliptical orbit. 
B)  moves in epicycles. 
C)  does not rotate on its axis. 
D)  orbits the Sun.

Question 8

Tycho Brahe:

Accepted Answer

A)  developed a reflecting telescope, which used a curved mirror to focus the light. 
B)  developed the first detailed heliocentric model for the solar system, which replaced the geocentric model of Ptolemy. 
C)  improved the refracting telescope, which allowed him to extend Galileo's observations of the sky. 
D)  made accurate measurements of planetary positions, which Kepler later used to find the shapes of planetary orbits. 
A)  developed a reflecting telescope, which used a curved mirror to focus the light. 
B)  developed the first detailed heliocentric model for the solar system, which replaced the geocentric model of Ptolemy. 
C)  improved the refracting telescope, which allowed him to extend Galileo's observations of the sky. 
D)  made accurate measurements of planetary positions, which Kepler later used to find the shapes of planetary orbits.

Question 9

Before deriving the shapes of planetary orbits,Johannes Kepler worked as an assistant to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe. 
B)  Galileo Galilei. 
C)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
D)  Ptolemy. 
A)  Tycho Brahe. 
B)  Galileo Galilei. 
C)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
D)  Ptolemy.

Question 10

Newton's second law states that:

Accepted Answer

A)  force equals mass divided by acceleration. 
B)  force equals mass times acceleration. 
C)  weight equals force times acceleration. 
D)  acceleration equals force times mass. 
A)  force equals mass divided by acceleration. 
B)  force equals mass times acceleration. 
C)  weight equals force times acceleration. 
D)  acceleration equals force times mass.

Question 11

Galileo's early observations of the sky with his newly made telescope included the discovery of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Pluto. 
B)  the phases of Venus. 
C)  Jupiter's magnetosphere. 
D)  retrograde motion in planets. 
A)  Pluto. 
B)  the phases of Venus. 
C)  Jupiter's magnetosphere. 
D)  retrograde motion in planets.

Question 12

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 13

As seen by an observer on Saturn (or one of its moons),which of the following planets can NEVER pass through inferior conjunction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Neptune 
C)  Venus 
D)  Earth 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Neptune 
C)  Venus 
D)  Earth

Question 14

Which of the following statements MOST closely expresses the principle of "Occam's razor" as it applies to theoretical explanations of physical phenomena?

Accepted Answer

A)  The theory with the longest history is the most likely explanation. 
B)  The theory requiring the least number of assumptions is the most likely explanation. 
C)  The newest theory is most likely to be the correct one. 
D)  The theory requiring the largest number of assumptions is the most likely explanation. 
A)  The theory with the longest history is the most likely explanation. 
B)  The theory requiring the least number of assumptions is the most likely explanation. 
C)  The newest theory is most likely to be the correct one. 
D)  The theory requiring the largest number of assumptions is the most likely explanation.

Question 15

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of a planet about the Sun is a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  circle, with the Sun at the center. 
B)  oval, with the Sun at the center. 
C)  ellipse, with the Sun at one focus. 
D)  ellipse, with the Sun at the center. 
A)  circle, with the Sun at the center. 
B)  oval, with the Sun at the center. 
C)  ellipse, with the Sun at one focus. 
D)  ellipse, with the Sun at the center.

Question 16

The retrograde portion of a planet's motion has what duration?

Accepted Answer

A)  a few days to a few weeks 
B)  a few weeks to a few months 
C)  a few days to a few months 
D)  a few weeks to a few years 
A)  a few days to a few weeks 
B)  a few weeks to a few months 
C)  a few days to a few months 
D)  a few weeks to a few years

Question 17

What distinguished the Pythagoreans from the natural philosophers who came before them?

Accepted Answer

A)  They had uncovered the scientific writings of the Babylonians. 
B)  They invented a crude telescope. 
C)  They attempted to make mathematical models of physical phenomena. 
D)  Through trade routes, they had been exposed to the philosophy of the ancient orient. 
A)  They had uncovered the scientific writings of the Babylonians. 
B)  They invented a crude telescope. 
C)  They attempted to make mathematical models of physical phenomena. 
D)  Through trade routes, they had been exposed to the philosophy of the ancient orient.

Question 18

The center,or fixed point,of the Greek model of the universe was:

Accepted Answer

A)  the center of the Galaxy. 
B)  a point midway between Earth and the Sun. 
C)  the Sun's center. 
D)  close to Earth's center. 
A)  the center of the Galaxy. 
B)  a point midway between Earth and the Sun. 
C)  the Sun's center. 
D)  close to Earth's center.

Question 19

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion about the nature of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho observed the phases of Venus and thus concluded that the solar system is heliocentric. 
B)  Tycho's observation of the Jovian system (Jupiter and its four large moons) convinced him that the solar system is heliocentric. 
C)  Tycho's failure to detect parallax motion for the stars convinced him that the solar system is geocentric. 
D)  Tycho's observations of the Sun convinced him that it is so large that it must be the center of the solar system. 
A)  Tycho observed the phases of Venus and thus concluded that the solar system is heliocentric. 
B)  Tycho's observation of the Jovian system (Jupiter and its four large moons) convinced him that the solar system is heliocentric. 
C)  Tycho's failure to detect parallax motion for the stars convinced him that the solar system is geocentric. 
D)  Tycho's observations of the Sun convinced him that it is so large that it must be the center of the solar system.

Question 20

One convenient statement of the distance traveled by light over very short times is that the speed of light is about "a foot per nanosecond." The speed of light is 3 × 10⁸ m/s.What,then,is a nanosecond?

Accepted Answer

A)  10-⁷ seconds 
B)  10-⁹ seconds 
C)  10-¹² seconds 
D)  10-¹⁵ seconds 
A)  10-⁷ seconds 
B)  10-⁹ seconds 
C)  10-¹² seconds 
D)  10-¹⁵ seconds

A planet at inferior conjunction is always:

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

A feather and a boulder will have equal accelerations when falling under the influence of gravity in a vacuum because:

The development of the scientific theory related to the Higgs boson was unusual in that:

When the planet Mars is moving in a retrograde direction,its motion against the background stars is seen to be:

In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

Venus shows changes in angular size and also shows phases similar to the phases of the Moon.According to Galileo,who first saw the phases,these observations showed that Venus:

Tycho Brahe:

Before deriving the shapes of planetary orbits,Johannes Kepler worked as an assistant to:

Newton's second law states that:

Galileo's early observations of the sky with his newly made telescope included the discovery of:

When Venus is at superior conjunction,it is:

As seen by an observer on Saturn (or one of its moons),which of the following planets can NEVER pass through inferior conjunction?

Which of the following statements MOST closely expresses the principle of "Occam's razor" as it applies to theoretical explanations of physical phenomena?

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of a planet about the Sun is a(n):

The retrograde portion of a planet's motion has what duration?

What distinguished the Pythagoreans from the natural philosophers who came before them?

The center,or fixed point,of the Greek model of the universe was:

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion about the nature of the solar system?

One convenient statement of the distance traveled by light over very short times is that the speed of light is about "a foot per nanosecond." The speed of light is 3 × 10⁸ m/s.What,then,is a nanosecond?

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

Exam 2: Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

A planet at inferior conjunction is always:

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

A feather and a boulder will have equal accelerations when falling under the influence of gravity in a vacuum because:

The development of the scientific theory related to the Higgs boson was unusual in that:

When the planet Mars is moving in a retrograde direction,its motion against the background stars is seen to be:

In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

Venus shows changes in angular size and also shows phases similar to the phases of the Moon.According to Galileo,who first saw the phases,these observations showed that Venus:

Tycho Brahe:

Before deriving the shapes of planetary orbits,Johannes Kepler worked as an assistant to:

Newton's second law states that:

Galileo's early observations of the sky with his newly made telescope included the discovery of:

When Venus is at superior conjunction,it is:

As seen by an observer on Saturn (or one of its moons),which of the following planets can NEVER pass through inferior conjunction?

Which of the following statements MOST closely expresses the principle of "Occam's razor" as it applies to theoretical explanations of physical phenomena?

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of a planet about the Sun is a(n):

The retrograde portion of a planet's motion has what duration?

What distinguished the Pythagoreans from the natural philosophers who came before them?

The center,or fixed point,of the Greek model of the universe was:

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion about the nature of the solar system?

One convenient statement of the distance traveled by light over very short times is that the speed of light is about "a foot per nanosecond." The speed of light is 3 × 10⁸ m/s.What,then,is a nanosecond?

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