Question 1

In the Greek planetary model,the deferent is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  part of the planet's orbit when it appears to move "backward" (i.e., westward) in the sky. 
B)  off-center point in the planetary system occupied by Earth. 
C)  small circle about which the planet moves as the center of the circle orbits Earth. 
D)  circle about which each planet's epicycle center moves. 
A)  part of the planet's orbit when it appears to move "backward" (i.e., westward) in the sky. 
B)  off-center point in the planetary system occupied by Earth. 
C)  small circle about which the planet moves as the center of the circle orbits Earth. 
D)  circle about which each planet's epicycle center moves.

Question 2

The first major astronomical prediction of Newton's theory of gravitation to be confirmed by observation was the:

Accepted Answer

A)  return of Halley's Comet. 
B)  supernova of 1572. 
C)  discovery of Pluto. 
D)  discovery of Neptune. 
A)  return of Halley's Comet. 
B)  supernova of 1572. 
C)  discovery of Pluto. 
D)  discovery of Neptune.

Question 3

How many moons of Jupiter did Galileo see?

Accepted Answer

A)  None; he was unable to see them with the unaided eye. 
B)  four 
C)  twelve 
D)  one 
A)  None; he was unable to see them with the unaided eye. 
B)  four 
C)  twelve 
D)  one

Question 4

What is the angle between the line from Earth to Jupiter and the line from Earth to the Sun when Jupiter is at opposition?

Accepted Answer

A)  90° 
B)  anywhere between 0° and 180°, depending on the particular planetary alignment 
C)  0° 
D)  180° 
A)  90° 
B)  anywhere between 0° and 180°, depending on the particular planetary alignment 
C)  0° 
D)  180°

Question 5

The ancient Greek thinker Pythagoras held the view that:

Accepted Answer

A)  triangles do not exist. 
B)  natural phenomena are wonderful to watch but cannot be described by mathematics. 
C)  the Sun is at the center of the planetary system. 
D)  natural phenomena can be described mathematically. 
A)  triangles do not exist. 
B)  natural phenomena are wonderful to watch but cannot be described by mathematics. 
C)  the Sun is at the center of the planetary system. 
D)  natural phenomena can be described mathematically.

Question 6

At what position in its orbit does an inferior planet appear to be moving (for a day or two)more or less directly toward Earth? (See Figure 2-4 in Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.Draw a diagram if it will help.)

Accepted Answer

A)  inferior conjunction 
B)  superior conjunction 
C)  opposition 
D)  greatest eastern elongation 
A)  inferior conjunction 
B)  superior conjunction 
C)  opposition 
D)  greatest eastern elongation

Question 7

Which of the following observations of the motions of the large moons of Jupiter did Galileo find MOST significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  Their motions are counterclockwise (viewed from the north), just like the orbits of the planets. 
B)  Their orbits were elliptical, just like Kepler predicted. 
C)  Their orbits obeyed Kepler's second law. 
D)  The moons farther from Jupiter had longer periods, just as Copernicus had discovered for the planets around the Sun. 
A)  Their motions are counterclockwise (viewed from the north), just like the orbits of the planets. 
B)  Their orbits were elliptical, just like Kepler predicted. 
C)  Their orbits obeyed Kepler's second law. 
D)  The moons farther from Jupiter had longer periods, just as Copernicus had discovered for the planets around the Sun.

Question 8

A certain star in our arm of the Milky Way is measured to be about 750 pc from Earth.Expressed in light-years,the distance is approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  1500 ly. 
B)  4.7 × 10⁷ ly. 
C)  230 ly. 
D)  2445 ly. 
A)  1500 ly. 
B)  4.7 × 10⁷ ly. 
C)  230 ly. 
D)  2445 ly.

Question 9

Who predicted the existence of the planet Neptune before it was discovered observationally?

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler and Brahe 
B)  Newton and Halley 
C)  Adams and Leverrier 
D)  Kepler and Galileo 
A)  Kepler and Brahe 
B)  Newton and Halley 
C)  Adams and Leverrier 
D)  Kepler and Galileo

Question 10

Which of the following observations might you be able to make from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury and Venus passing each other, moving in opposite directions 
B)  Jupiter near Polaris, the North Star 
C)  Venus high in the sky at midnight 
D)  Mars, Saturn, and the Moon forming a large, equal-sided triangle 
A)  Mercury and Venus passing each other, moving in opposite directions 
B)  Jupiter near Polaris, the North Star 
C)  Venus high in the sky at midnight 
D)  Mars, Saturn, and the Moon forming a large, equal-sided triangle

Question 11

Two solid spheres of equal size and mass are joined by a spring-loaded,extendible rod.The whole unit is spinning like a baton (end-over-end)five times per second.Suddenly,the rod stretches,pushing the spheres farther apart.What change takes place as a result of the stretching?

Accepted Answer

A)  The angular momentum of the spheres and rod decreases. 
B)  The angular momentum of the spheres and rod increases. 
C)  The rate of spin of the spheres and rod decreases. 
D)  The rate of spin of the spheres and rod increases. 
A)  The angular momentum of the spheres and rod decreases. 
B)  The angular momentum of the spheres and rod increases. 
C)  The rate of spin of the spheres and rod decreases. 
D)  The rate of spin of the spheres and rod increases.

Question 12

In science,if new and reliable observations disagree with a well-established theory,then the:

Accepted Answer

A)  observations should be classified for future reference and the theory retained as the best explanation of the phenomenon. 
B)  observations must be discarded. 
C)  theory must be discarded. 
D)  theory must be modified to account for the observations, and if this is not possible, then the theory must be discarded. 
A)  observations should be classified for future reference and the theory retained as the best explanation of the phenomenon. 
B)  observations must be discarded. 
C)  theory must be discarded. 
D)  theory must be modified to account for the observations, and if this is not possible, then the theory must be discarded.

Question 13

The angular diameter of Venus appears largest when its phase is:

Accepted Answer

A)  crescent. 
B)  half. 
C)  gibbous. 
D)  full. 
A)  crescent. 
B)  half. 
C)  gibbous. 
D)  full.

Question 14

Consider a comet in a long,thin elliptical orbit with a semimajor axis of one astronomical unit.What can you say about the sidereal period of this comet?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sidereal period will be less than one year. 
B)  The sidereal period will be one year. 
C)  The sidereal period will be more than one year. 
D)  It is not possible to determine the comet's sidereal period without knowing the eccentricity of its orbit. 
A)  The sidereal period will be less than one year. 
B)  The sidereal period will be one year. 
C)  The sidereal period will be more than one year. 
D)  It is not possible to determine the comet's sidereal period without knowing the eccentricity of its orbit.

Question 15

In the years after Newton published his laws of motion,it was found that the observed positions of the planet Uranus did not match the predictions of Newton's theory.The reason for this turned out to be the:

Accepted Answer

A)  perturbing effects of Jupiter and Saturn, whose masses at that time were not accurately known. 
B)  perturbing effect of Neptune, which at that time had not yet been discovered. 
C)  perturbing effect of Pluto, which at that time had not yet been discovered. 
D)  weakening of gravity with increasing distance from the Sun. 
A)  perturbing effects of Jupiter and Saturn, whose masses at that time were not accurately known. 
B)  perturbing effect of Neptune, which at that time had not yet been discovered. 
C)  perturbing effect of Pluto, which at that time had not yet been discovered. 
D)  weakening of gravity with increasing distance from the Sun.

Question 16

The person who compiled the large set of accurate observations of planetary positions that formed the basis for proving that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ptolemy. 
B)  Johannes Kepler. 
C)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
D)  Tycho Brahe. 
A)  Ptolemy. 
B)  Johannes Kepler. 
C)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
D)  Tycho Brahe.

Question 17

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive:

Accepted Answer

A)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from the Sun. 
B)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from Earth. 
C)  identical configurations (e.g., opposition to opposition). 
D)  greatest elongations (e.g., greatest western elongation to greatest eastern elongation). 
A)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from the Sun. 
B)  passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star) as seen from Earth. 
C)  identical configurations (e.g., opposition to opposition). 
D)  greatest elongations (e.g., greatest western elongation to greatest eastern elongation).

Question 18

In the geocentric model of the solar system,which of the following phases of Venus should NOT be visible from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  full 
B)  crescent 
C)  new 
D)  None of these; they are all visible. 
A)  full 
B)  crescent 
C)  new 
D)  None of these; they are all visible.

Question 19

Kepler's third law tells us that the:

Accepted Answer

A)  period of a planet in years is the same number as its semimajor axis in AU. 
B)  square of a planet's period in years is the same number as the cube of its semimajor axis in AU. 
C)  square of a planet's period in years is the same number as the fourth power of its semimajor axis in AU. 
D)  cube of a planet's period in years is the same number as the square of its semimajor axis in AU. 
A)  period of a planet in years is the same number as its semimajor axis in AU. 
B)  square of a planet's period in years is the same number as the cube of its semimajor axis in AU. 
C)  square of a planet's period in years is the same number as the fourth power of its semimajor axis in AU. 
D)  cube of a planet's period in years is the same number as the square of its semimajor axis in AU.

Question 20

Which of the following descriptions characterizes the Newtonian understanding of the mechanics of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  The natural motion of the planets is motion in a straight line. The planets are prevented from straight-line motion by the gravitational force of the Sun. 
B)  The natural motion of the planets is uniform circular motion. The gravitational force of the Sun distorts the orbits of the planets into ellipses. 
C)  The planets are held in their orbits by a gravitational balance between the Sun (which is closer) and the stars (which are farther away). 
D)  The planets are held in their orbits by a balance between gravitation (attraction) and magnetism (repulsion). 
A)  The natural motion of the planets is motion in a straight line. The planets are prevented from straight-line motion by the gravitational force of the Sun. 
B)  The natural motion of the planets is uniform circular motion. The gravitational force of the Sun distorts the orbits of the planets into ellipses. 
C)  The planets are held in their orbits by a gravitational balance between the Sun (which is closer) and the stars (which are farther away). 
D)  The planets are held in their orbits by a balance between gravitation (attraction) and magnetism (repulsion).

In the Greek planetary model,the deferent is the:

The first major astronomical prediction of Newton's theory of gravitation to be confirmed by observation was the:

How many moons of Jupiter did Galileo see?

What is the angle between the line from Earth to Jupiter and the line from Earth to the Sun when Jupiter is at opposition?

The ancient Greek thinker Pythagoras held the view that:

At what position in its orbit does an inferior planet appear to be moving (for a day or two)more or less directly toward Earth? (See Figure 2-4 in Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.Draw a diagram if it will help.)

Which of the following observations of the motions of the large moons of Jupiter did Galileo find MOST significant?

A certain star in our arm of the Milky Way is measured to be about 750 pc from Earth.Expressed in light-years,the distance is approximately:

Who predicted the existence of the planet Neptune before it was discovered observationally?

Which of the following observations might you be able to make from Earth?

Two solid spheres of equal size and mass are joined by a spring-loaded,extendible rod.The whole unit is spinning like a baton (end-over-end)five times per second.Suddenly,the rod stretches,pushing the spheres farther apart.What change takes place as a result of the stretching?

In science,if new and reliable observations disagree with a well-established theory,then the:

The angular diameter of Venus appears largest when its phase is:

Consider a comet in a long,thin elliptical orbit with a semimajor axis of one astronomical unit.What can you say about the sidereal period of this comet?

In the years after Newton published his laws of motion,it was found that the observed positions of the planet Uranus did not match the predictions of Newton's theory.The reason for this turned out to be the:

The person who compiled the large set of accurate observations of planetary positions that formed the basis for proving that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun was:

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive:

In the geocentric model of the solar system,which of the following phases of Venus should NOT be visible from Earth?

Kepler's third law tells us that the:

Which of the following descriptions characterizes the Newtonian understanding of the mechanics of the solar system?

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

In the Greek planetary model,the deferent is the:

The first major astronomical prediction of Newton's theory of gravitation to be confirmed by observation was the:

How many moons of Jupiter did Galileo see?

What is the angle between the line from Earth to Jupiter and the line from Earth to the Sun when Jupiter is at opposition?

The ancient Greek thinker Pythagoras held the view that:

At what position in its orbit does an inferior planet appear to be moving (for a day or two)more or less directly toward Earth? (See Figure 2-4 in Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.Draw a diagram if it will help.)

Which of the following observations of the motions of the large moons of Jupiter did Galileo find MOST significant?

A certain star in our arm of the Milky Way is measured to be about 750 pc from Earth.Expressed in light-years,the distance is approximately:

Who predicted the existence of the planet Neptune before it was discovered observationally?

Which of the following observations might you be able to make from Earth?

Two solid spheres of equal size and mass are joined by a spring-loaded,extendible rod.The whole unit is spinning like a baton (end-over-end)five times per second.Suddenly,the rod stretches,pushing the spheres farther apart.What change takes place as a result of the stretching?

In science,if new and reliable observations disagree with a well-established theory,then the:

The angular diameter of Venus appears largest when its phase is:

Consider a comet in a long,thin elliptical orbit with a semimajor axis of one astronomical unit.What can you say about the sidereal period of this comet?

In the years after Newton published his laws of motion,it was found that the observed positions of the planet Uranus did not match the predictions of Newton's theory.The reason for this turned out to be the:

The person who compiled the large set of accurate observations of planetary positions that formed the basis for proving that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun was:

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive:

In the geocentric model of the solar system,which of the following phases of Venus should NOT be visible from Earth?

Kepler's third law tells us that the:

Which of the following descriptions characterizes the Newtonian understanding of the mechanics of the solar system?

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