Question 1

In which model(s)of the solar system does the Earth orbit the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) Ptolemy's model and Tycho's model 
B) Ptolemy's model only 
C) Copernicus's model only 
D) Tycho's model and Copernicus's model 
A) Ptolemy's model and Tycho's model 
B) Ptolemy's model only 
C) Copernicus's model only 
D) Tycho's model and Copernicus's model

Question 2

A planet has a synodic period of 2 years when observed from Earth.What is the sidereal (orbital)period of the planet?

Accepted Answer

A) ½ year 
B) 1 year 
C) 2 years 
D) 2.5 years 
A) ½ year 
B) 1 year 
C) 2 years 
D) 2.5 years

Question 3

Which of the following is one of Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion?

Accepted Answer

A) The planet's distance cubed is proportional to its distance squared 
B) Acceleration is proportional to unbalanced force 
C) An object in motion remains in motion 
D) The parabola is a kind of conic section. 
A) The planet's distance cubed is proportional to its distance squared 
B) Acceleration is proportional to unbalanced force 
C) An object in motion remains in motion 
D) The parabola is a kind of conic section.

Question 4

Suppose there were very remote planets in the solar system,with periods of about 100,000 years.Approximately how far from the Sun would such a planet be?

Accepted Answer

A) 200 astronomical units 
B) 2000 astronomical units 
C) 20,000 astronomical units 
D) 200,000 astronomical units 
A) 200 astronomical units 
B) 2000 astronomical units 
C) 20,000 astronomical units 
D) 200,000 astronomical units

Question 5

Jupiter is about 5 AU from the Sun.What is its orbital period?

Accepted Answer

A) 4 years 
B) 8 years 
C) 12 years 
D) 16 years 
A) 4 years 
B) 8 years 
C) 12 years 
D) 16 years

Question 6

Kepler's Third Law can be described in what way?

Accepted Answer

A) Closer planets take longer to orbit the Sun than planets that are farther away from the Sun. 
B) Planets that are farther away from the Sun take less time to orbit the sun than less massive planets,but more time that more massive planets. 
C) Planet that are farther away from the Sun take longer to orbit the Sun than planets that are closer to the Sun. 
D) The planet's distance from the Sun is independent of its orbital period. 
A) Closer planets take longer to orbit the Sun than planets that are farther away from the Sun. 
B) Planets that are farther away from the Sun take less time to orbit the sun than less massive planets,but more time that more massive planets. 
C) Planet that are farther away from the Sun take longer to orbit the Sun than planets that are closer to the Sun. 
D) The planet's distance from the Sun is independent of its orbital period.

Question 7

The reason Copernicus subscribed to the heliocentric hypothesis was that

Accepted Answer

A) The observations of Venusian phases convinced him 
B) He knew that the planets were in elliptical orbits 
C) It was philosophically pleasing to him 
D) There was official pressure to espouse a heliocentric theory 
A) The observations of Venusian phases convinced him 
B) He knew that the planets were in elliptical orbits 
C) It was philosophically pleasing to him 
D) There was official pressure to espouse a heliocentric theory

Question 8

Two planets have orbital periods of 3 years and 4 years,respectively.What is the synodic period of the two planets?

Accepted Answer

A) 12 years 
B) 1.33 years 
C) 1 year 
D) 7 years 
A) 12 years 
B) 1.33 years 
C) 1 year 
D) 7 years

Question 9

The point of closest approach of a planet to the Sun is called the

Accepted Answer

A) Aphelion 
B) Epicycle 
C) Focus 
D) Perihelion 
E) Inferior conjunction 
A) Aphelion 
B) Epicycle 
C) Focus 
D) Perihelion 
E) Inferior conjunction

Question 10

What is the orbital period of an asteroid that has a semimajor axis of 2.8 AU?

Accepted Answer

A) 2.8 years 
B) 4.7 years 
C) 7.8 years 
D) 10.4 years 
A) 2.8 years 
B) 4.7 years 
C) 7.8 years 
D) 10.4 years

Question 11

Suppose the distance between the two foci of an ellipse is much smaller than the semimajor axis of the ellipse.What can be said about the ellipse?

Accepted Answer

A) A planet orbiting on that ellipse would have a short orbital period 
B) The eccentricity of the ellipse is nearly zero 
C) The ellipse is long and skinny 
D) The foci are located far from the semimajor axis 
A) A planet orbiting on that ellipse would have a short orbital period 
B) The eccentricity of the ellipse is nearly zero 
C) The ellipse is long and skinny 
D) The foci are located far from the semimajor axis

Question 12

A planet has a semimajor axis of 10 astronomical units.The orbital period would be

Accepted Answer

A) 1.7 years 
B) 5.2 years 
C) 9 years 
D) 32 years 
E) 100 years 
A) 1.7 years 
B) 5.2 years 
C) 9 years 
D) 32 years 
E) 100 years

Question 13

Suppose planet X has a circular orbit.As viewed from the Earth,the maximum angle between planet X and the Sun is 65 degrees.What is the orbital distance of planet X?

Accepted Answer

A) 0.9 AU 
B) 1.4 AU 
C) 1.8 AU 
D) 2.5 AU 
A) 0.9 AU 
B) 1.4 AU 
C) 1.8 AU 
D) 2.5 AU

Question 14

Kepler's Second Law states that

Accepted Answer

A) A planet moves more rapidly when near the Sun 
B) Planets close to the Sun have longer periods than those further away 
C) An object in motion remains in motion 
D) A planet's mass increases with distance from the Sun 
A) A planet moves more rapidly when near the Sun 
B) Planets close to the Sun have longer periods than those further away 
C) An object in motion remains in motion 
D) A planet's mass increases with distance from the Sun

Exam 4: Renaissance Astronomy

In which model(s)of the solar system does the Earth orbit the Sun?

A planet has a synodic period of 2 years when observed from Earth.What is the sidereal (orbital)period of the planet?

Which of the following is one of Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion?

Suppose there were very remote planets in the solar system,with periods of about 100,000 years.Approximately how far from the Sun would such a planet be?

Jupiter is about 5 AU from the Sun.What is its orbital period?

Kepler's Third Law can be described in what way?

The reason Copernicus subscribed to the heliocentric hypothesis was that

Two planets have orbital periods of 3 years and 4 years,respectively.What is the synodic period of the two planets?

The point of closest approach of a planet to the Sun is called the

What is the orbital period of an asteroid that has a semimajor axis of 2.8 AU?

Suppose the distance between the two foci of an ellipse is much smaller than the semimajor axis of the ellipse.What can be said about the ellipse?

A planet has a semimajor axis of 10 astronomical units.The orbital period would be

Suppose planet X has a circular orbit.As viewed from the Earth,the maximum angle between planet X and the Sun is 65 degrees.What is the orbital distance of planet X?

Kepler's Second Law states that

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