Question 1

A scientific theory is accepted as the BEST description of a certain phenomenon if it:

Accepted Answer

A)   can be independently and repeatedly checked by observation.
B)   has been developed by a scientist with a solid reputation, such as Albert Einstein or Sir Isaac Newton.
C)   has obtained the stamp of approval of an internationally renowned scientific body, such as the Royal Society of London or the International Astronomical Union.
D)   accounts for a full range of historical observations, even though recent observations cast doubt on it.

Question 2

The BEST time(s) to see inferior planets from Earth is/are when these planets are at positions of:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Which of the following situations describes an acceptable path for a body gravitationally bound to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   a parabolic path passing through the center of the Sun
B)   a circular path with the Sun on the circle
C)   a long ellipse, with the Sun at one focus
D)   a long ellipse, with the Sun at its center

Question 4

Which of the following four objects or persons is NOT accelerating?

Accepted Answer

A)   a bicyclist gradually slowing down on a straight road while coasting toward a stop sign
B)   a motorcyclist traveling around a circular racetrack at a constant speed
C)   an apple falling to the ground from an apple tree
D)   an Olympic swimmer exerting considerable force to maintain a constant speed in a straight line through the water

Question 5

On the Moon,where gravity is 1/6 of Earth's gravity,which of the following activities would an astronaut NOT find easier to carry out?

Accepted Answer

A)   high jumping
B)   running
C)   long jumping
D)   slowing down and stopping

Question 6

Parallax:

Accepted Answer

A)   of stars was measured by Tycho.
B)   is too small to be measured for stars.
C)   can be measured by an observer moving relative to a background.
D)   is a larger value for distant objects than it is for closer objects.

Question 7

In Ptolemy's geocentric theory of the solar system,what name is given to the small circle around which the planet moves while the center of this circle orbits Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)   the epicycle
B)   the ecliptic
C)   the deferent
D)   the celestial equator

Question 8

Suppose an asteroid is discovered with an elliptical orbit,a period of exactly one year,and perihelion 0.5 AU from the Sun.Using Kepler's third law,how far from the Sun is this asteroid at aphelion? (Drawing a diagram of the orbit,including the Sun,will help.)

Accepted Answer

A)   2.5 AU
B)   2.0 AU
C)   1.0 AU
D)   1.5 AU

Question 9

Venus can pass in front of the Sun as seen from Earth when it is at:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Kepler as a young man became the assistant to:

Accepted Answer

A)   Nicolaus Copernicus.
B)   Ptolemy.
C)   Tycho Brahe.
D)   Sir Isaac Newton.

Question 11

The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth.If your mass on Earth is 60 kg,what would your WEIGHT be on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)   24 kg
B)   24 newtons
C)   235 newtons
D)   588 newtons

Question 12

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe had a young assistant who became famous himself some time later.His name was:

Accepted Answer

A)   Nicolaus Copernicus.
B)   Galileo Galilei.
C)   Johannes Kepler.
D)   Ptolemy.

Question 13

Two of Kepler's laws of planetary motion applied to Earth are that the radius vector from the Sun to Earth sweeps out equal areas in equal times and that Earth's orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.One consequence of these laws is that:

Accepted Answer

A)   Earth must rotate on its axis.
B)   the Sun must rotate on its axis.
C)   Earth moves at different orbital speeds at different times of the year.
D)   Earth's orbital plane lies in the same plane as the orbits of the other planets.

Question 14

Retrograde motion of a planet is:

Accepted Answer

A)   westward motion against the star background.
B)   westward motion with respect to the foreground on Earth.
C)   eastward motion with respect to the Moon.
D)   eastward motion against the star background.

Question 15

An inferior planet moves more or less directly toward Earth at greatest eastern elongation.What does this mean when you are watching the night-by-night motion of this planet against the background stars?

Accepted Answer

A)   The planet appears to remain stationary for a few days.
B)   The planet appears to be moving at its fastest motion against the background.
C)   The planet is invisible in the sky because it is moving toward Earth.
D)   The planet's motion against the background will appear to be normal, that is, direct motion, because apparent motion is always constant in a circular orbit.

Question 16

Venus experiences all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)   inferior conjunction
B)   superior conjunction
C)   opposition
D)   maximum elongation

Question 17

One of the major contributions of Galileo Galilei to the development of modern astronomy was:

Accepted Answer

A)   use of parallax to prove that Earth moves around the Sun.
B)   proof that planetary orbits are ellipses.
C)   development of the first mathematical heliocentric model of the solar system.
D)   discovery of the satellites (moons)  of Jupiter.

Question 18

Nicolaus Copernicus was the first person to:

Accepted Answer

A)   develop a comprehensive model for a Sun-centered solar system.
B)   use a telescope to observe the sky at night.
C)   use ellipses to describe the orbits of the planets.
D)   describe planetary orbits using the force of gravity.

Question 19

Copernicus lived:

Accepted Answer

A)   after Kepler but before Newton.
B)   after Ptolemy but before Kepler.
C)   after Kepler but before Ptolemy.
D)   after Newton but before Kepler.

Question 20

The epicycle,in the Greek planetary model,is the:

Accepted Answer

A)   circle centered on Earth about which the center of the smaller circular motion moves.
B)   off-center point in the planetary system occupied by Earth.
C)   focus of the ellipse that is the orbit of the planet around Earth.
D)   small circle through which the planet moves as the center of this circle orbits Earth.

Exam 2: Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Which of the following four objects or persons is NOT accelerating?

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The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe had a young assistant who became famous himself some time later.His name was:

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Venus can pass in front of the Sun as seen from Earth when it is at:

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Venus experiences all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

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Nicolaus Copernicus was the first person to:

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Kepler as a young man became the assistant to:

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Parallax:

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An inferior planet moves more or less directly toward Earth at greatest eastern elongation.What does this mean when you are watching the night-by-night motion of this planet against the background stars?

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The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth.If your mass on Earth is 60 kg,what would your WEIGHT be on Mars?

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A scientific theory is accepted as the BEST description of a certain phenomenon if it:

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In Ptolemy's geocentric theory of the solar system,what name is given to the small circle around which the planet moves while the center of this circle orbits Earth?

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Suppose an asteroid is discovered with an elliptical orbit,a period of exactly one year,and perihelion 0.5 AU from the Sun.Using Kepler's third law,how far from the Sun is this asteroid at aphelion? (Drawing a diagram of the orbit,including the Sun,will help.)

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Two of Kepler's laws of planetary motion applied to Earth are that the radius vector from the Sun to Earth sweeps out equal areas in equal times and that Earth's orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.One consequence of these laws is that:

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The BEST time(s) to see inferior planets from Earth is/are when these planets are at positions of:

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Copernicus lived:

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One of the major contributions of Galileo Galilei to the development of modern astronomy was:

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Which of the following situations describes an acceptable path for a body gravitationally bound to the Sun?

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On the Moon,where gravity is 1/6 of Earth's gravity,which of the following activities would an astronaut NOT find easier to carry out?

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The epicycle,in the Greek planetary model,is the:

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Retrograde motion of a planet is:

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